Avoid high-risk sexual behaviors

High-risk sexual behavior can lead to the acquisition of sexually transmitted illnesses such as gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, or HIV infection. High-risk sexual behavior is also known to spread human papillomavirus infection, which can lead to cervical cancer in women and other anogenital cancers in both men and women. High-risk sexual behaviors include the following:

• Multiple sex partners
• Sex partners with a history of the following:
• Intravenous drug use
• Venereal disease (sexually transmitted diseases or STDs)

Adverse consequences of high-risk sexual behavior:

• Transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes)
• Transmission of hepatitis B (50% of hepatitis B infections are due to sexual transmission) and, in rare instances, hepatitis C
• Transmission of human papilloma virus (HPV), which can cause genital warts and anogenital carcinomas, most commonly cancer of the uterine cervix
• Unplanned pregnancy

Recommendations (tips):

• Avoid unprotected sex (sex without barriers such as a condom) outside an established, committed, monogamous relationship.
• If you plan to have sex and are unsure of your partner's health status, use a condom.