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While it’s true that not all STDs can be cured, almost all of them can be prevented with safe sex practices. You can protect your partner still even if you have already contracted an STD.
There are multiple ways to avoid giving your partner any STD that you may have. Safe sex practices are a collection of sexual precautions which protect the people you love from contracting an STD from you. Even if you’ve already been diagnosed with an incurable STD, you can still protect your partner by simply wearing a condom every time you have sex. Staying hygienic, avoiding sex when intoxicated, and getting tested regularly are all additional measures which drastically decrease the probability of passing on an STD to your partner during sexual intercourse.
While not all of the safe sex practices provide equal protection against STD spread, when combined altogether, these measures do create an exceptionally safe environment for your loved one – especially when you’re under the covers! Read below to find out how you can protect your partners from STDs.
HOW TO AVOID GIVING STDs TO YOUR PARTNER(S)?
If you have been diagnosed with an STD, here are some of the best ways to protect your partner from acquiring the disease during sexual intercourse.
Be honest about your STD status
First things first, the best way to protect your partner from acquiring an STD from you is to let them know about your positive status. It does not matter whether you are diagnosed with a curable or an incurable STD; there's always the risk that your partner will acquire your condition if you are not careful or if they don't know anything about it.
Talk to your partner(s) about your diagnosis. Give them time to think about the situation and let them make an informed decision. It is also important that you do not keep unreasonable expectations from them. STDs are scary for everyone; no one should be expected to put their health at risk in the name of love.
Always use a condom
Condoms, or any other protective barriers made from polyurethane, are a great way to protect yourself and others from acquiring STDs. Condoms are also the only contraceptives which protect against STDs as well!
Make sure always to use a condom before any sexual act. Any sex, be it oral, anal or vaginal, carries the potential to spread STDs. Make sure always to use a new condom before any new sexual act.
It is also advised not to use condoms that have been in your drawer or wallet for a long time. Consider buying new ones each time you decide to have sex with your partner.
Get regular STD tests
The second best way to protect your partners from acquiring an STD from you is to get regular checkups at the doctors.
Both you and your partner need to have routine appointments at your doctor's clinic for regular STD testing. Even if you are already aware of your positive status, you still need to be sure that you have not acquired any other STDs. Having one STD increases the probability of acquiring more, and having multiple STDs means more risk of transmission during sexual intercourse.
Regular STD checkups are a great idea because sexually transmitted diseases are best treated when caught early. Regular testing can also provide feedback on whether or not your safe sex practices are working.
If your doctor tells you to stop having sex until the results come back, it's a good idea to do so. Only resume sexual activities until your doctor tells you it's safe.
Be careful with anal sex
All kinds of sexual activities carry some risk of STD transmission, but activities which lead to loss of epithelium carry more risk than others. Anal sex happens to cause more damage to the epithelium, increasing the chances of STD transmission.
Avoid sex during an active outbreak or when intoxicated
Most STDs usually stay dormant in your body until they are triggered to become active. There's an increased risk of STD transmission in the active state compared to when the STD-causing organism is lying dormant in your body.
If you have an active outbreak of an STD, such as during a herpetic outbreak, stop all sexual activities. Visit your healthcare provider, get yourself and your partner tested for STDs, and only resume having sex until your doctor gives you the go-ahead.
Also, avoid having sexual intercourse with your partner when intoxicated. Being drunk or high does not directly cause any STD transmission, but people tend to be less careful when intoxicated and, consequently, care less about safe sex practices.
Consider vaccination
Consider getting yourself, and your partner vaccinated against STDs as well. Preventative vaccines are currently available for hepatitis B and HPV infections.
