What are the ways to prevent sexually transmitted diseases?

Índice Show

Regular STI Check-ups
Vaccinations
Preventative Medications To Reduce Your Chances of Contracting HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
HIV Positive People
5 ways to prevent STDs include:

If you are sexually active, the best way to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) starts with safe sex. Other ways of preventing STIs include:

Safe Sex

Safe sex means not allowing your partner’s body fluids (blood, semen, vaginal fluids) into your body and vice versa.

It also means covering or avoiding contact with, parts of the body that might be infectious (for example herpes ulcers or warts).

When used correctly, condoms in combination with a water based lubricant will reduce the risk of many STIs during vaginal, anal or oral sex. Latex gloves also provide barrier protection for sexual activity involving fingers and dental dams can be used to protect against STIs during oral sex.

For more information on how to avoid an STI, see the following web pages:

Avoiding sexually transmitted infections
Safe sex and condoms

Regular STI Check-ups

Regular STI check-ups are critical in reducing STI transmission. If you are sexually active, it is recommended that you have an STI check-up even if you have no symptoms:

at least once a year
every time you change partners
if you believe you have come in contact with a person who has an STI
if you develop symptoms

For the national recommendations on testing guidelines:

Vaccinations

Some vaccinations may be recommended to help protect you against STIs. Currently SA Health is offering free vaccines for those deemed at risk. Current vaccines available include:

hepatitis A vaccine — for men who have sex with men and those at risk catching hepatitis A through sex.
hepatitis B vaccine through the High Risk Hepatitis B Immunisation Program for all Adelaide Sexual Health Centre clients
human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine — for men who have sex with men aged 20 to 26 years old.

Contact Adelaide Sexual Health Centre or speak to your nurse/doctor for more information.

Preventative Medications To Reduce Your Chances of Contracting HIV

Pre-exposure prophylaxis, also known as PrEP is a way for people to reduce their chances of contracting HIV. Daily oral medication that is currently taken by HIV positive people is now being offered to HIV negative people to reduce their chances of transmission.

Adelaide Sexual Health Centre has provided clinical leadership for PrEPX-SA, a trial to determine the impacts of large scale access to HIV PrEP medication. For more information on the study see the Alfred Health website.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

PEP for HIV is a four week treatment that may prevent you from becoming infected if you have been exposed to HIV. It consists of a 28 day course of antiretroviral medications and must be started within 72 hours of the risk exposure. For more information on HIV PEP see the human immunodeficiency virus post exposure prophylaxis web page.

HIV Positive People

For HIV positive people, HIV treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART) prevents illness and complications developing from HIV and also prevents HIV being passed to other people. HIV positive people who are taking ART regularly and have had undetectable viral blood test results for six month do not transmit HIV. For more information see Ending HIV 2020 website.

Each year, nearly 20 million people in the United States contract an STD. The eight most common STDs include: chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B virus (HBV), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human papilloma virus (HPV), syphilis, and trichomoniasis. While many of these infections can go undetected because of their lack of symptoms, they can lead to serious health consequences if left untreated.

Undiagnosed and untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea, for example, can put a woman at increased risk of chronic pelvic pain and life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, and can also increase a woman's chance of infertility.

At least 15 percent of all women in the United States can attribute their infertility to tubal damage caused by pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is the result of an untreated STD.

Because STDs are preventable, significant reductions in new infections are not only possible, they are urgently needed. Prevention can minimize the negative, long-term consequences of STDs, which is why it's important to take precautions to stay safe - like using condoms or reducing the number of sexual partners.

5 ways to prevent STDs include:

Abstinence - The most reliable way to avoid infection is to not have sex.
Vaccines - They are safe, effective and recommended ways to prevent Hepatitis B and HPV.
Reduce Number of Sex Partners – If you have more than one sex partner, it is imperative that you and your partners tested, and that you share your test results with one another.
Mutual Monogamy - Being in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner is one of the most reliable ways to avoid STDs.
Use Condoms - Correct and consistent use of the male latex condom is highly effective in reducing STD transmission. Use a condom every time you have anal, vaginal, or oral sex.

If you feel like you may already be at risk, please call our toll free number to make an appointment for STD testing. Asking is the only way to know whether you are receiving the right tests. If either you or your partner are infected, both of you need to receive treatment at the same time to avoid getting re-infected.

By educating yourself, you can avoid STDs through changes in sexual behavior and use of recommended prevention services and programs that ACCESS offers.

A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is an infection that’s spread through sexual contact. This includes skin-to-skin contact.

In general, STIs are preventable. Almost 20 million new STI cases are diagnosed each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Being mindful of sexual health and protection may help many avoid these infections.

The only guaranteed method to prevent STIs is to abstain from all sexual contact. However, when engaging in sexual activity, there are steps to limit the risk of STIs.

Effective STI prevention begins before any sexual activity. Here are some steps you can take to reduce your STI risk:

Talk honestly with potential partners about both of your sexual histories.
Get tested, along with your partner, before having sex.
Avoid sexual contact when under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Get vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis A, and hepatitis B (HBV).
Consider pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication that someone who is HIV negative can take to reduce their risk of contracting HIV.
Use barrier methods every time you engage in sexual activity.

Having a conversation about sexual health with your partner is key, but not everyone with an STI knows they have one. That’s why it’s so important to get tested.

If you or your partner has an STI diagnosis, talk about it. That way you can both make informed decisions.

Using barrier methods can lower your risk of contracting STIs. These methods can include:

using external or internal condoms for penetrative intercourse, including with sex toys
using condoms or dental dams for oral sex
using gloves for manual stimulation or penetration

Maintaining good hygiene before and after sexual contact can also help prevent STI transmission. This can include:

When using condoms and other barrier methods, it’s important to follow instructions. Using condoms correctly makes them more effective. Follow these safety precautions when using internal and external condoms:

Check the expiration date.
Make sure the package has an air bubble, which shows it hasn’t been punctured.
Put the condom on correctly.
For external condoms, always leave room at the tip and unroll the condom onto the penis or sex toy, not before it goes on.
Use condom-safe lubricant, avoiding oil-based lubes with latex condoms.
Hold onto the condom after sex, so it doesn’t slip.
Dispose of the condom properly.
Never remove a condom and try to put it on again.
Never reuse a condom.

Condoms and other barriers are very good at preventing the exchange of bodily fluids that contain the virus or bacteria. They can also help to minimize skin-to-skin contact, though they don’t completely remove this risk.

STIs that spread through skin-to-skin contact include:

If you have herpes, you may want to talk to your doctor about suppressive therapy. This type of therapy helps to prevent herpes outbreaks. It also helps to prevent transmission, but it doesn’t cure the infection.

It’s important to know that herpes can be transmitted even when there isn’t an active outbreak.

Though STIs are common, there are ways to prevent them and reduce your risk. If you’re unsure about the right method for you, talk honestly with your partner or your doctor.