You can avoid STIs with a condom. If you use a condom every time you have sex, you will be using the best available protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

STIs are passed on when someone has sex with an infected person. Some STIs, such as Genital Warts and Herpes, can be passed on in other ways – for instance by licking, kissing or sucking someone’s genitals, or even sexual touching and skin-to-skin contact. But even then, condoms help reduce those chances.

STIs are most often transmitted during vaginal or anal sex, and condoms are excellent at protecting against STIs in these circumstances – including protecting against HIV. Whether it’s a male or female condom doesn’t really matter. Just use one.

Most types of contraception such as the pill, implant, injection, patch, ring or IUD/S (coil) – do not protect against STIs. If you are using these types of contraception, it is important still to use condoms as a barrier against STIs. Condoms are the only way to prevent pregnancy and STIs. To learn more about condoms click here (to the sexual health site)

You can also think about using dental dams. These are small squares of latex which work well as a barrier during sex when there is contact between the mouth and the vagina, or the mouth and the anus, where condoms aren’t very useful.

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