Safe Sex- How To Protect Yourself Essay, Research Paper

Safe Sex- How to Protect Yourself

The purpose of this paper is to give people information on the advantages, disadvantages and different forms of safe sex. This paper is done for the purpose of preventing STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), not for the purpose of birth control. This gives you different ways to still enjoy sex as you normally would, but with some different and somewhat unusual changes. Some may find this appealing and some may find it hideous. The options are up to you; I am just giving you other alternatives.

“Sex”, as defined by the WWWebster Dictionary is, “the sum of the structural, functional, and behavioral characteristics of living things that are involved in reproduction by two interacting parents and that distinguish males and females.” “Safe Sex”, also defined by the WWWebster Dictionary as, “sexual activity and especially sexual intercourse in which various measures (as the use of latex condoms or the practice of monogamy) are taken to avoid disease (as AIDS) transmitted by sexual contact.”

For sex to be consensual, partners must be prepared to adhere to each other’s requests to slow down, back off or stop. If a person feels that their partner would not honor a direct request to stop doing something, they may want to reconsider if sex with that person is “safe” or not. A barrier is any physical object, which allows sex that would otherwise be unsafe to be safer or safe by preventing the transmission of bodily fluids. These include condoms, gloves and oral barriers.

Some of the advantages of safe sex is that it will give the person greater peace of mind, can help penile/vaginal intercourse to last longer, greater comfort when penetration the anus with a finger or hand and makes the practice of anal sex more eroticized and attractive to some people. This also helps demonstrate courtesy and respect towards one’s partner(s), frees a person from having to depend solely on the other person to tell them the truth about their disease status and avoids awkwardness with new partners who practice safe sex all the time.

Some of the disadvantages would be, receiving a sexually transmitted disease and getting pregnant before you are ready. At this time in our life, most sexually transmitted diseases are incurable. You may possibly and more than likely die from a sexually transmitted disease brought on to you by an unsuspected partner.

One way to enjoy safe sex is by manual stimulation. For the woman, the clitoris and the G-Spot give high pleasurable sensation. A female will find those high pleasurable sensations with the clitoris and G-Spot more easily than they experience it through ordinary vaginal penetration. A person may use a gloved hand, vibrator or tongue on the females clitoris or G-Spot for the highest of stimulation. For the man, the prostate gland. Stimulation of the prostate gland can often cause an increase in pleasure in the penis. One should listen to the feedback of the male in finding the prostate gland, (easiest to accomplish with a gloved hand), as its location can vary from man to man. Additional pleasure for the male, one might stimulate the prostate gland at the same time one is masturbating the penis.

Communication is a must when having sexual intercourse. If a person doesn’t know what their partner is feeling or wanting, then the sex will not, or may never be, as good as it could be. This can also increase pleasure in both partners by opening up some fantasies or other sexual related ideas that one may have.

In this next section is a list of different barriers and their use and guidelines. The first off will be Latex. This includes condoms, gloves and oral barriers. Latex has been shown to protect against the transmission of HIV and other STDs. Latex barriers are usually inexpensive and available at a wide variety of different stores. Latex should not be exposed to anything with oil in it, as oil will cause the latex to disintegrate. Water-based and silicone-based lubricants should be used with latex. According to the Center for Disease Control, “latex condoms should be stored in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.” For some people, to make condoms or gloves more pleasurable, they will masturbate with them to find out what the best feel and texture they like the best.

Some ways listed here are for the advanced condom user. Switching from anal to vaginal penetration. Avoid this at all times. Some of the bacteria in the anus, if inserted into the vagina, may cause the female to be at an increase of getting vaginitis. Putting on a condom with the mouth might sound like a good idea, as long as you do it correctly. Being careful not to rupture or tear the condom, and advising to get a condom with no spermicidle on it.

Gloves are made of virus-impermeable materials and may be used to protect both partners when engaging in manual, anus or penile stimulation. Standard examination gloves are most commonly used and available. It is important that the gloves fit correctly. Be sure to remove any sharp objects a person may have on himself or herself in order to adequately have the safest sex possible.

Lubricants can protect barriers against friction that might otherwise tear them. The use of a sufficient lube on the outside of a condom can help prevent slippage, as long as it is reapplied when necessary. Lubricants can also increase the pleasure and comfort of anally or vaginally penetrative sex and masturbation. It is recommended that lubricants be used for anal sex in all cases.

These are some types of oral barriers. Dental Dam, is a small, thick square of material which was traditionally used in the dentists office; Saran Wrap, it allows a person to perform barriered oral sex without as much need for anyone to hold anything in place; Modified Condoms, by cutting off the tip, slit it up the side, stretching it out and using that as a barrier, and a Face Shield, to be put over head and face like a mask.

Some other forms of safe sex are by using “adult toys”. Don’t share them or use them on others and this can be one of the safest ways of having safe sex. Keep them clean by washing them with warm soapy water and rinsing well with hot water.

According to the American Social Health Association, one in five people in the United States has a sexually transmitted disease, 2/3 of all STDs occur in people 25 years of age or younger, one in four new STD infections occur in teenager and STD, other than HIV, cost about $8 billion each ear to diagnose and treat. Here is a list of some of the “curable” STDs:

 Chlamydia

 Trichomoniasis

 Gonorrhea

 Syphilis

 Craps

 Scabies

These are some of the “incurable” STDs:

 Genital Herpes

 Hepatitis-B

 HIV/AIDS

In conclusion, it is very important to protect yourself against STDs. As I have shown you

in the above paper, a person can still have pleasurable and exciting sexual experiences using protection. Condoms, gloves and lubricants may help save your life someday. Don’t be afraid or ashamed to use them. They are just there to help and protect the human species.

Bibliography

REFERENCES

Definition of Sex. Retrieved March 9, 2000 from the World Wide Web:

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary

Definition of Safe Sex. Retrieved March 9, 2000 from the World Wide Web:

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary

Perspectives in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion for Condoms. Retrieved March 9, 2000 from the World Wide Web: http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001053.htm

The American Social Health Association. Retrieved March 9, 2000 from the World Wide Web: http://www.asgastd.org