Protect
yourself and your partner
Abstinence
Just because you’re
going out with someone you
don’t have to have sexual
intercourse together. For
some people sexual feelings
are bound up with love and
close relationships. Some
think sex should only happen
within marriage. For some
people sex and love are two
different things. What is
important is that you feel
good about yourself and what
you’re doing and that
you keep yourself safe.
Be Faithful
The more sexual partners
you have the higher the risk
of you and your partners becoming
infected. Know yourself,
know your partner, be faithful,
protect yourself and your
partner
Use
Condoms
If you and your partner decide
to have sexual intercourse
you need to PROTECT AGAINST
HIV
Using a condom is the ONLY
way to reduce the risk of
infection. The contraceptive
pill can prevent pregnancy
but it can not protect you
against HIV and STDs.
Knowing someone well isn’t
going to protect you against
HIV. You cannot tell if someone
is free from infection by
just looking at them –
it doesn’t matter how
nice they are.
It can be difficult to say
that you want to use a condom.
You might be worried that
it suggests that you don’t
trust or love your partner.
But condoms are there to keep
you both safe and using condoms
are the most effective method
to prevent HIV should you
decide to have sex.
Alcohol and
drug use
Alcohol and other drugs can
increase the risk of HIV infection
by affecting the way you feel
and act. You might have sex
and find it difficult to use
a condom. You might even forget
altogether about protecting
your self.
Sharing equipment used to
inject drugs can also pass
on HIV. The best way to avoid
infections is not to inject
drugs. The next best thing
is not to share needles and
syringes with anyone.
Join in the fight against
AIDS
