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Enjoying Safer Sex Sexual intimacy does not
necessarily include sexual intercourse. In deciding whether to
engage in intimate sexual relations, including intercourse, you may
consider cultural, ethical, religious, moral, and psychological
factors as well physical ones.
Many people choose to abstain from sexual
intercourse. People may choose varying levels of sexual intimacy.
You should not feel pressured to engage in sexual intercourse or any
other sexual activity; what is right for you is the level of sexual
intimacy with which you feel comfortable, whether that means none,
holding hands, intercourse, or any of a mind-boggling variety of
other forms of sexual activity. Deciding to become sexually intimate
with a partner can be a big step to take in a relationship,
especially since, for many people, having sex involves an emotional
commitment as well as a physical one. The decision to become
sexually intimate with another person must also be considered in
light of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that are
prevalent among college students; many times infections may be
asymptomatic, so someone may transmit the disease to another person
unknowingly.
Becoming pregnant is also a fear in heterosexual
relationships. Only a barrier method, like condoms or dental dams,
can reduce the likelihood of the transmission of HIV and certain
other STDs. Abstinence is the only completely effective method of
preventing STDs, HIV and pregnancy. If you do choose to be sexually
active, practicing safer sex, along with maintaining open
communication with your partner, can reduce the risks discussed
here.
Engaging in sexual intercourse can potentially be
scary or dangerous ; discussing both the emotional and physical
risks of sex and deciding with your partner how best to minimize
those risks can be empowering and can make for an even more intimate
sexual experience. Practicing safer sex doesn't mean eliminating sex
from your life. What safer sex does mean is being smart and staying
healthy. It means showing love, concern, and respect for partners
and for self. Safer sex means enjoying sex to the fullest wi thout
transmitting, or acquiring, sexually related infections. There are
numerous sexually transmissible diseases; the consequences of some,
like HIV and syphilis, may be deadly. All of them are caused by
microorganisms which pass between partners during particular sexual
activities. Safer sex means reducing the chance of acquiring
sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS.
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