If both you and your partner are totally monogamous – meaning you have no physical sexual contact with another person outside of the relationship – and you have both tested negative for HIV, and other STDs, then it is not necessary to practice “safe sex” in terms of disease transmission.
If, however, the person with whom you are having sex is having relations with even one other person, or if even if you suspect they might be, then yes, safe sex practices are mandatory. The best protection against sexually transmitted disease is correct and regular use of a condom, a fresh one used for every encounter. Be aware, however, that some sexually transmitted diseases, such as genital herpes, can be contracted from the skin around the genitals, even when no obvious signs of disease are present.
Answered by
Ajay Chawla
, an ibibo Master,
at
3:12 PM on September 14, 2008
