Depending on how sex toys are used, they can come in contact with vaginal fluids, blood, or feces. And because each of these things can carry diseases, it's a bad idea to share sex toys—that is, to use the same toy on two different people—without taking proper precautions. In addition, some toys can crack or develop holes over time where dangerous bacteria can easily hide out.
How to reduce risk
Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Washington in Seattle, says the best way to be safe with sex toys is to use condoms and change the condom each time the toy changes partners or moves from one area of the body to another (especially after being used on the anus). "And make sure you clean it very well," she says.
More about sexual health
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Salespeople at sex-toy shops can help you figure out proper cleaning methods. Cleaning often involves soap and water, or even a run through the dishwasher. Submersion in boiling water might also be a good idea, depending on the material the toy is made of and the type of toy it is (such as whether it has moving or electric parts). Sex-toy emporium Babeland offers a comprehensive guide to toy cleaning and care.
STDs are not the only safety issue surrounding sex toys; some users make a point of avoiding products made with compounds called phthalates for fear they may be toxic. The science is not conclusive, but shoppers may want to look for toys made with other materials instead, such as silicone.
Lead writer: Nick Burns
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How to Reduce the STD Risks of Sharing Sex Toys
Sabtu, 22 Agustus 2009STD Risks of Anal Penetration
Unprotected anal sex, regardless of whether it is practiced by straight or gay couples, is considered the riskiest activity for sexually transmitted diseases because of the physical design of the anus: It is narrow, it does not self-lubricate, and the skin is more fragile and likely to tear, allowing STDs such as HIV and hepatitis easy passage into the bloodstream.
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What they look like and how you get them Read more
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"Anal sex produces a certain amount of trauma to the body and that's a problem, especially for HIV," says Myron Cohen, MD, director of the Center for Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.
To make matters worse, the area is an ideal home for STDs. Bacterial infections such as gonorrhea and chlamydia love warm, moist environments and the type of cells that line the anus.
While unprotected anal sex is much more risky for the receptive partner, the insertive partner is not free from risk. And both partners are susceptible to picking up herpes, syphilis, and HPV even if they use a condom, because sores and warts can reside both inside and outside the anus. In the case of herpes, transmission can occur even in the absence of any genital lesions.
How to reduce risk
Wearing a condom is the best way to reduce the risk of STD transmission. It won't protect you 100% because it won't cover all the areas in which STDs can lurk. And when not worn correctly, condoms can break. But wrap it up correctly every time and you'll drastically reduce your risk. Use plenty of lube, both for the receptive partner's comfort and to reduce the risk of abrasion or small tears to the tissue, which can make STD transmission easier.
Lead writer: Nick Burns
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How to Reduce the STD Risks of Vaginal Intercourse
T
he risks: HIV, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, HPV (warts), syphilis, trichomoniasis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C
Vaginal intercourse is unlike other forms of sexual activity because it includes the risk of unwanted pregnancy, on top of all the STD risks.
Although the chance of contracting or transmitting HIV during vaginal intercourse is lower than during receptive anal intercourse, it is still very much a risk, and unprotected vaginal sex is especially risky for women.
Also, if your vagina is dry because of hormonal changes due to menopause or birth-control pills, it can get tiny abrasions that make HIV transmission easier. Broken skin of any kind invites HIV infection during unprotected vaginal intercourse, including herpes lesions
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HIV and Safer Sex
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than one million Americans are currently infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Although its prevalence is higher in certain cities, among African Americans, and among men who have sex with other men, anyone can get HIV. And Americans continue to become infected at high rates partly because of the widespread belief that you won't get it if you're heterosexual, white, or educated.
A Condom Trick to Try With Your Guy
Carmen gets men to wear a condom by saying it's birth control Read more
More about HIV
HIV Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
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Here are six reasons to use a condom every time you have sex.
HIV is incurable.
It is fatal when not treated.
The medications to keep it under control have notoriously difficult side effects.
Condoms, when used correctly, are highly effective at blocking HIV transmission.
Most symptoms of HIV infection are invisible.
It is believed that one out of every four Americans living with HIV doesn't know he or she has it.
For more information about preventing HIV and living with it if you're infected, visit POZ.com.
Lead writer: Louise Sloan
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Can Circumcision Prevent the Spread of Herpes, HPV, Other STDs?
Men who are circumcised are less likely to get sexually transmitted infections such as genital herpes and human papillomavirus (HPV), but not syphilis.
This finding—published in a March, 2009 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine—adds to the evidence that there are health benefits to circumcision, the surgical removal of the penis foreskin, usually performed on newborns shortly after birth. It was already known that circumcision can reduce the risk of penile cancer, a relatively rare disease, as well as the risk of HIV infection.
Who's Most at Risk for STDs?
It's not who you are, but what you do Read more
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10 Questions to Ask a New Sex Partner
But in the United States, newborn circumcision is an elective procedure, and rates are declining. (See a picture of a penis before and after circumcision.) In 1999, the American Academy of Pediatrics reviewed evidence of the potential risks, benefits, and costs of circumcision, and declined to recommend the procedure for all newborns.
Circumcision should never be performed strictly because it seems to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections, experts agree, and it's important to note that circumcision should not be considered appropriate protection. Practicing safe sex, including using condoms, is still necessary to provide the best protection, whether a person is circumcised or not.
Still, many scientists are hoping that this new research may persuade recommending bodies, both in the United States and around the world, to give the circumcision's benefits another look.
Circumcision remains a controversial topic
In the United States, infant circumcision is declining. About 64% of American male infants were circumcised in 1995, down from more than 90% in the 1970s. Rates tend to be higher in whites (81%) than in blacks (65%) or Hispanics (54%).
Some opponents say the removal of the foreskin is an unnecessary surgical procedure that may reduce sexual sensitivity in adulthood. In Jewish and Muslim cultures, young or infant boys are routinely circumcised for religious reasons. Circumcision rates have traditionally been higher in the U.S. than in Europe, but the American Academy of Pediatrics currently says that the medical benefits are insufficient to recommend circumcision for all baby boys.
Study coauthor Thomas C. Quinn, MD, professor of global health at Johns Hopkins University, says that choosing circumcision, whether it’s the parents of an infant or an adult male for himself, is and should remain an individual decision.
“But the critics need to really look at the benefits versus the risks,” he adds. “By now a large body of evidence has shown that the health benefits clearly outweigh the minor risk associated with the surgery. In our study, we didn’t see any adverse effects or mutilation. We’re recommending supervised, safe, sterile environments—not circumcision out in an open field with rusty instruments.”
copy from www.health.com
Men who are circumcised are less likely to get sexually transmitted infections such as genital herpes and human papillomavirus (HPV), but not syphilis.
This finding—published in a March, 2009 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine—adds to the evidence that there are health benefits to circumcision, the surgical removal of the penis foreskin, usually performed on newborns shortly after birth. It was already known that circumcision can reduce the risk of penile cancer, a relatively rare disease, as well as the risk of HIV infection.
Who's Most at Risk for STDs?
It's not who you are, but what you do Read more
More about safer sex
What Is Safer Sex?
HPV, Herpes, and Chlamydia
10 Questions to Ask a New Sex Partner
But in the United States, newborn circumcision is an elective procedure, and rates are declining. (See a picture of a penis before and after circumcision.) In 1999, the American Academy of Pediatrics reviewed evidence of the potential risks, benefits, and costs of circumcision, and declined to recommend the procedure for all newborns.
Circumcision should never be performed strictly because it seems to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections, experts agree, and it's important to note that circumcision should not be considered appropriate protection. Practicing safe sex, including using condoms, is still necessary to provide the best protection, whether a person is circumcised or not.
Still, many scientists are hoping that this new research may persuade recommending bodies, both in the United States and around the world, to give the circumcision's benefits another look.
Circumcision remains a controversial topic
In the United States, infant circumcision is declining. About 64% of American male infants were circumcised in 1995, down from more than 90% in the 1970s. Rates tend to be higher in whites (81%) than in blacks (65%) or Hispanics (54%).
Some opponents say the removal of the foreskin is an unnecessary surgical procedure that may reduce sexual sensitivity in adulthood. In Jewish and Muslim cultures, young or infant boys are routinely circumcised for religious reasons. Circumcision rates have traditionally been higher in the U.S. than in Europe, but the American Academy of Pediatrics currently says that the medical benefits are insufficient to recommend circumcision for all baby boys.
Study coauthor Thomas C. Quinn, MD, professor of global health at Johns Hopkins University, says that choosing circumcision, whether it’s the parents of an infant or an adult male for himself, is and should remain an individual decision.
“But the critics need to really look at the benefits versus the risks,” he adds. “By now a large body of evidence has shown that the health benefits clearly outweigh the minor risk associated with the surgery. In our study, we didn’t see any adverse effects or mutilation. We’re recommending supervised, safe, sterile environments—not circumcision out in an open field with rusty instruments.”
copy from www.health.com
What Should I Do if the Condom Breaks?
Accidents happen: In moments of passion, a condom worn incorrectly (or past its expiration date) can break or slip off, putting you at risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV and—if you're a woman—pregnancy.
Morning-after HIV prevention
After such an accident, you and your partner should get tested for STDs, including HIV, as soon as possible. If you have been exposed to the HIV virus, ask for postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), a "morning after" treatment for HIV that may prevent infection. The treatment is a monthlong course of HIV (antiretroviral) medications that are most effective if you start them right away—but may still work up to 72 hours after exposure. Side effects can include extreme nausea and fatigue.
To find PEP, call a doctor, a health clinic, an AIDS service organization, or a health department, or visit your local emergency room.
copy from www.health.com
HIV Is Easy to Prevent but Hard to Treat
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than one million Americans are currently infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Although its prevalence is higher in certain cities, among African Americans, and among men who have sex with other men, anyone can get HIV. And Americans continue to become infected at high rates partly because of the widespread belief that you won't get it if you're heterosexual, white, or educated.
A Condom Trick to Try With Your Guy
Carmen gets men to wear a condom by saying it's birth control Read more
More about HIV
HIV Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
How to Use Condoms Correctly
Here are six reasons to use a condom every time you have sex.
HIV is incurable.
It is fatal when not treated.
The medications to keep it under control have notoriously difficult side effects.
Condoms, when used correctly, are highly effective at blocking HIV transmission.
Most symptoms of HIV infection are invisible.
It is believed that one out of every four Americans living with HIV doesn't know he or she has it.
For more information about preventing HIV and living with it if you're infected, visit POZ.com.
Lead writer: Louise Sloan
copy from www.health.com
2 Ways to Make Condoms Sexy
Some people just won't have sex without a condom—but find themselves encountering sex partners who need a little coaxing. Here are two suggestions for turning the routine into something sexy by getting everyone involved.
1. Have your partner put it on
Ralph Diaz (not his real name), 37, of New York City, says, "It makes it more intimate if someone else puts the condom on for you," says Diaz. "Because it's someone else's touch."
More about condoms
What Should I Do if the Condom Breaks?
If Your Partner Refuses to Wear a Condom
How to Use Condoms Correctly
2. Make it an oral sex bonus
Carmen Donovan (not her real name), 27, of Los Angeles, likes putting the condom on her sex partners during oral sex. "Guys are less likely to complain if they are super turned on," she says. "And that way I can be sure that the condom is on correctly and less likely to break."
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How to Use Condoms Correctly
Here's how to correctly put on, use, and dispose of a condom.
Check the expiration date on the wrapper and make sure it was not stored in a warm environment or near sharp objects that could weaken or puncture the condom.
Before opening the wrapper, use your fingers to push the condom to the opposite side of the package so it will not tear when you open the wrapper.
Remove the condom from the wrapper and pinch the tip between your fingers to prevent any air from getting in the tip, which can cause the condom to break. For extra comfort and enjoyment, place a drop of water-based lubricant at the tip of the condom and on the penis.
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Make sure the penis is erect.
While pinching the tip of the condom between your fingers, hold it at the tip of the penis and begin unrolling it down the shaft. Make sure the rolled-up part of the condom is on the outside; otherwise, the condom is inside out.
If the condom rolls back up toward the head of the penis during sex, roll it back down immediately. If it slips completely off, do not put it back on. Instead, put on a new condom.
After ejaculation, hold the base of the condom while withdrawing from your partner to prevent the condom from slipping off. Be sure to keep the condom and your penis from touching your partner's body.
Wrap the used condom in tissue and toss it in the garbage. To avoid plumbing problems, do not flush it down the toilet.
Proper condom use means no penetration without it. Also, never reuse a condom. To be safe you must use a fresh condom for each new sex act.
Lead writer: Nick Burns
copy from www.health.com
What Is Safer Sex?
Safer sex is a general term used to describe methods for reducing the chance that you will spread or catch sexually transmitted diseases (STDs, also known as sexually transmitted infections or STIs). The idea is that with a few simple tools and strategies, you can increase safety without sacrificing your sex life.
Use condoms
The first and best line of defense is to use a latex barrier whenever you have sex (if you have a latex allergy, use polyurethane instead). That means using a condom on the penis or on a sex toy; latex gloves on your hands; and when engaging in oral sex, dental dams or plastic wrap to cover the anus or vagina.
More about how to be safe
10 Questions to Ask a New Sex Partner
How to Use Condoms Correctly
Who's Most at Risk for STDs?
Get tested for HIV and other STDs
Knowing your own status is the only way to approach the next point honestly.
Communicate
Safer sex also involves talking with your partner, discussing activities and risks and making educated choices together. Of course, sex raises a number of other questions. Do you trust your partner? How do you get a guy to use a condom if he refuses to do so? What if you are suspicious that your partner is not being monogamous?
Change sex practices
Some people choose to avoid risky activities completely or find ways to reduce the complications associated with them—although this strategy still requires honesty, communication, and STD testing.
Be monogamous or abstinent
Total abstinence is the only 100% effective safe sex method; it's just not that realistic for most people. Next in line is a long-term monogamous relationship in which both partners know their status to be negative for STDs (itself requiring testing and honest communication), and both stay true to the monogamous ideal.
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