Safe Is Sexy: A Woman’s Guide to Sexual Health

Sex is a ton of fun, but it can get very messy, very quickly for women. (And we don’t mean the good kind of mess!) Following Women’s Health Week, we wanted to share  some helpful info with you to stay safe all year round.

These habits  are simple enough that every woman should take them on. They may seem small, but they can make a dramatic difference in any woman’s overall health.

At myLAB Box, we believe that Safe is Sexy. These are the best habits for staying hygienic in the bedroom.

Why is this important?

SURPRISE: Women Have It Harder

It’s not easy being a woman! Even when it comes to sexual health, the number of complications that can arise is few in men. Many sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have serious consequences when it comes to pregnancy. Women must take extra precautions to avoid passing infections to their children.

FOREPLAY:

Wash Up!

Ladies, you all know that certain areas of the body can get absolutely filthy during the day. Of course you’d never think about hopping into bed without making sure that you’re absolutely fresh and clean. You know what we’re talking about, right?

Wash those hands!

That means both of you! It may seem like a no-brainer, but washing up before getting down is one of the smartest moves you can make when it comes to your sexual health!

We all have potentially harmful bacteria on our hands. It may seem tricky to put a hard stop on the sexual passion, but you’ll be glad you did. For women, a partner’s dirty fingers can lead to unpleasant issues like yeast infections. But if you and your play partner both take the time for a quick rinse, you’re good to go!

Get Tested: Know Your Status

Since women are at greater risk, you should always take steps to be in complete control of their sexual health! The best protection against sexually transmitted infections will always be regular screenings. Regular is the key word there! As in “more than once.” A single negative test result is great, but it is not a permanent clean bill of health. Some infections may take up to three months from exposure to be detectable through a test. Plus, any new sexual activity always creates the possibility of exposure. Testing regularly and thoroughly is the only way to stay safe.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you get tested once every three-to-six months. Unfortunately, many of us do not heed that advice. Over half of U.S. adults have never been tested for any infection beyond HIV. And many of us don’t get tested more than once. This prevents so many of us from getting much-needed treatment for undiagnosed infections.

Knowledge is power. If any of you ladies want to learn the symptoms of each STI, check out our website. It’s filled with plenty of useful information.

STEAMY SEX:

Use Protection!

Protection should be another no-brainer these days. Besides avoiding unwanted pregnancy, using condoms during sex can drastically reduce your risks of contracting a sexually transmitted infection. Recently, the number of sexually transmitted diseases and infections has skyrocketed nationwide! According to the CDC, most sexually transmitted infections go undiagnosed and may not show visible symptoms. While many STIs are curable, they can still cause long-term health complications for women if they are left undetected.

Condoms don’t cover your entire body, so they cannot eliminate all of the risk. Since many infections are passed through skin-to-skin contact, it is still possible to catch something. After all, condoms are not invincible – they can slip, tear or leak. Condoms are a terrific prevention tool, but they absolutely are not foolproof.

Hot Tip: Be Careful When Swapping Between Anal and Vaginal Intercourse

Any intimate activity – even kissing or oral sex – can expose you to an infection.  It only takes a single encounter to transfer an infection to your partner. To make matters worse, certain bacteria can be easily transferred from a penis or vagina to your throat or anus (or vice versa).

Your rectum may not be a “dirty” place, but it has different bacteria than your vagina. Some infections can be undetectable unless a test is taken specifically for the infected area.  Typically, most clinics and doctors offices will give genital-only tests, leaving potentially-infected areas like the rectum or throat completely untested, and therefore undiagnosed.  

Fortunately, there’s a unique three-site testing option. This thorough test fully checks for any infections that might be lurking in places that traditional testing might miss.

THE AFTER PARTY:

Always Pee After Sex!

This can’t be any simpler: women should always pee right after having sex! You can never really know what kind of bacteria has entered your body after intercourse.

Fortunately, the body has a natural defense mechanism: urine!

If you pee right after sex, it will flush a lot of the bacteria out of your body. It’s a surprisingly powerful tip for your overall sexual well-being. Even if you don’t feel the need, try to force some post-coital pee.  Your body will thank you!

Committed? You are still not in the clear…

This is always a harsh topic, but we don’t all have perfect relationships. None of us can ever truly know if our partner is being 100% faithful. To combat this possibility, you should always remain proactive and monitor your sexual health. After all, we don’t stop showering after we get married, so why should we stop testing?

It may seem like a mood-killer, but there are ways to talk to you partner about getting tested and still keep the mood sexy and fun. For one thing, you can make a romantic adventure out of the situation by giving the Love Box a try.

The Love Box is a partner-focused test that tests for STIs two-at-a-time! Test together to spice up your bedroom fun and make absolutely sure that you’re both on the straight-and-narrow! You won’t believe how much better sex can be when you have ease of mind.

When in doubt: Keep It Sexy And Safe

Above all, the best sexual health habit you can maintain will always be regular screening for STIs. Testing after you have sex is great, but finding out before you hop into bed is even better.

And, at-home STD tests provide easy five-minute tests, lab-certified results, and free physician treatment consultations for those with positive results.

It’s the only real way to be absolutely sure you’re staying safe. So have fun, but definitely make sure you’re getting tested afterwards – because safe is definitely sexy!

Reviewed by Luis Ferdinand M. Papa, MD, MHA