{"id":1585,"date":"2022-12-30T08:49:09","date_gmt":"2022-12-30T08:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/?p=1585"},"modified":"2023-01-19T08:55:54","modified_gmt":"2023-01-19T08:55:54","slug":"how-to-practice-safe-sex-be-healthy-reduce-risk-of-std","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/how-to-practice-safe-sex-be-healthy-reduce-risk-of-std\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Practice Safe Sex: Be Healthy & Reduce Risk of STD"},"content":{"rendered":"

Typically, we can define safe sex as sexual contact between two people that protect each participant against unplanned pregnancy and STIs or sexually transmitted infections. Safe sex does not involve body fluid exchange (think semen, vaginal fluids, and blood) between the partners who are having intercourse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In essence, this would be it. Still, to give a more rounded answer, we should also talk about the chances of STD (sexually transmitted diseases) infections, best safe sex practices, condom protection, STI risk factors, and even <\/span>STD testing<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

As such, this blog post will aim to cover the essentials you need to know about safe sex and avoiding infections and unplanned pregnancies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unprotected Sex and STI Risk Factors<\/b><\/h2>\n

When not practicing safe sex, partners have a higher chance of STDs. Unfortunately, this isn’t only the case with genital sex. Namely, any form of sexual contact may pose STI risk factors, may that be oral, anal, or vaginal. In some cases, even skin-to-skin contact may end in an infection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are specific STIs like genital warts and syphilis, for instance, that can spread by having intercourse with an infected partner when a rash or sore is present. To make matters even more complicated, unborn babies may also be at risk. In the case of some infections like HIV or congenital syphilis, the infection can pass from the mother to the baby throughout the pregnancy or at birth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Needless to say, STIs should be addressed by a medical expert because if left untreated, they can lead to severe illnesses and have severe impacts on the patient’s health, such as PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) in women and infertility in both sexes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the most common STIs include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n