Protect Yourself--But HOW?

So you want to protect yourself against HIV, STDs (STIs), and pregnancy but don't know how?  And there are way too many choices out there.  So which one is right for you? 

Check it out--we put this chart together so you can figure out what's gonna work best for you.  First, find what you're using now.  Then see if there is another way that is a little better or a lot better or the best of all.  Think about maybe using that one.  But you decide.  If you never heard of one of these or don't know what it is, ask a peer or post it on the board.  You're probably not alone!

If it’s all lit up in GREEN , that means go!

If it’s all lit up in YELLOW, that means you can do better but it’s not too bad.

If it's all lit up in ORANGE, that means it might increase your risk but it depends . . .

If it’s all lit up in RED, it mean it ain’t workin and it might even make things worse.


Safe Sex/
Birth Control Choice

  PERFECT USE EVERY TIME: 
Does it work?

Protects you from:
No sex at all—no vaginal sex, anal sex, or blow jobs/going down on somebody, no rimming, no hand jobs, no nothing! Legs crossed, mouth closed, sitting on your butt method.
 		 YES! HIV
ALL STDs/STIs
Pregnancy
     

Male Condom—put on before starting sex, put on properly, put on every time you have any kind of sex—including blow jobs

Jimmies, Hoodies, Caps, Rubbers, Raincoats, Love Gloves, Balloons . . .

  YES, but . . .
 HIV
Most STDs/STIs (not the ones like warts and herpes that you get from touching)
Pregnancy
     
Female Condom—put in before starting sex, put in properly, put in every time you have any kind of sex EXCEPT oral, put in up to 7 hours ahead of time.

No nicknames—make one up! Send us your suggestions!

 YES, but . . . HIV
Most STDs/STIs (not the ones like warts and herpes that you get from touching)
Pregnancy
     
Double Dutch—NO not the jump rope thing—using a condom AND another kind of birth control  YES, but . . . HIV
Most STDs/STIs (not the ones like warts and herpes that you get from touching)
Pregnancy
     
The Shot, Pill, Patch, Ring—these are all hormone-related things. NO and YES! Does NOT protect against HIV
Does NOT protect against any STDs/STIs
Pregnancy
     
The Cap—a tiny little cap made out of latex a female puts inside her vagina that pops open over the cervix

MAYBE, NO, and YES!

How's that for confusing?

 MIGHT help a little with HIV
Does NOT protect against STDs/STIs
Pregnancy
     
The Diaphragm—a funky little rubber dome a female puts inside her vagina that pops open in front of the cervix.  Usually used with spermicide (see spermicide below)

MAYBE, NO, and YES!

Again?!?

 Might INCREASE your risk if you use spermicide; might help a little if you don't.
Does NOT protect against STDs/STIs
Pregnancy
     
Withdrawal—the pull out and hope, keep your fingers crossed, please don’t let it happen this time method Sometimes, but . . . MIGHT help a little with HIV
MIGHT help a little with most STDs/STIs (not the ones like warts and herpes that you get from touching)
MIGHT help a little with pregnancy
     
The Sponge—just what it sounds like, a squishy little sponge that gets put inside the vagina until it blocks the cervix. Usually used with spermicide (see spermicide)  MAYBE and YES! Might INCREASE your risk if you use spermicide; might help a little if you don't.
MIGHT help a little with most STDs/STIs (not the ones like warts and herpes that you get from touching)
Pregnancy
     
Spermicide—Nonoxynol 9, N-9, Foam, Cream, Jelly, Film, Bullet/Suppository NO and YES! INCREASES your risk for HIV
INCREASES your risk for STDs/STIs
Pregnancy
     
Lube—baby oil (don’t add this to a male condom), KY Jelly, Vaseline (don’t add this to a male condom) A TINY bit and NO! MIGHT help a little with HIV
MIGHT help a little with most STDs/STIs
Does NOT protect against pregnancy
     
Douching—over the counter stuff, vinegar and water, plain old water, soda, diet soda, anything weird put into the vagina. Douching is BAD!!!
 NO!!!! INCREASES risk for HIV
INCREASES risk for STDs/STIs
Does NOT protect against pregnancy
     
Plan B—The Morning After Pill, Emergency Contraceptive, EC but it has to be taken 1-5 days after unprotected vaginal sex or it doesn’t work at all NO, and YES Does NOT protect against HIV
Does NOT protect against STDs/STIs
Pregnancy
     
Outer-course—you don’t put any body fluids into another person’s body YES, but . . . HIV
Most STDs/STIs (not the ones like warts and herpes that you get from touching)
Pregnancy


 
Double-baggin’—using two male condoms at the same time, or a male and a female condom at the same time Maybe, but

It MIGHT be a little effective against HIV

Most STDs/STIs (not the ones like warts and herpes that you get from touching)

Pregnancy

BUT they will probably break and then it will be like you didn't use anything at all!!
     
No method—Raw dog. Doing the do without thinking what will happen or thinking baby mama drama is fun. NO!

This method does not protect against anything.  Not HIV.  Not STDs/STIs.  Not pregnancy. 

WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU THINKING???

 

AIDS Council of Northeastern New York
927 Broadway • Albany, NY 12207 • 518.434.4686