In Singapore, sexually transmitted diseases can be acquired through vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Condoms and the right lubricant can help to prevent STDs.
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Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be passed on through sexual activity. This can include vaginal sex, oral sex, and anal sex. In general, sex between two women carries the lowest risk of transmitting STDs, while sex between two men carries the highest risk. Sex between a man and a woman is in between, with the risk of transmission from the man to the woman being higher than the risk of transmission from the woman to the man.
These risks are related to the risks of different types of sexual activity. Anal sex has the highest risk, because there is a high likelihood of damage to the anus when it’s penetrated. The small tears that develop allow a portal for disease-causing microorganisms to enter into the body. Because sex between two men is likely to be anal sex, men who have sex with men have a high risk of acquiring STDs.
Vaginal sex has a lower risk of transmission than anal sex, and oral sex has a lower risk still. Performing oral sex on a woman is a very low-risk activity, since there is minimal sharing of bodily fluids during this activity. Sharing sex toys between two women is also relatively low-risk. However, even low-risk activities do have some chance of transmitting STDs, and if these activities are performed frequently, then the chance of eventually acquiring an STD becomes much higher. In Singapore, sexually transmitted diseases are more frequently caused by heterosexual activity, because sex between a woman and a man is the most common type of sex.
The most effective ways to prevent yourself from getting an STD are to completely abstain from sexual activity (including oral sex), or to restrict sex to within a mutually monogamous relationship. The relationship will only protect you if your partner remains monogamous (which, unfortunately, is not always the case), but if the boundaries are maintained, then there will be no need to worry about STDs.
Depending on your situation, neither of these methods may feel right for you. If you choose a lifestyle in which you have multiple sex partners or change partners frequently, then there are ways to make yourself safer from STDs. No method is perfect, but it’s still worth the effort to minimize your risk.
Condoms are the best way to protect yourself from STDs. Use latex condoms, because they’re the most effective. Male condoms, which fit over the penis, are most effective, but female condoms, which are placed inside the vagina, also work well, and allow the woman to have control over condom use. (Don’t use both types at once, because the condoms tend to stick together and pull each other off.)
If you’re allergic to latex, use polyurethane; animal-skin condoms (such as lambskin) don’t protect against STDs and are less effective at preventing pregnancy than are latex or polyurethane condoms, because they’re porous enough for small organisms such as viruses and bacteria to pass right through them. Some people prefer textured or flavored condoms to enhance the experience of sex.
Using a lubricant with the condom can help to make it more effective by reducing breakage, and can also make sex better. It’s important to use the right lubricant. Oil-based lubricants can damage latex condoms, reducing their effectiveness, so don’t use baby oil, hand lotion, or Vaseline. Instead, choose a water-based lubricant, such as K-Y Jelly or Astroglide. For maximal pleasure, there are many types of lubricants available, including those with flavors and those that heat up during sex.
References
Sexually transmitted at Shim Clinic, Singapore