When most people hear the term “safe sex” they think of protection against pregnancy and STI/STDs.   Protection against pregnancy is also called contraception. The most common thing used to prevent STIs is a condom.

This table shows some of the different methods used and what their effectiveness is to prevent pregnancy, STIs, and to prevent the other consequences of sex that are not physical.

*Chart references found at www.cdc.gov

*Failure rate/typical use means the number of pregnancies out of 100 women who used this form of contraception regularly for one year.
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Using these methods will result in varying effective rates. But it is important to realize that safe sex is about risk reduction, not complete risk elimination. That is a critical distinction.

It is more accurate to say “safer sex” because the only method that is 100% effective in preventing pregnancy and STDs is abstinence.

What is the difference between risk reduction and risk elimination? If I reduce my risk I am lowering my chances, my odds, of being effected by the risk. If I eliminate my risk I am making a choice that will prevent all chances of being effected by the risk.

You have to ask yourself what the acceptable risk is for you?