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| I know you've heard it all before, but it doesn't hurt to always remember and review everything. Abstinence is the only safe sex. Know how to protect your body. |
| "We were fooling around, and my boyfriend touched himself and put the same hand inside me. Can I get pregnant?" It's very unlikely but not impossible. He would have to touch himself while semen or pre-ejaculatory fliud was on his penis. Then he would have had to carry some of this fluid on his hand into your vagina. Until the fluid dries, the sperm in it may still be alive. If getting pregnant is just not an option, the safest thing to do is to make him wear a condom even if you're not actually having intercourse (it's the only sure way!). |
| "I'm allergic to latex condoms and I've heard that lambskin condoms aren't reliable. Who do I do?" Used correctly, lambskin condoms prevent pregnancy 98% of the time, but they're totally ineffective against STDs. If you are allergic to latex, your best defense is polyurethane-- a type of material that stops sperm and the transmission of STDs. (There's a bran called Avanti you can find at most drugstores.) But remember, for 100 percent safe sex protection, hold off having intercourse altogether. |
| You should still tell someone if you get raped. No matter what. People care about you and someone will be able to help and protect you from your preditor. |
| Condoms 101 They don't protect 100% There are two ways to catch all STDs: through fluid transmission (vaginal secretions, semen, blood) or from skin-to-skin contact. A condam can help prevent fluid-tranmission such as HIV and chlamydia. But if a guy has skin-to-skin transmitted STD (like warts or herpes), and his lesions are on his scrotum or groin, he can transmitt the STD even if he's wearing a condom. But condoms can reduce STD risk Look, the only 'safe' sex is no sex, since condoms can break, slip off, or not cover the infected area. But when using latex condoms correctly and consistently, they are the second bestwat to protect against STDs (after abstinence, of course). Correct usage means: (1) Following the directions on the package (2) checking the expiration date--expired condoms break easily (3) never opening the package with your teeth-- it can puncture the condom, allowing sperm to get through (4) putting it on right-- if a condom is upside-down, don't flip it over and roll it on. Toss it out or his pre-ejaculate fluid, which can transmit disease and sperm, could enter the vagina. Use condoms even for oral sex You can catch many STDs via oral sex. The ones most commonly transmitted orally are herpes, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea-- and in rare cases, HIV. That's why they invented flavored condoms, such as LifeStyles of Mint. You should never stop using condoms Since many STDs don't have visible symtoms, don't stop using condoms-- even if you trust your partner. He could have an STD and not know it. |