SAFER SEX, PART TWO FROM KISSING TO INTERCOURSE

With the exception of virgin marriage monogamy (see card 64), all sex acts involving contact between bodily fluids-saliva, semen, vaginal fluid, or blood-entail degrees of risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as syphilis (see card 75), gonorrhea (see card 76), herpes (see card 77), and AIDS (see card 63).

KISSING can spread STDS like herpes, but no one has gotten AIDS from kissing. Avoid biting; HIV will spread through blood.

MASTURBATION WITH A PARTNER (vaginal or anal) is less safe than kissing but safer than oral sex. To reduce risks, trim your fingernails short and clean your hands before putting them in your mouth.

ORAL SEX with a man is medium-risk if he does not ejaculate in your mouth and high-risk if he does. Oral sex with a woman is highrisk because STDs, including AIDS, can spread through vaginal fluid. Condoms and dental dams make oral sex safer (see card 66). INTERCOURSE (vaginal or anal penetration) is the most common transmission path for AIDS and other STDs. It is made safer, but not entirely risk-free, by proper use of a condom (see card 66).

PROMISCUITY (Sex with two or more partners in succession) is not dangerous in itself, no matter what kind of sex acts occur, but unless every sex act is fully protected with a condom, having many partners rapidly increases your risk of STD and AIDS infection.

SERIAL MONOGAMY Occurs when two people who've previously had sex with others decide to be sexually faithful. Such couples will be safe, no matter what kind of sex they practice but only if they both test negative for all STDs and AIDS before getting together and only if neither one secretly has sex outside the relationship. Next Card 66: HOW TO PUT ON A CONDOM

SAFER SEX, PART TWO