The only downside to sex, as far as I’m concerned, is the chance of getting an STD. Sexually Transmitted Diseases can range in seriousness from an irritating itch to a life threatening crisis, and are easily avoidable whatever end of the spectrum they’re on.

Of course monogamy is the best way to prevent catching an STD, but since we don’t live in a perfect world, we have to take care of ourselves. There are male condoms, female condoms, and sponges. Some people prefer oral sex to avoid the risk of pregnancy, but with cunnilingus and fellatio you’re still running the risk of catching an STD.

That’s right, you should use protection, even with oral sex. For women, it’s simple – roll your favorite flavored condom onto your man and get to work. For men, it’s a little trickier, but one method is to cut a piece out of a condom and lay it over your ‘work area’ before going to town.

Condoms are sold in a wide variety of sizes, flavors, and textures, all designed to make them an enjoyable addition to sex play instead of a chore. And as the verdicts come in, the condom manufacturers have been largely successful. Pick up your favorite cherry flavored glow in the dark ribbed extra large along with your favorite guy or gal, and it’s game on.

Did you know it’s a good idea to use a condom with your sex toys, too? True, your beloved dildo isn’t going to knock you up, but toys that are inserted in the vagina or the anus, even when properly cleaned, still run the risk of spreading STDs if they are used on multiple partners. Simply roll a condom over the top of one, as you would on a male partner, and have fun! Discard it after use, just as you would with a real live man.

It’s also incredibly important that you clean your sex toys between uses. Most can be soaked in alcohol (be careful of wires and cords for re-chargeable units!) then gently wiped with a warm cloth to remove any excess germs. If you’re using smaller toys, such as bullets, anal plugs, or clitoral stimulators, small disposable alcohol wipes are an ideal solution.

You should also always inspect your adult toys for rips, tears, or imperfections, particularly when dealing with acrylic toys – bacteria and disease can hide in those small cuts and evade your attempts to clean them. This is why using a condom on top of your toy is also a smart bet.

Safe doesn’t always sound sexy, but it doesn’t have to be boring, either. Incorporate the use of condoms into your sex life. The most important thing is to have fun, but keep yourself protected, and there’s absolutely no reason that in this case you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Because really, what’s the fun in having cake that you can’t eat?

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Tags: condoms, Sex Toys, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, std