Explainer

What is safer sex

What is safer sex?

Safer sex is more than just reducing the risk of STIs and unwanted pregnancies.

Safer sex is pleasurable sex. Safer sex is consensual sex. Safer sex involves open and healthy communication. Safer sex incorporates a lot of different practices for all kinds of people and all kinds of sex.

As LGBTQ+ folks, our experiences have largely been excluded from mainstream sex education. This means there are more than a few myths and misconceptions circulating in society, and within our communities – particularly as it relates to queer women, trans and gender diverse folks, and the people who sleep with us.

We’re here to sort fact from fiction and provide you with all the information you need to have safe, consensual and pleasurable sex!

Safer sex terminology

We’re going to use plain terms like vulva, vagina, penis and butt. Using anatomical terms for body parts helps us clearly explain sex practices and risks related to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood-borne viruses (BBVs).

It’s important to flag that these words won’t fit everyone’s experiences. Our communities use a range of different terms to talk about our bodies, our parts and our experiences. Importantly, body parts and practices don’t have genders – people do.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

One of the best ways to look after your sexual health is to get tested regularly. Most STIs are asymptomatic – that is, there are no noticeable symptoms. As such, you can’t rely on symptoms alone to tell if you have gotten an STI.

Regular testing means STIs can be detected and treated early, reducing the risk to your health and preventing STIs from being passed to others.

Different sexual acts carry different levels of risk for passing on STIs. Some STIs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea, spread through sharing vaginal fluids, rectal mucus and semen. Using barriers such as condoms, gloves or dams helps lower the risk of getting or passing on an STI.

Other STIs like herpes, HPV and syphilis can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact – without sharing bodily fluids – so eliminating the risk of an STI just isn’t possible. This is why we recommend regular sexual health testing!

Visit Healthdirect to find a sexual health clinic in your area.

Telling your sexual partners about STIs

Talking to sexual partners about STIs can feel awkward and scary, but remember, STIs are a normal part of having a sex life. If we work on having open communication with our partners about STIs, then together we’re reducing the stigma keeping our community safe.

If you are not feeling confident or you are unsure about how to approach this conversation, there are online services that will let you anonymously text your sexual partners to let them know they may have been exposed to an STI and should book a sexual health test. Check out our Partner notification section for more information.