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Protecting yourself and your sexual partner from getting an STI.There is no such thing as "safe sex". However if you are going to have sex, practise "safer sex". Safer sex means giving and getting sexual pleasure in ways that don't put you or your partner at risk of getting an STI. It's important that you talk to each other about sex - what you feel, what you like to do, what you don't like doing. Discuss how you are going to handle the risk of pregnancy and of STI. If your partner doesn't want to have sex at the present time, respect that decision. Good communication about sex is one way of showing that you really care for your partner, helping to build a good relationship. Planning ahead is the best way to make sure that you don't have unprotected sex. If there is any chance that either of you could pass on a sexually transmitted infection, perhaps from a previous partner, you should talk about it together and see a doctor or other relevant health care worker for a sexual health check. If you don't want to go to your family physician, in most countries there are alternatives such as special, or sexual health, or youth or family planning clinics. If you have no symptoms of an STD and you're going to have sex, then you should still know how to have safer sex.
Safer sex isn't just about HIV and AIDS. However, there is evidence that HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, can be passed on more easily if one sexual partner has another sort of sexually transmitted infection, including chlamydial infections.[MEW] January, 2008
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