Whether you’re in a monogamous relationship or dating around, it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your sexual health
An accidental pregnancy is not the only thing you should be worried about. If you’re sexually active, your sexual health should be of utmost priority. As unfortunate as it may sound, a single condom isn’t enough. Based on our last interview with a certified sex expert, we’ve put together a five-item checklist to help keep you on track. Remember these tips the next time you plan to have intercourse so that you don’t run the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections or STIs.
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Get tested
Go to clinics and get tested as often as you can. You’re not just safeguarding your own health, but also the health of your partner this way. Even if you don’t feel or see any physical symptoms, you could still be a carrier for an asymptomatic STI, such as human papillomavirus otherwise known as HPV.
Stay hygienic
It’s important to keep up with your hygiene when you’re sexually active to keep your risk of STIs low. This doesn’t just mean keeping your hands and genitals clean before and after sex, but also remembering to avoid oral sex directly after anal sex. Men should also remember to replace each condom after every use.
Bring protection
Bring more than one kind of protection and make sure to have more than one of each so the fun lasts long. Besides condoms, have other sexual wellness products on hand as well, like vaginal contraceptive film and dental dams.
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Bring lube
Lubricants are not just there to increase pleasure. Since lube reduces friction, penetration becomes less likely to cause damage to the vaginal and anal canal. It’s also important to use if your partner is experiencing vaginal dryness.
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Stay hydrated
In case you didn’t know, being hydrated helps improve libido, energy levels, and sperm quality. So leading up to your sex appointment, be sure to drink plenty of water to not underperform. You can even keep bottles of water around you to stay hydrated during lovemaking.
