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Sexual Health

Health risks associated with certain sexual activities

You need to be careful with your body and limit dangerous exposures. Very few people anticipate getting a sexually transmitted disease, especially the lifetime ones like herpes or HIV. This is definitely not something you think about when a sexual moment is at hand, so take time now and consider that certain sexual activities may be more risky. Here is a brief list of sexual practices that may have adverse health-related side effects:

unprotected intercourse – risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STD)
oral sex without a condom (male or female)– risk of sexually transmitted disease
multiple partners – increased risk for sexually transmitted disease
anal sex – possible injury and tears, risk of infection and abscess, tendency to be practiced by higher risk groups making STD transmission more likely.
body piercing – risk of infection including tetanus, hepatitis and blood borne infections
erotic asphyxiation (suffocation) – more common in men, but some women do this; it causes more than 1,000 deaths per year.
sadism or masochism (hurting your partner or yourself) – risk for injury

There may be more sexual practices, other than those listed above, with potential for adverse health effects. Use good sense and exercise caution when exposing your body to sexual contacts. Be certain to discuss any concerns you have with your health care provider.