7 Safer Sex Mistakes Guys Make That Lead to Them Getting STIs

When it involves the fundamentals of intercourse training, typically the one issues individuals find out about are the significance of sporting condoms and STI transmission — in brief, they’re taught find out how to forestall worst-case situations, relatively than educated in a constructive, pleasure-affirming approach in regards to the nice ways in which intercourse could be a fantastic a part of their lives.

Unfortunately, even that STI-centric intercourse ed focus tends to not register for many individuals, as a result of STI transmission nonetheless happens all too regularly.

RELATED: 4 Key Tips That’ll Help to Keep You STI-Free

But possibly you have been taught about this stuff a few years in the past — and even under no circumstances.

So with the intention to assist forestall the unfold of sexually transmitted infections, AskMen spoke with three intercourse consultants about frequent errors individuals make that result in unfavorable sexual well being penalties. Here’s what they needed to say:

Not Wearing Condoms

Condoms are one of the helpful instruments there are in the case of having consequence-free intercourse. When used correctly, they’re extremely efficient in the case of stopping being pregnant and in addition the transmission of sexual infections.

“Condoms are hugely important in curbing the spread of STIs,” says SKYN Condoms’ intercourse and intimacy professional and creator Gigi Engle. “Everyone should be using them to protect themselves.”

Wearing Condoms Incorrectly

Unfortunately, sporting a condom alone doesn’t assure safety from infections. Incorrect condom use is “another common mistake that can lead to unintended pregnancy or STIs,” says Dr. Kate Balestrieri, a licensed psychologist, licensed intercourse therapist and founding father of Modern Intimacy.

So, let’s undergo some methods individuals screw up condom utilization:

  • Using an expired or punctured condom. (“Before you wrap it up, be sure to check that the packaging is intact, and it is not expired,” says Balestrieri.)

  • Opening a condom together with your tooth. (“It might look sexy to open a condom wrapper with your teeth, but it increases the odds of the condom being torn or punctured,” she provides.)

  • Re-using a condom, whether or not with totally different companions and even with the identical one. (“Definitely do not reuse a condom,” Balestrieri cautions. “It is a one-time-use product and can more readily tear or break when used more than once.”)

  • Putting it on incorrectly (“Leave room at the tip of the condom, but be sure to press the air out of it after it is rolled on, to avoid ruptures during use,” she explains.)

  • Wearing the mistaken dimension of condom. (Too giant or too small and there’s a larger probability it’ll come off mid-coitus.)

RELATED: What to Do If You Hate Wearing Condoms

Not Getting Tested Frequently Enough

Apart from condom utilization, common testing can also be an necessary approach we are able to minimize down on the unfold of STIs. One of the primary causes for that’s that folks typically don’t know after they’ve contracted an an infection.

“One of the most common symptoms of an STI is no symptom at all,” says sexologist Jess O’Reilly, Ph.D., host of the Sex With Dr. Jess podcast.

As such, in case you’re not getting examined, you haven’t any dependable approach of understanding what your STI standing is.

“If you’re sexually active, talk to your healthcare provider about getting tested,” O’Reilly says. “Their recommendation in terms of frequency of testing will vary according to your risk for STI transmission. If you don’t have a healthcare provider, there are many options for ordering STI testing kits online and local clinics offer free testing from coast to coast.”

“It can be daunting, scary, annoying, and time-consuming to schedule regular STI tests, but making assumptions about your sexual health can lead to unintended transmission and more severe symptoms or complications,” Balestrieri says.

“The CDC recommends that folks with multiple partners ought to get tested for STIs every three to six months, and that includes any kind of sex (oral, vaginal, anal),” she provides.

Not Taking PrEP

While most STI transmission within reason manageable, some are extra critical than others — probably the most critical being the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, which may result in AIDS if left untreated.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is a leap ahead in our potential to forestall HIV transmission, and is revolutionary in the best way it’s altered the dialog round HIV transmission within the homosexual group.

“If you’re having sex with multiple partners, it’s a really good idea to be on PrEP to avoid getting HIV,” says Engle. “It’s a daily medication that is 99% effective.”

Not Educating Themselves on STIs

“Many people conflate their self-perception with their risk of getting an STI,” says Balestrieri. “They may underestimate the prevalence of STIs and/or believe only people they have othered in some way could be positive. Get educated, and don’t rely on self-righteousness as a form of risk reduction. People from all walks of life can and do test positive for STIs.”

RELATED: How to Diagnose and Treat Chlamydia

One type of miseducation Balestrieri factors out? Believing that oral contraception stops STIs.

“The birth control pill is designed to prohibit pregnancy and has no recorded efficacy in thwarting the transmission of STIs,” she says. “Do not rely on oral contraception as a form of risk reduction for STIs.”

RELATED: Sexually Transmitted Infections That Show on Your Face

Leaving the Onus of Responsibility on Your Partner

For straight guys, intercourse can generally be a sport of letting the lady determine. If they see it as being “up to her” whether or not the intercourse occurs or not, they could additionally take a extra passive position in the case of whether or not condoms are used.

After all, in case you can’t get pregnant, a associate keen to forgo condoms could also be seen as a bonus relatively than as a purple flag. But that’s an unproductive mind-set a few dialog that needs to be a two-way road, O’Reilly factors out.

“Your gender and genitals do not determine the role you ought to play in safer sex,” she says. “Everyone can play a role, so step up and talk about safer sex practices from the onset.”

Not Talking About Safer Sex

“Communication makes sex safer and more pleasurable,” O’Reilly says. “And when you talk about safer sex, it can put you at ease to enjoy sex with fewer worries and distractions.”

O’Reilly suggests these dialog starters that will help you deal with the speak easily:

  • “I was last tested X months ago. How about you?”

  • “Before we get to the good stuff, let’s make sure we’re both feeling comfortable about safety precautions…”

  • “I brought condoms. Is there anything else you want to use to reduce risk?”

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