Reducing your risk of STIs and BBVs

While testing is an important part of managing STIs and BBVs, here are some other methods you can use to reduce your risk:

Communication

Talk about sexual health with your partner s so everyone can make informed choices.

Barrier methods

Condoms can prevent STIs, BBVs and unplanned pregnancy. Dams can also prevent STIs during oral sex.

HIV prevention

You can protect yourself against HIV by taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) every day.
Effective HIV treatments are available to prevent people with HIV from passing it on to others through sex (undetectable = untransmissible).
If you think you have come into contact with HIV, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can help protect you if you take it within three days.

Vaccination

Vaccines are available to protect against hepatitis B and some strains of HPV that can cause genital warts and cervical cancer.

Needle safety

Avoid sharing or reusing injecting equipment.
You can get sterile needles through a needle and syringe program. Check out healthywa.wa.gov.au/NSPWA.
Only visit tattoo and piercing places with high safety standards