• The best way to prevent STDs is by not having sex (abstinence) or waiting to have sex.  There are many ways to show love besides sex.  Kissing, massaging, talking, and touching feel good, and are safe.
• If you have sex, use a latex condom correctly each time. You can also use other barriers like polyurethane (plastic) condoms, female condoms, or dental dams.  Birth control methods like the pill, depo provera, or diaphragms DO NOT protect against STDs.
• Talk to your partner(s) about safer sex before having sex.  Try to select a setting that is neutral and non-sexual.  Discuss your sexual histories including past sex partners and STDs.
• Before you have sex, check yourself and your partner for any signs of STDs, such as discharge, sores, or bumps in the genital areas.  If you notice any signs, do not have sex.  Go to a doctor or a clinic to get tested.
• Limit your number of sex partners.  The more people you have sex with, the greater your chances of getting an STD.  A monogamous relationship — where you and your partner only have sex with each another — is safest.
• Go to a clinic for an STD checkup every six months if you change partners, have more than one partner, or if you think your partner may be having sex with anyone else.  You can have an STD without any signs.
• If you have an STD, make sure both you and your partner(s) get treated. Do not have sex again until both you and your partner(s) complete treatment.
• Do not share needles for tattooing, body piercing, and injecting drugs/hormones.  If you do share, learn how to clean them properly.  Ask your sex partner(s) about any past needle use.
• If you are pregnant, seek pre-natal care early.  Early detection and treatment of STDs is important to prevent transmission or development of complications.