Preventing HIV when using sex toys or performing other sexual practices

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that causes one of the deadliest diseases known to man - Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which takes the lives of millions of people all over the world. One of the most common ways that this virus is transmitted from one person to another is through sex or sexual activity.

This is the reason why its of paramount importance that you take certain precautions while using sex toys and indulging in sexual practices.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

This virus takes a toll on your immune system by weakening it. This means that your body’s ability to fight serious health conditions such as infection and cancer goes down considerably. Though HIV is commonly associated with AIDS, the fact that you have been infected with HIV does not automatically mean you have AIDS. People who suffer from an HIV infection can take many years to develop AIDS.

The virus lives in blood, vaginal fluid of women and also their breast milk and the semen of men. The virus can spread from one person to another, if an infected person’s fluid enters the body of another person. Typically, people who have unprotected sex or don’t take preventive and precautionary measures during sex or while using sex toys are susceptible to HIV.

Sexual practices and sex toys – Things to take care of to prevent HIV

Some people don’t think beyond the moans, groans, and the sighs of pleasure that accompany sexual activity. What they forget to address is the safety perspective. Here are a few precautions you can take to ensure that you don’t suffer from infections.

Fingers and cleanliness

Your fingers are commonly used while having sex or even while using sex toys. Clean your fingers before having sex. If your fingers have any cuts or open wounds, it’s important that you cover these up before sex. If there are no wounds or cuts, your use of fingers during sexual foreplay or other activity is considered quite safe. Typically, fingers are used in and around the clitoris, the vagina, or the anal area. These are sensitive regions and prone to infections. This is why it’s important to maintain hygiene.

If your fingers have been used in and around the anal region, it’s imperative that you wash them before using them in and around the vaginal region. This will help prevent rectal bacteria to travel up the urethra. Such care will also help you stay away from bladder infections.

Sex toy hygiene

If you are in the habit of swapping sex toys with your partner, you need to make sure that these toys have been cleaned thoroughly before usage. If you don’t clean them, it can lead to the transmission of a range of serious infections. Another measure that can help you prevent getting infected is covering these sex toys with condoms. Also, you might want to do a rethink on swapping your sex toy with your partner. Another thing that you must not forget to do is clean them after each usage.

Use a detergent while cleaning your sex toy. Make sure that you scrub it well and don’t leave out the corners. After you wash them, a good idea would be to disinfect the sex toy. There might be some toys that are not waterproof, so you can wash them with wet cloth and detergent.

If you are in the habit of having sex with different people, you put yourself at risk of suffering from an infection. So, it’s important to be extra careful in indulging in sexual activity, when you don’t really know the person well. You shouldn’t have sex without protection. Using a condom every time you have sex will go a long way in helping you prevent getting infected by sexually transmitted viral infections