Skip to content

Surgery Door
Search our Site
Tip: Try using OR to broaden your
search e.g: Cartilage or joints
.

Safer sex - men

Having safer sex means that you and your partner can enjoy sex and reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections (including HIV) or unplanned pregnancy.

Safer sex doesn’t allow an infected partner’s blood, semen or fluid from the vagina to get inside the other partner’s body.

To have safer sex, remember the following.

  • Always use a condom when you have vaginal or anal sex.
  • Get used to putting on a condom. They can be a part of your foreplay. Please read the instructions on the packet carefully.
  • There’s a female condom, which fits inside the vagina. You can get it from most chemists.
  • You can enjoy foreplay, and sex without penetration, such as kissing, masturbation, stroking or massage.
  • Use a condom for oral sex so that you have a barrier between the genital area and the mouth. You could try a flavoured or non-lubricated condom.    

  • When you have oral sex with a woman you can use a dental dam (a thin latex square). If you hold this in place over the genital area, there will be a barrier between the genitals and the mouth. You can get dental dams from some sexual health clinics, chemists and some mail-order agencies. If you want more information, please call the National AIDS Helpline free on 0800 567 123.

  • If you are having anal sex, use a stronger condom and plenty of water-based lubricant. Stronger condoms you can look out for include Durex Ultra Strong, or Mates Superstrong.

  • If you are going to share a sex toy such as a dildo or vibrator, put a condom over it. You must wash the sex toy between your activities and put on a new condom for each partner and activity. Please don’t use the same condom for vaginal sex after you have used it in the anal area, as you could pass on bacteria that could cause an infection.