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safe sex
Sign in to saveAlso known as safer sex
ways to reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancy or acquiring STDs
Safe sex refers to practices and precautions—such as using condoms or other contraceptives—that reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It matters because these preventive measures help protect the health and well-being of sexually active people.
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Research
18,158 papers- Safe sex and first-episode schizophrenia.ReviewBulletin of the Menninger Clinic · 2001Mason SE, Miller RDOI: 10.1521/bumc.65.2.179.19401
- Safe sex includes knowing your partner's HIV Status.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2017Levison JDOI: 10.1038/jp.2016.178
- Moving beyond safe sex to women-controlled safe sex: a concept analysis.ReviewJournal of advanced nursing · 2012Alexander KA, Coleman CL, Deatrick JA et al.DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2011.05881.x
- Exploring the Concept of Safe Sex in Adolescents: Insights From a Scoping Review Approach.Nursing & health sciences · 2025Chainok L, Chiaranai C, Jai-Ai RDOI: 10.1111/nhs.70212
- Polygamy and safe sex negotiation among married women: evidence from Cameroon.BMC infectious diseases · 2023Dhillon S, Amoak D, Chidimbah Munthali GN et al.DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08826-4
- Safe sex during pregnancy.The journal of family planning and reproductive health care · 2010Young SDOI: 10.1783/147118910791749281
- 'Safe sex': evaluation of sex education and sexual risk by young adults in Sydney.Culture, health & sexuality · 2021Cook MA, Wynn LLDOI: 10.1080/13691058.2020.1805797
- Biomedical bargains: Negotiating "safe sex" on antiretroviral treatment in rural South Africa.Social science & medicine (1982) · 2023Angotti N, Mojola SA, Wen Y et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116036
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Encyclopedic overview
Male (or "external") condoms can be used to cover the penis for safer sex during vaginal or anal insertion or fellatio. Dental dams can be used to cover the vulva or anus when engaging in cunnilingus or anilingus, respectively, for safer sex. Internal condoms, also known as female condoms, can be used by receptive partners for safer sex.
Safe sex is sexual activity using protective methods or contraceptive devices (such as condoms) to reduce the risk of transmitting or acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs), especially HIV. The terms safer sex and protected sex are sometimes preferred, to indicate that even highly effective prevention practices do not eliminate all possible risks. It is also sometimes used colloquially to describe methods aimed at preventing pregnancy that may or may not also lower STI risks.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “safe sex” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.