What is Safe sex?

Sex is difficult to talk about. I remember when I had my first sex education talk in primary school, and there was not only curiosity but a weird feeling of feeling like it was a taboo topic. In high school, we would get talks about how if we had sex, then we would be ‘impure’ and that once it happened, like glued pieces of paper stuck together, they could not separate without spoiling and ripping.

All of these metaphors and elaborate descriptions of what would happen if I had sex did not prepare me for what would happen when I had sex for the first time. Not everything is doom and gloom as it’s sometimes sold, but there are important things to be aware of when you become actually sexually active. And now, as an adult, I know things that would’ve helped me when I was younger to answer the questions I was too afraid to ask. Sometimes it’s tough to get the information you might want to know from your parents, guardians or teachers without feeling ridiculed or shamed for asking in the first place. So what do you do when you are unsure how to deal with the stigma surrounding Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS? Access to information is important when figuring out what you need to do in specific scenarios and feeling empowered to access necessary knowledge.

The basics

It is important to know that one of the possible consequences of having sex is unwanted infections of STIs and/or HIV/AIDS. One of the first things people mention is abstinence (where you don’t have sex) – but if you’ve already decided that you’re going to have sex, then the next best thing would be to use a condom, and there are many different types depending on the type of sex you’re having and your needs. Condoms can protect against STIs (including HIV) while preventing unwanted pregnancies. However, other contraceptives alone (IUD, implant, pill, injection) do not protect you against contracting STIs.

Important info

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 30 different bacteria, viruses and parasites are known to be transmitted through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex.

Eight pathogens (organisms that cause disease) are linked to STIs: 4 of them are curable (syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis), and four are uncurable viral infections (hepatitis B, herpes simplex virus (HSV), HIV and human papillomavirus virus (HPV). With more than 1 million STIs acquired every day and very high HIV incidence among women in parts of southern Africa, it is important to choose a contraceptive method and a tool to prevent STIs and HIV.

HIV can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her infant during pregnancy and childbirth by exposure to her blood or vaginal fluid and breast milk. HIV can also be spread through blood transfusion or sharing needles with someone who is HIV positive.

So what do you do now that you know this?
– Know where you can access effective and approved contraceptives and treatments closest to you in public health facilities and pharmacies.
– Get screened to know your STI and HIV status.
– Weigh up the best options for you, your lifestyle, and your body.

Conclusion

Taking ownership of your body and sexual health is your right. Sometimes it feels too grown-up or scary to make these decisions, but that is part of growing up: knowing that you can have fun and choose what you want to do while also knowing that responsibilities are attached to it. On top of that, feeling pressure from family, friends and your community can be a lot when you decide what you want to do with your body at the end of the day.

In South Africa, sexual reproductive health rights are in our Constitution:
“Everyone has the right to access health care services, including reproductive health care.”
You can make responsible decisions about who you choose to have sex with and what you do with your body while also accessing reproductive health care. Removing the stigma when talking about sex helps us to make informed choices about our bodies and any questions we might have about what to do in certain situations.

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Tell us: Did you find this information useful? Do you agree we need to talk about these topics more openly?

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