How to Look After Your Sexual Health

Everyone is at risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD) if they are sexually active. If you don’t protect yourself both before, during, and after intercourse, you will be at risk of an unplanned pregnancy or an STD, such as HIV, HPV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and hepatitis, to name a few diseases.

It only takes one sexual encounter to become pregnant or contract an STD, which is why you must protect yourself underneath the sheets. Find out how to look after your sexual health.

Practice Safer Sex with a Barrier

Many options are available for safer sex. Any sexual activity can increase your risk of an STD, including anal or vaginal penetration, oral sex, genital contact, or sharing sexual fluids.

Use one of the following barriers for the best protection during sexual activity:

• Custom designed condoms (male or female options)
• Internal condoms
• Dental dams
• Nitrile or latex gloves

The above barriers can protect you and a partner from skin-to-skin contact or sexual fluids, which could stop the spread of an STD or prevent an unplanned pregnancy.

Prevent an Unplanned Pregnancy with Birth Control

In addition to using a barrier during sex, you can increase your safety by taking a form of birth control.

For example, if a woman doesn’t wish to become pregnant, they should use one or more of the following birth control options when sleeping with a man:

• Combined pill
• Contraceptive patch
• Intrauterine device (IUD)
• Intrauterine system (IUS)
• Contraceptive implant
• Morning-after pill
• Vaginal ring

Discuss Sexual History with a Partner

It is essential you and your partner are open and honest when discussing your sexual history. It isn’t always an easy conversation to have before sex, especially if you’re in a committed relationship, but it will help you make an informed decision about sleeping with a partner.

Understanding your spouse’s past will help you identify if you’re at risk of a potential STD. Plus, it could provide an insight into their experience level in the bedroom, which can shape how you approach intercourse together.

Use a Sex Toy

Sex toys can provide many sexual health benefits. Using a dildo or vibrator alone or with a partner can improve your sexual function, comfort, and openness to sex, which will lead to more positive sexual experiences.

Also, studies have found that women who use a vibrator or dildo are more likely to attend a gynecological exam. By attending the essential examinations, a doctor could catch the following health issues early:

• Cancer
• Uterine fibroids
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Ovarian cysts

It doesn’t matter if you’re gay, heterosexual, or another sexual orientation; there is a device to improve your sexual function, confidence, and health, such as lesbian sex toys, cock rings, massagers, and more.

However, you must ensure you wash a sex toy after each use to prevent a build-up of bacteria, a urinary tract infection, or bacterial vaginosis.

Take Regular Tests (And Act on Symptoms)

Despite following the above steps to protect yourself, it doesn’t hurt to take regular sexual health tests if you’re sexually active. Some STDs can cause various symptoms, such as:

• Painful urination
• Discharge
• A rash
• Lumps or skin growths
• Blisters and sores
• Warts
• Vaginal bleeding

Be aware some STDs will have no symptoms, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, HPV, Hepatitis B, and Trichomoniasis. However, if you have any of the above symptoms, don’t hesitate to book a test ASAP.

Regular testing can help you catch an unwanted STD early, which will lower your risk of various health issues, such as:

• Infertility
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Cervical cancer
• Meningitis
• Perinatal and congenital infections
• Bladder issues
• A reduced life expectancy with HIV

There is no reason to feel embarrassed about booking a test, as it will prove you care about your sexual and general health. Plus, it will provide peace of mind that you have a healthy, happy body.