As Needed: A Condom a Day...

Safer sex practices
If you are sexually active, safer sex is a must to maintain your health, as well as the health of your partner(s). If you and your partner have:

* NOT been monogamously partnered for one year, and remain monogamous, and
* NOT been practicing safer sex without exception for the entirety of that year, and
* NOT both been tested twice, six months apart, during that year, for all STDs and STDs and tested negatively for all, then safer sex practices must be used to take care of your sexual health.

Even when those things are as such, safer sex practices are still recommended, as medical tests are not infallible. Some STDs and STIs can lie dormant without testing positive over a period of years, and monogamy, even when stated, does not always happen, nor are partners always truthful when they have not been monogamous, or about their sexual history.

For the record, you or your partner have NOT been physically monogamous if you/they have engaged in any other intimate genital activities with another person, including manual, oral, vaginal or anal sex.

Sexual activity without safer sex measures can transmit numerous sexually transmitted diseases, infections or bacteria. Want to know what sexual activities pose what risks of disease or infection? See our Risk Assessment Sheet.

Want to know how to practice safer sex, when you need to, and what you'll need to do it? Check out Safe, Sound and Sexy.

Lastly, oral herpes is incredibly common, in 1 out of 4 people, even in those who have not been sexually active. It should be treated as any sexually transmittable disease, as it is, so if you have cold sores, you need to always practice safer sex. While the risk is minimal to nil when a sore is not active, many people cannot tell when a sore is becoming active until it flares up and is visible, but Herpes is transmissible when a sore is developing and not visible.

Birth Control
If you are sexually active with a male partner, and do not wish to become pregnant, you must use a reliable method of birth control.

If you are using condoms by themselves, an excellent method of birth control is to use condoms EVERY time, AND to abstain from even protected intercourse during your most fertile period.

If you would like a hormonal method of birth control, see your gynecologist to discuss if the birth control pill, Implanon, the Nuvaring, the birth control path or Depo-Provera is right for you. If you are using these methods, be sure when you get them your doctor fully explains them to you, and that if you notice any unusual side effects, you notify your doctor. A diaphragm is also another possible option for young women, and for some younger women an IUD may be a good choice.

Allergic Reactions
If you do not know if you have a latex allergy, try it out on your hands before your genitals by wearing a latex glove for about a half hour. If you do not develop a rash or itching, you are likely not allergic to latex, and may use latex condoms, gloves or dental dams. If you are allergic to latex, use polyurethane condoms, gloves and non-latex vaginal barriers.

Pregnancy Tests or Emergency Contraception
If you have had unprotected sex or your birth control method failed (or you suspect it did, or you did not use it effectively) you may see your doctor, sexual health clinic or emergency room to get the emergency contraception within 120 hours of the incident. If you also did not use a condom or other barrier method, you should also have a full STI screening.

If you suspect you are pregnant, you may use a home pregnancy test as soon as ten days following the possible pregnancy. It is advised that you buy two tests, and if you receive a negative result when testing, but miss your period, that you repeat the test. Many sexual health clinics offer free pregnancy testing.

Reasons to See a Reproductive Health Pro or Gynecologist
Pain in the abdomen during intercourse or other sexual activity, unusual discharge from the genitals or nipples, skipped or missed periods when there is no pregnancy risk, suspected pregnancy, STD or STI, suspected yeast or urinary tract infection, blood in the urine, or difficulty or pain when urinating, unusual sores or discharge on/from the genitals or mouth, extended viral illness (like a cold or flu which lasts more than a week or two), unusual tiredness or lethargy, recurring illness or infections. Also, if you are on hormonal birth control and have changes in your health or habits which may pose risks to you while using those methods (such as smoking or high blood pressure), consult your doctor.