What is It?

Barrier Protection refers to any method that creates a barrier between two people’s bodies that can be used during sex, or sexual activities, to stop one person’ fluids and/or skin from touching another’s. This is important because without protection, present STIs (including chlamydia, HIV, gonorrhoea, HPV, etc) can be passed to partners during sexual activities. The specifications of how these are passed vary with each STI, but protection acts as a fantastic method for reducing the risk of STI transmission during many sex acts. Some forms of protection can also be used to prevent pregnancy during sexual activities where pregnancy is possible.

Contraception refers to methods that are used to prevent pregnancy during sexual activities. These include some, but not all protection methods, and not all contraception methods limit STI transmission. There is a wide range of options available.

Why do we use it?

Barrier Protection has many uses, it keeps our bodies safe, and can make us feel more comfortable and less worried during sex. That being said, not everyone uses them. It is important to know what activities put you at higher risks of pregnancy and/or STIs, and what other sexual health strategies are out there. That way, you can make informed choices about what is right and feels good for your body.

For people that are thinking about protection as a strategy to decrease the risk of STIs, protection must be used during any form of sex where multiple people’s fluids come in contact with one another other than kissing (any form of penetration, tribbing/scissoring, or oral sex). The risk of transmission is low when you use your hands for most STIs, as long as you remember to wash your hands between touching yourself and your partner(s). The more people you or your sexual partner/partners sleep with – the more likely one of you is to come in contact with someone with an STI. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t have all the sex you want to have, just that it’s a good idea to factor it into how you understand, how often you get tested, and communicate to partners your risk of having an undiagnosed STI.

People that use protection as a method of contraception often appreciate its affordability, accessibility, and simplicity. If you know you will have protection on hand, and will remember to reach for it in the heat of the moment then this can be a great strategy for you. If that’s not your situation, but you would be more likely to remember a pill at the same time every day, consider talking to your doctor about a birth control pill/patch, or about the medication PrEP that’s used to prevent HIV. You can also look into IUDs as a highly effective pregnancy prevention strategy that works for years and doesn’t require you to remember something regularly. Other methods such as the pull out method are less effective at preventing pregnancy. There are many things to think about, just make sure you and your partner(s) are on the same page about what contraceptive / STI prevention strategy is do-able and makes you both feel safe and confident.

Thinking about choices around protection and contraception is important for everyone engaging in any sexual activities regardless of genders, sexualities, background, and body parts . It’s important to consider what might be right for your body, your partner(s)’ body, and the types of sex you are having/might want to have.