Safe sex means taking steps to protect yourself and your sexual partners from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy. It also means having a healthy and respectful approach to intimacy. It’s not just about whether you’re being safe, it’s about whether you feel safe too.
Any type of sexual activity, including vaginal, anal and oral sex, carries a risk of STIs that can affect your health. Many STIs have no symptoms, and people often don't realise they have a sexual infection.
STIs are spread through infected:
The Sexually Transmissible Infection (STI) fact sheets have more detail about different STIs, including how they are transmitted, symptoms, prevention methods, when to get tested, and how to get treated.
Without consent, sex shouldn't happen. Sounds simple? That's because it is. Here are a few other things to remember when it comes to consent:
Condoms are the only form of contraception that reduces the risk of STIs and unintended pregnancies. To protect against STIs, always use a barrier, such as a condom, with a water-based lubricant for vaginal, anal or oral sex, or a dental dam for oral-vaginal or oral-anal sex.
To find out where you can get your free condoms and safe sex packs, visit Family Planning Australia's Freedom Condom project or Ending HIV.
Some people may use additional contraception methods as well, which can include:
Visit Family Planning Australia for more information.
Open and honest conversations about consent, condoms and contraceptives are key to safer and more enjoyable sexual experiences. Whether it’s a one-time encounter, a casual relationship, or a long-term partnership, clear communication helps protect everyone’s health. Talk with your partner about STIs, whether you’ll both get tested before having sex, and agree on condom use.
For more information, check out the Play Safe blog: 4 C’s of Safe Sex.
Doxy-PEP means taking a dose of an antibiotic called doxycycline within 72 hours (3 days) after having sex (oral, anal, or vaginal). It can help protect against syphilis and chlamydia. Doxy-PEP is most helpful for people who have a higher chance of getting syphilis. This includes gay and bisexual men, and transgender women, especially if they have had syphilis or other STIs in the last year.
HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medication for people at high risk of getting HIV. It is very effective at preventing HIV, but it does not protect you from other STIs.
HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) means taking HIV medication after you may have been exposed to the virus. This could be after sex, a work exposure, or another situation where HIV might have been passed on. HIV PEP helps lower the chance of getting HIV.
HIV PEP is most effective when started as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours, and no later than 3 days after exposure. The medication should be taken for 28 days following the exposure. For more information about PEP, you can visit Get PEP Now or call 1800 PEP NOW (1800 737 669).
When a person living with HIV takes their medication every day, the amount of virus in their blood becomes so low that it cannot be seen on a test. This is called an undetectable viral load. HIV is still in the body, but its ability to cause health issues is dramatically reduced. People with an undetectable viral load cannot pass on HIV through sex. This is sometimes called Undetectable=Untransmittable (U=U). If you have an undetectable viral load, you do not need to use condoms to prevent HIV. You still need condoms to protect yourself from other STIs.
To find out about U=U, HIV PrEP or HIV PEP, you can call healthdirect at 1800 022 222 (available 24 hours) or the NSW Sexual Health Infolink (SHIL) at 1800 451 624 (available from 9:00am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday).
A sexual health check-up is an opportunity for you to discuss any sexual health concerns you may have with a doctor, including concerns about STIs and HIV.
If you are sexually active, having a regular sexual health check-up is always a good idea. You don't need to have physical symptoms to undergo a sexual health check-up. To find out who you can visit for a sexual health check-up, go to Sexual health.