A Woman's Guide to When It's OK to Have Sex

Can I still have sex when I have a urinary tract infection (UTI)?

YES.

Risks: Urinary tract infections aren't contagious. But you should enlist the help of your doctor to find out the cause of your UTI, so it doesn't happen again. (In many cases these infections are caused by bacteria from the vaginal or anal area that has traveled up the urethra during sex.) Sex won't delay the cure once you've started antibiotics, but friction on already-inflamed tissue may worsen symptoms like pressure, pain and urgency to urinate.

How long to abstain: Having sex will not pose any health risks, but it might be uncomfortable. Let your body be your guide.

Extra Information: Make sure to urinate immediately following sex to prevent another infection. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to help dilute urine, which will make it less caustic and irritating.

Can I still have sex when I have a yeast infection?

YES.

Risks: A woman probably won't transmit a yeast infection to her partner during sex. He may experience some itching, but the organism of yeast infections doesn't grow on dry skin (like the shaft of the penis): the yeast organism thrives mostly in warm, moist environments. Sex may aggravate the woman's symptoms (redness, burning and itching), but it won't worsen the underlying condition.

How long to abstain: No need to say "no," unless you are uncomfortable.

Extra information: Use a condom to avoid giving your partner the itch.

Can I still have sex when I have a gynecologist's appointment?

NO.

Risks: Sex just before a Pap smear can irritate vaginal tissue, increasing your chance of getting a false positive result (meaning the test may indicate the presence of a problem when there's not one).

How long to abstain: No intercourse for two days before a Pap test.

Extra Information: Also avoid receiving oral sex 48 hours before your appointment to ensure accurate test results.

Can I still have sex when I have a cold or the flu?

YES.

Risks: Cold and flu germs are spread from the nose and mouth, not through sexual fluids. Sex is technically OK, as long as you don't breathe to deeply on your lover.

How long to abstain: You're usually infectious for a few days. When your sniffles or cough start to clear up, you probably won't spread germs.

Extra information: Kissing is probably a bad idea. Consider sexual positions in which you're not directly face-to-face with your partner.

Can I still have sex when I have a cold sore?

NO.

Risks: The oral type of herpes (herpes simplex I) prefers the mouth, but it can take up residence elsewhere, including the genitals, if conditions are right. Herpes infections are extremely contagious when a sore is present.

How long to abstain: Steer clear of oral sex and kissing until herpes sores completely disappear.

Extra information: Also be careful about self-stimulation. "I've seen patients who had oral lesions, used spit to masturbate, and infected their own genitals," says Maida Taylor, M.D., associate clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, San Francisco.