Updated Articles and Resources

By Elizabeth Boskey, Ph.D., About.com Guide

Barebacking - Unprotected, Bareback Sex Created: Monday, June 17, 2013 Updated: Monday, June 17, 2013
Barebacking is a word used to described unprotected sex.
If my partner and I both have HIV, do we still need to have safe sex? Created: Monday, June 17, 2013 Updated: Monday, June 17, 2013
HIV positive people in relationships with other people with HIV may still want to practice safe sex. Just because you're both positive doesn't mean there aren't risks.
Hepatitis C (HCV) Infection Created: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Hepatitis C (HCV) is a viral infection that primarily affects the liver. Injection drug users often end up with dual infections of HCV and HIV.
Serosorting - HIV Risk Behavior Created: Monday, May 13, 2013 Updated: Monday, May 13, 2013
Serosorting is a behavior that may not reduce an individual's risk of HIV nearly as much as they assume it will. After all, it depends on the assumption that one's partners know their HIV status, a...
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis - HIV Prevention Created: Monday, February 02, 2009 Updated: Sunday, May 05, 2013
Although some gay men are using pre-exposure prophylaxis to protect themselves from HIV, it's efficacy has not yet been proven and it is no substitute for consistent condom use.
Viral Suppression Created: Thursday, April 25, 2013 Updated: Thursday, April 25, 2013
What does it mean for someone to be virally suppressed? Understanding viral suppression is an important component of understanding whether or not antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection is effecti...
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Created: Friday, April 19, 2013 Updated: Friday, April 19, 2013
Post-exposure prophylaxis is used to prevent infection after a person has been exposed to a bacterium or virus.
Online STD Check - Does My Casual Sex Partner Have an STD Created: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, April 09, 2013
There are a number of services that allow people to go online and check whether a potential partner has an STD.
How To Talk About STD Testing Created: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 Updated: Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Before you have sex with a new partner, it's important to talk with them about STD testing. It's a good idea for everyone to be screened for STDs before embarking on a new sexual relationship. Here...
Does period sex increase the risk of getting an STD? Created: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Does having sex during a woman's period increase the risk of getting an STD? The short answer is yes. The long answer is that it's not quite so straightforward.
Do I really have to get an HIV test every 6 months? Just going once scared me! Created: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 Updated: Thursday, March 14, 2013
Sometimes it can be hard to sort through the advice you get about HIV testing. Although universal HIV testing recommendations suggest that everyone should be regularly tested for HIV that does not ...
What Does it Mean When My Test Results Are Inconsistent? Created: Friday, May 30, 2008 Updated: Thursday, March 14, 2013
No diagnostic test is perfect. Although most modern STD tests are very good, no test is going to be 100% accurate 100% of the time. So what do you do if you get two different results of your STD te...
How Do I Get Tested For HIV/AIDS? Created: Friday, March 02, 2007 Updated: Thursday, March 14, 2013
How Do I Get Tested For HIV/AIDS?
Should I Consider a Home Test for HIV? Created: Thursday, March 14, 2013 Updated: Thursday, March 14, 2013
Now that it's possible to purchase an at-home HIV test just by going to the drugstore, there's a new question in HIV testing: Do you want to?
Treatment as Prevention Created: Thursday, March 14, 2013 Updated: Thursday, March 14, 2013
Treatment as prevention is an idea the brings a great deal of hope to those scientists studying the mechanics of the HIV epidemic. However, it requires a significant investment and changes in healt...
HIV/AIDS Overview Created: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 Updated: Monday, March 11, 2013
HIV is a virus, but AIDS is a definition. HIV-positive individuals can stay healthy for years, or even decades, before they become sick enough to receive an AIDS diagnosis. Learn about HIV/AIDS here.
Cold Fire - Safe Sex in High Fantasy Created: Thursday, February 28, 2013 Updated: Thursday, February 28, 2013
Cold Fire, a fantasy book by Kate Elliot, makes mention of the fact that the characters used protection while having sex. I was very impressed, particularly since the sex scene is written only obli...
Embracing the Notion of Enthusiastic Consent Created: Monday, February 11, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, February 12, 2013
What happens if we shift our notion of consent from "she agreed to have sex" to "she was really excited about having sex with me?"
How to Have Sex Safely Created: Friday, June 10, 2011 Updated: Monday, February 11, 2013
If you're dating, particularly casually, it's important to have sex safely. Practicing safe sex every time you have sex can help to protect you against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted disea...
Hand Job Created: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 Updated: Monday, February 11, 2013
A hand job is one way to masturbate a man.
Mutual Masturbation Created: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 Updated: Monday, February 11, 2013
Mutual masturbation is a form of sexual activity where both partners use their hands to stimulate each other.
Top 10 Reasons To Raise Your Hand In Favor of Masturbation Created: Monday, February 11, 2013 Updated: Monday, February 11, 2013
Masturbation is the safest form of sex there is. There is no chance of disease, pregnancy, or long term negative emotional consequences.
Reframing Safe Sex Negotiations - Safe Sex or No Sex Created: Wednesday, November 17, 2010 Updated: Monday, February 11, 2013
Some people find it really hard to negotiate safe sex. They go into a new relationship with the best of intentions but still find themselves having sex that doesn't include barriers or agreeing to ...
Can You Masturbate When Being Treated for Chlamydia, HIV and Other STDs? Created: Thursday, September 29, 2011 Updated: Monday, February 11, 2013
People often want to know if it's safe to masturbate when they're being treated for an STD. The answer is usually yes, but there are some caveats.
Making Casual Sex an Active Choice Created: Monday, December 12, 2011 Updated: Monday, February 11, 2013
Sometimes the question isn't, "Do I have to disclose herpes before I have casual sex?" Instead, it's, "Is casual sex a good idea if I can't disclose my herpes?"
Current Issues in STD Criminalization Created: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 Updated: Monday, February 11, 2013
Some specific examples of STD criminalization issues.
How to Tell Your Female Partner You Want To Practice Safe Oral Sex Created: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 Updated: Monday, February 11, 2013
Although people often expect to need to use condoms for vaginal and anal intercourse, many people don't expect to use them for cunnilingus. How do you negotiate using a condom for oral sex?
How To Tell Your Male Partner You Want To Practice Safe Oral Sex Created: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 Updated: Monday, February 11, 2013
Although people often expect to need to use condoms for vaginal and anal intercourse, many people don't expect to use them for blowjobs. How do you negotiate using a condom for oral sex?
Top Ways to Avoid Contracting an STD Created: Friday, June 15, 2007 Updated: Monday, February 11, 2013
You know you want to have sex, but what's the best way to do so as safely as possible? How can you reduce the risk of contracting an STD? Here Are The Top 10 Ways to Avoid Contracting an STD If You...
5 Things Not To Say To Someone With an STD Created: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, February 05, 2013
When someone has been diagnosed with an STD, it's really stressful. Here are some things to avoid saying to that person, so as not to make that stress any worse.
What are some barrier methods that can be used to protect against STDs? Created: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 Updated: Monday, February 04, 2013
A number of different barrier methods can be used to reduce your risk of contracting an STD. Each has its pluses and minuses.
Safer Sex For Lesbians Created: Thursday, August 09, 2007 Updated: Sunday, February 03, 2013
Women who have sex with women don't need to worry about getting pregnant, so they frequently also fail to think about safer sex. This is unfortunate, since there are several STDs that can be passed...

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