Abstaining from sexual activity altogether is the only 100 percent effective method of preventing pregnancy and disease. Even if someone has engaged in sex before, the option of abstinence is still available. For some individuals, abstinence may mean not having sexual intercourse. For others it may mean not having any genital contact whatsoever. No genital contact is the best protection against STDs.
Abstinence is a positive, healthy choice that many people make.
There are a number of other intimate activities people can engage in without having sexual intercourse. Choosing to have safer sex means using protection against disease and pregnancy. Latex condoms are the most popular and frequently used type of protection for several reasons. They are 97 percent effective when used correctly and protect against STDs as well as pregnancy. Condoms are also easily available and fairly inexpensive.