Safer sex means reducing the risk of catching infections. Condoms are a vital part of safer sex, but not the whole story! The more partners you have the more at risk you are of catching an infection, so you need to consider this. Only have sex with people because you want to.

Some sexual things you do, put you more at risk of an infection than others. Blood, semen and vaginal fluids can carry infection.

Rubbing, massaging, cuddling, light kissing, mutual masturbation have very little risk of infection

Oral sex - you can catch infections through oral sex, but it is less risky than vaginal or anal sex without a condom. The risk from oral sex is reduced if you use a condom or dental dam ( latex square ).

Vaginal or Anal sex without a condom are the best way to catch an infection.

Rimming - using the mouth to stimulate the area around the back passage, carries a risk of catching hepatitis A and B, because the virus can be present in faeces (poo).