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Lecture Notes

It seems that STIs should be easy to prevent, at least in theory. But in reality, STI prevention involves a subtle interplay of knowledge, psychological factors, couple dynamics, and behaviors. Here is how to avoid STIs:

Practice abstinence. The closest thing to a foolproof method of STI prevention is abstaining from intimate sexual contact.

Practice sexual exclusivity. Uninfected partners who practice sexual exclusivity in a long-term relationship or marriage will not contract an STI through sexual contact unless one partner had an STI when he or she started having sexual contact.

Reduce risk during sexual intimacy. Unless you are certain that your partner is not infected, you should not allow his or her blood, semen, or vaginal fluids to touch your genitals, mouth, or anus by using a condom or latex barrier.

Select partners carefully. Knowing whether a partner might be infected with an STI can be tricky and this strategy alone is often not reliable.

Avoid numerous partners. Having numerous sexual partners increases the risk for STIs.

Avoid injection and other drugs since some STIs are transmitted through blood

Get vaccinated. Unfortunately, only HPV and hepatitis A and hepatitis B have vaccines.

Protect babies. Most STIs can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth. A woman who has an STI and becomes pregnant should inform her doctor, and all pregnant women should be checked for STIs.

Be a good communicator. Avoiding an STI frequently means having to talk. Good communicators are less likely to do things against their values or beliefs. And you should never have sex with someone who will not talk about STI prevention.

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