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BDSM Dictionary : Safe sex : history
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This entry is part of the BDSM Dictionary hosted
by Informed Consent.
Safe sex
Safe sex, also called safer sex, is a set of practices
designed to reduce the risk of sustaining or imparting
sexually-transmitted
infections (STIs) (also known as "sexually-transmitted diseases"
or "STD"s).
Conversely, "unsafe sex" refers to the participation in a sexual
relationship without the benefit or use of any contraceptive or
preventive measures against STIs.
Safer sex practices became prominent in the late 1980s as a result of
the AIDS epidemic. From the viewpoint of society, safer sex can be
regarded as a harm reduction strategy.
Safe sex is about risk reduction, not complete risk elimination.Terminology
Recently, and mostly within the United States, the use of the term
"safer sex" rather than "safe sex" has gained greater use by health
workers, with the realization the grounds that risk of transmission of
sexually-transmitted infections in various sexual activities is a
continuum rather than a simple dichotomy between risky and safe.
However, in most other countries, including the United Kingdom and
Australia, the term "safe sex" is still mainly used by sex educators.
Because this is a UK site, the term "safe sex" will be used.Focus on AIDS
Much attention has focused on controlling HIV, which
causes AIDS, through the use of
condoms, but each STI presents a different
predicament.
However, sex educators recommend that some form of barrier protection as
a harm reduction measure should be used for all sexual activities which
might potentially result in the exchange of body fluids.Safe sex precautions
(also see Unsafe sexual practices)
Abstinence
Sexual abstinence, while it virtually
eliminates the risk of STIs or pregnancy, is technically not a method of
pursuing "safe sex".
Solitary masturbation (including so-called
"phone sex" and
"cybersex") is also completely safe.
Controlling social factors
Outside of total abstinence and masturbation, proponents of safe sex
recommend that some of the following methods can minimize the risks of
STI transmission and pregnancy during sexual activity.
- Monogamy. However, be aware that many
monogamous people have been infected with sexually-transmitted diseases
by non-monogamous partners, partners
who use injection drugs, or previously infected partners.
- Knowing your partner(s), especially their STI status.
- Treating existing STIs and infections of the genitals or mouth
(which may increase the chance of transmission).
- Communicating with your partner. Being assertive in saying what
you want and don't want. This includes discussing beforehand what is
acceptable and what is not to avoid "heat of passion" decisions.
- Reducing the number of sexual partners, particularly anonymous
sexual partners, will also reduce your potential exposure to STIs.
- Not using recreational drugs, including alcohol, in a way that
increases the likelihood you will be negligent of other safer sex
guidelines.
Preventing fluid exchange
- Avoiding any contact with blood, vaginal fluid, and semen of the partner
- Use condoms. Condoms cover the penis during
sexual activity. They are most frequently made of latex, but can also be
made out of polyurethane for those who have a latex allergy, or they can
be made out of animal intestine. Polyurethane is thought to be a safe
material for use in condoms, since it is nonporous and viruses cannot
pass through it. However, there is less research on its effectiveness
than there is on latex. Any condoms made out of animal skin or
intestine, such as Trojan NaturaLamb, are not thought to be safe because
they are porous and viruses such as HIV can pass
through them.
[item]Female condom. This condom is
inserted into the vagina prior to intercourse. It
is also sometimes used for anal sex.
- Dental dam. A sheet of latex (originally
used for dentistry) for protection when engaging in oral
sex. It is typically used as a barrier between the mouth and the
vagina during cunnilingus or between the
mouth and the anus during anilingus. A piece of
cling film may also be used as a dental dam; Cling film has been tested
by the FDA and CDC and found effective in preventing the transmission of
virus-sized particles, although "microwave-safe" wrap may be
ineffective. Latex condoms may also be cut to form an improvised dental dam.
- Medical gloves. Gloves made out of
latex, vinyl, nitrile, or polyurethane may be used as dental dams during
oral sex, or to protect the hands during mutual masturbation. Hands may have invisible cuts
on them that may admit pathogens that are found in
semen or vaginal
fluid. Although the risk of infection in this manner is thought
to be low, some people use gloves as an extra precaution. Gloves also
make mutual masturbation more comfortable by preventing sharp
fingernails from accidentally scratching the genitalia.
- Another way to avoid contact with blood and semen is
outercourse (non-penetrative sex), or forms
of penetration that do not involve a penis, such as
the use of dildos (when cleaned or covered with
condoms).
Ineffective methods
Note that most methods of
contraception (birth control)
other than the barrier methods mentioned above are "not" effective at
preventing the spread of STIs.
The spermicide Nonoxynol-9 has been claimed to reduce the likelihood of
STI transmission. However a recent study by the World Health
Organisation
http://www.who.int/reproductive-health/publicati...
has shown that Nonoxynol-9 is an irritant and can produce tiny tears in
mucous membranes, which may increase the risk of transmission by
offering pathogens more easy points of entry into the system. As a
result condoms with a Nonoxynol-9 lubricant are not to be promoted.
However it is better to use a condom with Nonoxynol-9 than no condom at all.
Coitus interruptus (or
"pulling out"), in which the penis is removed from
the vagina, anus, or
mouth before
ejaculation, is not safe sex and can result
in STI transmission or pregnancy. This is
because of the formation of pre-ejaculate,
a fluid (which may contain sperm) that oozes from the
urethra before actual ejaculation. In addition,
open sores on either partner can permit transmission.See Also
External links
(This entry in the BDSM Dictionary incorporates text from the
Safe
sex article in Wipipedia.)
This entry is published under the terms of the
GFDL. People with profiles on
Informed Consent can improve
this entry: see the BDSM Dictionary
help page for details.
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