This section has information about different sexual activities, as well as the risks they involve, and how this can be reduced. In nearly every case, condoms will help protect you against the risk of sexually transmitted infections. 

To reduce the risk of getting or passing on an STI: 

  • Always use condoms and dental dams for oral, vaginal, and anal sex

  • Learn how to use condoms and dental dams properly 

  • Use plenty of condom-friendly lubrication for anal sex 

  • Always use a fresh condom with any sex toys 

  • Wash your hands thoroughly before and after touching yourself 

  • If you’ve touched your partner’s genitals, wash your hands before touching your genitals, mouth, or eyes 

  • If you’ve touched your own genitals, wash your hands before touching your partner’s genitals, mouth, or eyes 

  • Communicate with sexual partners about what you do and what you don’t want 

  • Take more care when having sex when under the influence of alcohol or drugs 

  • Regularly get tested for STIs 

  • Talk about testing with your partner 

Explore the sections below for information about different sexual activities 

 

Vaginal sex is when a penis enters the vagina, is rubbed against the area around the vaginal entrance or when vaginas are rubbed together. Vaginal sex carries a high risk for both partners for most sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) and of getting pregnant. If a sexual partner has an STI, it can enter the bloodstream easily if semen or vaginal fluid from the person with an STI gets inside the vagina. 

Find out more about sexually transmitted infections here - Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) - NHS 

To reduce risks from vaginal sex: 

  • Always use a condom for penis-in-vagina sex, to protect against pregnancy and STIs 

  • Use lots of condom-safe lubrication 

  • Change condoms before switching to oral or anal sex 

  • Use a fresh condom if sharing sex toys 

  • Wash hands thoroughly before touching the face or genitals 

  • Get checked for STIs before you have sex 

Oral sex is when the mouth is used to stimulate someone’s genitals, such as by licking, sucking, or kissing. Oral sex is a medium-risk activity for most sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Some STIs, including gonorrhoea, herpes, genital warts, chlamydia, and syphilis are easily caught through unprotected oral sex. 

Though the risk is lower, HIV can also be passed on during oral sex if semen enters the bloodstream. This can happen if there are small cuts or sores in the mouth of the person giving oral sex. Vaginal fluid can also contain the HIV virus and can pass into the bloodstream through cuts in the mouth. 

The risks from oral sex can be reduced if you: 

  • Always use a fresh condom or dental dam 

  • Change the condom or dental dam if in use for a long time 

  • Maintain good oral hygiene to prevent bleeding gums and sores (but don’t clean your teeth immediately before, because this can cause bleeding) 

  • Refrain from oral sex if there are any signs of infection, or if the person giving oral sex has any cuts or sores in their mouth 

Anal sex is when a penis or sex toy is inserted into the anus. Anal sex carries a high risk for both partners for most sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Being the receiver of anal sex carries the greater risk of infection, though it is very risky for both partners. Although using a condom reduces these risks, if it breaks it’s easy for any infection to pass between sexual partners. 

Many sexual infections, including HIV, gonorrhoea, syphilis, Hepatitis B and C, and chlamydia can be present in semen and inside the anus. Herpes sores and genital warts can form inside the anus where they might not be noticed. 

To reduce risks from anal sex: 

  • Always use a condom 

  • Use lots of condom-safe lubrication 

  • Always use a dental dam or cut up condom to kiss or lick someone’s anus 

  • Change condoms before switching to oral or vaginal sex 

  • Change condoms if having sex for a long time. 

  • Use a fresh condom if sharing anal toys 

  • Wash hands thoroughly before touching the face or genitals 

Masturbation means using your hands to stimulate your genitals or your partner’s genitals. It’s a medium-risk activity for most sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when practised between partners (mutual masturbation) and a no risk activity for STIs if you do it alone. 

It’s a good way to find out what you do and don’t like and where you like to be touched. Masturbating alone is normal and common and there is no risk of catching a sexually transmitted infection.

Some people masturbate whilst watching pornography (porn). If you do this make sure what you are accessing is legal and remember porn isn’t real and you shouldn’t expect real sex to be like it. It is possible to become addicted to masturbation. If you feel like you’re losing control, or the need to masturbate is interfering with your everyday life, or is causing injury to your genitals, then you should cut down. If you are finding it hard to cut down then seek help from your GP or sexual health clinic. 

The risks of catching an STI through mutual masturbation can be reduced if both partners: 

  • Use a condom or internal condom 

  • Are careful not to spill any semen or vaginal fluids 

  • Use plenty of condom-friendly lubrication 

  • Avoid touching the eyes, mouth, nose, or any broken skin 

  • Wash their hands before and after 

  • Clean up any spillages. 

Sexting and online sex means using phone calls, text messages, online video, internet chat rooms, email or instant messaging to exchange sex chat with another person or send explicit pictures or videos. There is no risk of sexually transmitted infections to either partner. However, there are still other risks from sexting and online sex and some things you should know if you’re thinking of trying it. Someone could record your conversation or make your chat, pictures or video public. They might post your pictures publicly online. If someone distributes your images without your consent this is wrong and known as ‘revenge porn’, this is a form of abuse. 

Sexting or online sex between two consenting adults is not illegal, however you need to be careful that the person at the other end is legally old enough to be engaged in sexual activity. If you receive sexual images by, or of, someone under 18 this can be classed as child pornography. If you send them on then you could be guilty of distributing child pornography. These are serious offences, and you could end up in prison or on the sex offenders register. It is also an offence to send sexual images of yourself or sexual messages to someone under 16, or to send sexual images or messages to anyone who does not consent to receiving them. 

Sexting your regular partner: 

  • Only ever send pictures because you both want to – don’t send something because you feel pressured to do so. 

  • Make sure the other person is expecting to receive something explicit and has consented to receiving it.  

  • Double-check who you are contacting - be sure that it will be received by who you think it will 

  • Remember that, even if you trust someone, they could lose their phone, it could be hacked or things between you might change. 

Sexting someone you don’t know: 

To reduce the risk of someone you don't know tracking you down in real life: 

  • Don’t post any shots of your face or any tattoos or other unique marks 

  • Make sure your images are password protected – or better still deleted once they have been viewed. 

  • Don’t use your real name 

  • Use a different screen name from all your other login and usernames 

  • Don’t give out your phone number, email address, or address 

  • Avoid giving details of your job, friends, or leisure activities. 

To avoid trouble with the law: 

  • Ask how old the person is first 

  • Don’t engage in sexting and online sex fantasies that would be illegal in real life 

  • For pictures and video, stick within the UK laws on decency 

  • If you receive something you think is inappropriate, delete it immediately. 

 

Sex toys can be used to stimulate you or your partner. They come in different shapes and sizes and can be bought or homemade. If you use a homemade sex toy make sure it isn’t going to break and is clean. Commercial sex toys are widely available and can be bought online or in shops, including some high street stores. 

If you use sex toys alone there is no risk of STIs, although you should still be sure to keep them clean. Using sex toys with a partner is a medium-risk activity for most sexually transmitted infections (STIs). 

When using sex toys, be careful not to hurt yourself or your partner with them. If you use something that’s too big, you could rip or tear the skin inside the vagina or anus. Sex toys can break during use and damage the genitals or become stuck. Prolonged use can also damage the skin of the penis or around or inside the vagina or anus. 

If sharing sex toys, bacteria, viruses and parasites that cause STIs can easily be passed between partners. Find out more about STI’s here Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) - NHS 

 

The health risks from using sex toys can be reduced if you: 

  • Always cover the toy with a fresh condom before use 

  • Change condoms before swapping toys with a partner 

  • Change condoms between use on different parts of the body (vagina, anus, mouth) 

  • Use plenty of condom-friendly lubrication 

  • Only use well-made toys displaying the European safety CE mark 

  • Follow manufacturers advice on how to clean and store them 

  • Wash with warm soap and water before and after use 

  • For anal use, always use toys with a cord or plug on the end that can’t pass inside. 

Group sex is sex with more than one person at the same time. This could be a threesome or a sex party. It can involve multiple people having sex together at the same time, or partner swapping. People in a relationship may have sex with other couples. This is sometimes known as swinging. 

The more people you have sex with, the greater the risk of catching an STI, the chances that someone will forget to practise safer sex are increased. A condom or dental dam could slip or break and allow infectious bacteria or viruses through, viruses like herpes and parasites like trichomonas can be present on the skin in areas not covered by condoms or dental dams. Bacterial infections like gonorrhoea can also be present in the throat. 

The risks to physical health from group sex can be reduced if: 

  • Group sizes are kept as small as possible 

  • Everyone agrees to practise safer sex techniques 

  • Everyone gets tested for STIs 

  • Everyone changes condoms each time they change partners 

  • Everyone changes condoms between use on different parts of the body (vagina, anus, mouth). 

Pornography (or porn) is explicit pictures or videos designed to sexually stimulate. More recently, lots of easily-accessible porn consists of content that is increasingly violent and/or degrading, particularly towards women. Whilst you can’t get an STI from watching porn it can harm you in other ways. Porn gives people a distorted view of sex, unrealistic expectations about sexual performance, and it can be addictive. Like anything that gives you pleasure, (alcohol, drugs, chocolate) you can find yourself wanting more and more of it.  

Possession of child pornography (‘indecent’ photographs of children under the age of 18) is a serious criminal offence and could lead to a lengthy prison sentence.   

How can I reduce the risks from pornography? 

The easiest way to reduce the risk from porn is to stay away from it all together. Activating porn filters on your computer and mobile device can help reduce the chance of opening unwanted materials. If you really want to watch it, make sure what you are viewing is legal and limit the amount you view. If you are in a relationship, talk about your use of porn with your partner. 

If you find pornography online that you suspect to be illegal, report it to the Internet Watch Foundation immediately. Reports are confidential and can be submitted anonymously.