Healthy habits for a safer sex life!
Find out about the risks for HIV (the virus that can lead to AIDS), other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and hepatitis. What is 'low risk' for HIV transmission can be 'high risk' for many other STIs or hepatitis. Decide what risks you are comfortable with. If you find it difficult to stick within these limits, you can visit ACT and speak with a counsellor.
If you are sexually active, get an STI check-up at least every six months from a health care provider with whom you can comfortably discuss all your sexual activity. This is particularly important if you are already living with HIV.
Even if you never engage in sexual activity that requires the use of condoms, it doesn't hurt to keep them around! Practise using condoms and keep them handy.
Get vaccinated for hepatitis A and B if you have not already had hepatitis A and B (re-infection is rare). There is no vaccine for hepatitis C or HIV/AIDS. If you are HIV-positive, getting vaccinated for hepatitis A and B requires close monitoring afterwards to ensure that you have developed immunity.
Using latex condoms and water-based lubricants is the only way to reduce the risk of HIV transmission from sexual intercourse (anal or vaginal penetrative sex). If you are living with HIV, using condoms for sexual intercourse, never sharing dildos, and using gloves for fisting are important for stopping the sexual spread of hepatitis C between people living with HIV.
Shower and wash thoroughly before and after sex. It is a good idea to urinate (pee) right after sex, but this will not completely prevent infection with an STI. So use a condom!
If you have sex often, you can easily get into the habit of having healthy, safer sex.
Revised October 2009.
