We’re going to need to face the truth at one point or another; if you hook up with slags all the time, you run the risk of contracting an STD. Your risk might be lower or higher depending on how often you hook up, but it’s a sad fact that you can’t guarantee that every woman is going to be completely clean when you hook up with her. There are, however, some things you can do to make sure you at least reduce your risk of catching something. We’ve learned this the hard way, and we’re grateful that we never caught anything incurable. Still, there are important precautions to take whenever you’re looking to hook up.

Screen Your Dates

There are a couple things you need to do when you’re hooking up with a new person. The first is the most uncomfortable by far: you’re going to have to ask her whether she’s clean. Yes, this can be awkward, especially if you’re worried that the answer might be “yes.” Suck it up. You’re not a teenager. If your date is so insulted at the question that she won’t sleep with you, you don’t want to sleep with her. If she refuses to answer the question, she has an STD and you shouldn’t sleep with her.

The other thing you’re going to do is perform a cursory visual exam before you hook up, preferably. This is something you don’t have to be obvious about, but it’s a good idea to give all genital areas a quick visual inspection before you start touching. This won’t protect you from unseen diseases like chlamydia and HIV, but it’s a good extra precaution against herpes and syphilis.

Wear Protection

This should go without saying. Wear protection whenever you’re having sex. Condoms can be fun and sexy if you want, but more importantly, they can literally save your life. You don’t want her to get pregnant, and you don’t want to explain to your family that you caught something horrible from a slag you met online. Wear a condom for any kind of sex you have, no exceptions. If she objects to using protection, this is a weird one, and you’re going to need to find another woman to hook up with. You don’t want to become some child’s father because the mother is desperate to start a family.

Get Tested

Getting tested isn’t proof against contracting an STD. It is, however, important. If you’re sexually active, get tested once every six months, and make sure you follow a course of treatment for anything you might have contracted. If you start feeling symptoms before your six-month test rolls around, go to the doctor anyway. The sooner you treat yourself and any conditions you might have, the sooner you’ll be able to hit the streets (and the sheets) again. Privacy and comfort are secondary to your health and the health of the girls you’re sleeping with, so make sure to do the responsible thing and get tested regularly.