Preventing sexually transmitted infections

If you are sexually active, there are many ways to protect yourself and your partner(s) from getting or passing on sexually transmissible infections (STI). Using a combination of prevention strategies offers the best protection for your sexual health.

Get tested regularly

Regular STI testing is an important part of maintaining good sexual health. Many STIs do not cause symptoms, so you may not know you have an infection. Left untreated, some STI can lead to serious health complications. 

To help protect yourself and your partner(s):

  • Have regular STI tests
  • Encourage your sexual partner(s) to get tested regularly
  • Seek testing if you have symptoms or think you may have been exposed to an STI.

There are a range of free, bulk-billed and low-cost sexual health services available in South Australia. GPs can provide STI testing, although some people may prefer to access care through a specialist sexual health service. 

See the Sexual health services page for more information.

Practise safer sex

Safer sex involves open communication, mutual consent and taking steps to reduce the risk of STI. Strategies include:

  • Talking openly with your partner(s) about sexual health and STI testing
  • Using condoms or dental dams during vaginal, anal and oral sex
  • Avoiding sexual contact if you or your partner has a sore, lump or rash around the mouth, genitals or anal area
  • Avoiding sharing sex toys. If sex toys are shared, use a new condom for each person and clean toys thoroughly between uses
  • Using HIV PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to reduce the risk of HIV
  • Using Doxy-PEP (doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis), where appropriate, to reduce the risk of some bacterial STI, including syphilis
  • Knowing how to access HIV PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) if you think you may have been exposed to HIV
  • Getting tested for STI if a condom breaks or if sex occurs without a condom.

While safer sex practices can significantly reduce your risk, no method is 100% effective. That is why regular STI testing remains an important part of looking after your sexual health.

Always use protection

Using protection every time you have sex can significantly reduce your risk of getting or passing on STI.

Condoms

Condoms help protect against many STI, including:

Condoms can also prevent unintended pregnancy.

To use condoms effectively:

  • Use a new condom every time you have sex
  • Never reuse condoms
  • Follow the instructions carefully
  • Use water-based or silicone-based lubricants to help prevent condoms from tearing.

Dental dams

Dental dams are thin latex or polyurethane barriers used during oral sex. They can be placed over the genitals or anus to help reduce the risk of STI transmission.

To use dental dams effectively:

  • Use a new dental dam each time
  • Never reuse dental dams.

What condoms and dental dams can't protect against

Condoms and dental dams reduce the risk of many STI, but they do not provide complete protection against infections that can spread through skin-to-skin contact, including:

Hormonal contraception, such as the Pill, implants or injections, do not protect against STI. Even if you are using contraception to prevent pregnancy, condoms are still recommended to help protect against STI.