Editing Safe sex (section)

===Condoms, dental dams, gloves===
{{anchor|Barrier protection}}
Barriers, such as condoms, dental dams, and medical gloves can prevent contact with body fluids (such as [[blood]], [[vaginal fluid]], [[semen]], rectal mucus), and other means of transmitting STIs (like skin, hair and shared objects) during sexual activity.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Gil-Llario MD, Morell-Mengual V, García-Barba M, Nebot-García JE, Ballester-Arnal R | title = HIV and STI Prevention Among Spanish Women Who have Sex with Women: Factors Associated with Dental Dam and Condom Use | journal = AIDS and Behavior | volume = 27 | issue = 1 | pages = 161–170 | date = January 2023 | pmid = 35788924 | pmc = 9852118 | doi = 10.1007/s10461-022-03752-z }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Claure I, Anderson D, Klapperich CM, Kuohung W, Wong JY | title = Biomaterials and Contraception: Promises and Pitfalls | journal = Annals of Biomedical Engineering | volume = 48 | issue = 7 | pages = 2113–2131 | date = July 2020 | pmid = 31701311 | doi = 10.1007/s10439-019-02402-1 | s2cid = 254185613 | pmc = 7202983 }}</ref>

[[File:How To Put on a Condom graphic.png|thumb|How to put a male condom on a penis]]
[[File:Safe sex.webm|thumb|Demonstration of penile-vaginal penetration with a condom, a safe sex practice]]
* External [[condom]]s can be used to cover the penis, hands, fingers, or other body parts during sexual penetration or [[oral sex]].<ref name="Corinna" /> They are most frequently made of [[latex]], and can also be made out of synthetic materials including [[polyurethane]] and [[polyisoprene]].
* Internal condoms (also called [[female condom]]s) are inserted into the [[vagina]] or [[Human anus|anus]] prior to sexual penetration. These condoms are made of either polyurethane or [[nitrile]]. If external and internal condoms are used at the same time, they may break due to friction between the materials during sexual activity.
* A [[dental dam]] (originally used in dentistry) is a sheet of latex typically used for protection between the mouth and the [[vulva]] or anus when engaging in oral sex. 
* [[Medical glove]]s and [[finger cot]]s made out of latex, vinyl, [[nitrile rubber|nitrile]], or polyurethane can cover hands or fingers during [[Non-penetrative sex#Manual sex|manual sex]] or may be used as a makeshift dental dam during oral sex.<ref name="Corinna">{{cite book |vauthors=Corinna H |title=S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-to-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through Your Teens and Twenties |date=2016 |publisher=Da Capo Lifelong Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0738218847}}</ref><ref name="Moon">{{cite book | vauthors = Moon A |title=Girl Sex 101 |date=2018 |publisher=Lunatic Ink |isbn=978-0983830900}}</ref>
* Condoms, dental dams, and gloves can also be used to cover [[sex toys]] such as [[dildo]]s during sexual stimulation or penetration.<ref name="Corinna" /><ref name="Moon" /> If a sex toy is to be used in more than one orifice or partner, a condom/dental dam/glove can be used over it and changed when the toy is moved.

Oil-based [[Personal lubricant|lubrication]] can break down the structure of latex condoms, dental dams or gloves, reducing their effectiveness for STI protection.<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Corinna H |title=S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-to-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through Your Teens and Twenties |date=2016 |publisher=Da Capo Lifelong Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0738218847 |page=294 |edition=2nd}}</ref>

While use of external condoms can reduce STI risks during sexual activity, they are not 100% effective. One study has suggested condoms might reduce HIV transmission by 85% to 95%; effectiveness beyond 95% was deemed unlikely because of slippage, breakage, and incorrect use.<ref name="Varghese">{{cite journal |vauthors=Varghese B, Maher JE, Peterman TA, Branson BM, Steketee RW |title=Reducing the risk of sexual HIV transmission: quantifying the per-act risk for HIV on the basis of choice of partner, sex act, and condom use |journal=Sexually Transmitted Diseases |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=38–43 |date=January 2002 |pmid=11773877 |doi=10.1097/00007435-200201000-00007 |s2cid=45262002 |url=http://ww2.aegis.org/files/AskDoc_refs/varghese2002-29-1.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724224853/http://ww2.aegis.org/files/AskDoc_refs/varghese2002-29-1.pdf |archive-date=24 July 2011}}</ref> It also said, "In practice, inconsistent use may reduce the overall effectiveness of condoms to as low as 60–70%".<ref name="Varghese"/><sup>p.&nbsp;40.</sup>