Safer Sex
General Safer Sex Guidance
Make a choice for your sexual health:
- Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Testing
- Available Birth Control Methods and Options
- Understanding Abstinence
Safer Sex Supplies:
- Use a condom, internal (female) condom, or dental dam every time you have sex to reduce the risk of STIs. Safer sex supplies can be found within the residential colleges, generally in laundry rooms, common spaces, like lounges and butteries.
Additional Tips to Remember:
- Practice open communication with your partner. This includes discussing STI testing, sexual likes and dislikes, and safer sex supply use.
- Avoid using alcohol or drugs before or during sex. This may decrease the likelihood of practicing safe sex.
- Water- or silicone-based lubes are safe to use with condoms. They also reduce the chance that the condom will break during sex. Water-based lube is easier to clean up, but usually doesn’t last as long as silicone-based lube (which means you have to reapply it more). However, silicone-based lube can destroy silicone sex toys, so be careful and use water-based lubes with toys. Don’t use oil-based lubricants (Vaseline, massage oils, food oils, baby oil, or body lotion) because they can break down the latex in the condom causing it to be ineffective at preventing HIV, STI transmission, or pregnancy.
- Urinate before and after sexual intercourse. This may help limit the risk of a urinary tract infection (UTI).
- Some students might become pregnant during their time at Yale, or worry that they have become pregnant. If this happens, the best thing to do is to call Ob/Gyn at 203-432-0222 and ask to speak with a nurse, who can offer some immediate advice and can also set up an appointment with a clinician for a more extensive conversation, testing, and an examination.
- PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis) is a medication that can protect against HIV if taken every day. PrEP is an option for those HIV-negative and concerned about their exposure to HIV. Students who are interested in receiving PrEP can make an appointment with their provider at Student Health 203-432-0312.