Safe sex basically means not allowing another person’s blood, semen or vaginal fluids into your body, and vice versa. It can also mean covering up parts of the body that might be infectious.

The only way to be certain of never getting an STI is to never have sex, but there are ways to reduce your risk of catching or passing on an infection if you do. For safe vaginal or anal sex, and preferably for oral sex too, condoms are best and are the most effective way of reducing the risks.

Lubricant helps stop a condom from breaking and is essential for anal intercourse. Rub a water-soluble lubricant like KY Jelly, not Vaseline or any petroleum jelly or oil-based lubricant, onto the outside of the condom.

When you're buying condoms, make sure they've got the European CE safety standard mark and that they are within their expiry date. Ideally, get them from a pharmacist, clinic or medical centre.