About Ashley Madison, How it works and Contact Number |
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Will you give out my private info to marketing companies? | Top | |
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We do NOT sell, rent or give away our member's personal email addresses or other personal information to any third party company under any circumstance.
For more information about our Privacy Policy, please click on 'Privacy Policy' on the link provided at the bottom of any page. |
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Does it cost anything to use this website system? | Top | |
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It's free to sign up as a Guest Member.
As a Guest you may do the following for no charge: Receive winks Send and receive photos Add members to your Favorites list Reply to any Full Member Perform searches If you wish to send a custom mail-message, initiate a chat session, send a priority message or send virtual gifts to express your interest you will have to upgrade your account to a Full Member. To upgrade your account, click on the 'Buy Credits' button located on the main console when you are logged into your account. |
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What are the minimum operating requirements? | Top | |
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Minimum computer requirements to use our site with optimum results are:
Use a PC or Mac Windows 95 or higher Netscape 6.x or higher Browser - Internet Explorer 7.0 x or higher Browser - Firefox (Mozilla) Java Script must be enabled Minimum 28.8k modem Firewalls disabled Pop up blockers disabled You should not be on a proxy server Your screen resolution should be set to 1024 x 768 or higher. Our site will function at lower resolutions. However, the appearance may not be optimal. We currently do not support Web TV. |
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What features do you have? | Top | |
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The following features are available:
Instant messaging, mail messaging, gifting, winks, sending and receiving photos, member searches, favorites and blocking. Instant Messaging
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What do I do after I sign up? | Top | |
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If you haven't completed your profile and added photos, take a few minutes to add some finishing touches so that you receive the attention you want.
You can edit your profile details at any time for no charge. You can add up to 13 photos to your account. You should describe your interests and preferences for others to know more about you and what you are looking for. The more information you provide about yourself, the more appealing you will appear to members reading your profile which will lead to more success. You may begin by using the Advanced Search feature to locate members who are online and ready. When you find a member you're attracted to who is chat ready, you can initiate an instant message session, or send them a wink message. If you wish to initiate contact you can upgrade your membership from Guest to 'Full Member' and purchase credits so you can initiate instant messages and/or send custom mail messages. To purchase credits and upgrade your account so you can start communicating on a more personal level click the "Buy Credits" button where you can review all our discrete and convenient methods of payment. Once you make contact with one or more members, give yourself some time to get to know them better. Chat and exchange messages. Don't rush things and suggest speaking on the phone or meeting for coffee in a public place before making any further commitments. |
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Are there any 'Singles' on Ashley Madison? | Top | |
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There are many single people on Ashley Madison that wish to meet attached people for various reasons.
If you are single and wish to meet an attached person, you're probably going to have to try a little harder. Single people don't have as much to risk. We suggest that you remain patient and keep trying. People in relationships may feel that you have an upper-hand and that you may not be sympathetic to their circumstances. Take your time to build an additional level of trust with attached people you wish to meet. Alternatively, single people have more flexibility with their schedule & are usually more available. Singles are more apt to work within your limitations since they have few boundaries. Single people can also be more fun to be with - their guard is down & they don't care who sees them. |
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How do I know the Ashley Madison website system & membership base are for real? | Top | |
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While we can't guarantee the authenticity of any profile on Ashley Madison, we endeavor to ensure that all Members signing up for our service agree to the Terms & Conditions that outline acceptable use of our system.
In addition, Ashley Madison undertakes to ensure your confidence in many ways: We proactively preview every photograph and all text changes posted to the public section of our website and use our best efforts to edit or modify any information that does not comply with our acceptable operating standards. If you use credits to send a mail message to any member that becomes involuntarily suspended, we automatically refund those credits back to your account. That way, you can initiate contact with confidence. We have been in operation since late 2001 and launched in January 2002. We openly disclose our Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy and Disclaimer information at the bottom of EVERY page you view. This information clearly outlines how we collect your information and what we do with it, our code of conduct, etc. Ashley Madison has been featured in numerous news segments on national television, radio and news print. (From our Home Page, click on 'Media Center' to view news Articles about Us.) Ashley Madison constantly re-invests in the long-term viability of our business by spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in main-stream advertising so you know that qualified new members are signing up and that new regions are being developed. (From our Home Page, click on 'Media Center' to view our Print, Radio & Television Advertising.) We do not attempt to draw you in to an endless cycle of recurring monthly debits from your credit card or bank account by automatically billing you without your permission. If you wish to use the advanced service features of our system, simply buy or replenish 'credits' (Tokens) at your own discretion. We provide you with our toll-free number and physical mailing address where many of our staff are stationed because we know you may need to reach us using methods other than email: The Ashley Madison Agency, Limited 20 Eglinton Ave. West, Suite 1200 Box 2055 Toronto, ON Canada M4R 1K8 Tel: 1-866-742-2218 (Toll-free) Fax: 1-416-545-1510 |
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Is there a code of conduct or protocol for using this site? | Top | |
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While we do not monitor private messages, we will not tolerate harassment, racial or ethnic slurs, threats, and insulting messages being sent to our members.
We also do not allow the solicitation of goods or services on our site, commercial advertisements, "spamming", or anyone under the age of 18. Always be kind, courteous and well mannered. Treat other members as though you were speaking to them face-to-face and build some rapport before getting too personal and giving out personal contact information. Please refer to the Terms & Conditions located at the bottom of every page while logged into your Ashley Madison account. |
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Registration Information |
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Will you send any information to my home or office? | Top | |
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We respect your privacy, security and anonymity. We will never send you anything as we do not ask for any personal information upon registration.
Please note that we DO send you system notices to the email address you entered when you Registered. You can opt-out of notifications and emails at any time by editing the settings and preferences from your Mailbox and Manage Profile section. Important Note: When sending an email to Customer Service, you must write from the email address you entered on your Ad Profile when you registered and provide your profile number. |
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How long does it take for my new Ad Profile to be approved? | Top | |
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Ad Profiles are active immediately upon your completion of registration. Custom content may take up to 24 hours to be approved during peak times, week-ends and holidays. | ||
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Why must I add a valid Zip/Postal code? | Top | |
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Adding a correct Zip/Postal code enables our system to match you with other members that are within close geographical proximity to you. For example, you can find members and other members can find you if you live say, within 25 miles of each other. | ||
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Why must I enter a valid email address? | Top | |
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We will need to send you system notices from time to time and will send them to the email address you provide us with.
If you lose your username and password information it is confirmed to your email address when requested by you. For that reason, please ensure that you sign up with an email account that is secure and used only by you. If you do not have a secure email account, you may consider using one of the free email services available to most internet users. (E.g. Hotmail) You can opt out of system messages at any time. To do so, go to 'Mailbox', then click on 'Settings' to view your mail notification options. |
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Safe Dating Tips |
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Do you pre-screen Members? | Top | |
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We do not pre-screen Members and do not endorse any profile on this system. Always be safe and mindful of what you are doing. Having fun should not expose you to unnecessary risks. Be smart. Remember, everyone you initially meet on this system will be a stranger to you. | ||
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Are any profiles endorsed by Ashley Madison? | Top | |
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No, we do not pre-screen members therefore we do not endorse any profile on our system. | ||
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I'm planning on meeting someone. What should I remember? | Top | |
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Meeting someone through The Ashley Madison Website System is inherently similar to meeting through specialized offline venues and as long as the same standards of safety are followed, you can feel at ease while getting to know each other in this new social scene. Just trust your instincts and use common sense.
If you are planning on meeting someone in person, remember the following: Never give out your home or office phone number as an initial means of contact. Use the service features offered on our system or an anonymous e-mail address or mobile phone number. Try and tell at least two people where you're going to be, the name of the person you're meeting, what they look like and when you expect to be home. You can provide this information without revealing the purpose of your meeting. Always meet in a visible, neutral location. Provide your own transportation to and from and never make arrangements to meet or be picked up at your home or office. Always meet in a public place like a restaurant or coffee shop. Go at your own pace. Plan for a short first date so that if you feel uncomfortable, you have an easy way out. Avoid the "Cyrano-syndrome". Emails can be deceiving so don't get carried away in an email fantasy. Always be mindful of the personal details you're providing and do not reveal information that may make it easy to locate you in the event you do not wish to see the person again. Use your common sense and good judgment. If you get a bad feeling about your date, it may be better to simply cancel. |
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Public Photos, Keys & Private Showcase Photos |
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How do I request access to someone's Private Showcase? | Top | |
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From the main search results page or from the Member's profile details page, click on the 'purple lock' and then click 'Request Access to Private Showcase.' | ||
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Mail-Messaging |
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How do I view my mail-message history with another member? | Top | |
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To view your message history with a member you have been in contact with, open the mail message and click the 'Message History' button. Your last 10 messages will be displayed. | ||
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How do I send a Wink? | Top | |
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Male Guest members can send free pre-composed Winks. 
To send a Wink, view the member's profile details, click 'Send Me A Wink', choose a pre-composed wink message, then click 'Submit' at the bottom of the page. Female Guest and Full members can send free pre-composed Winks. 
Note: If you have paid 5 credits to initiate contact with a member the Wink option is no longer available. You are able to send a custom written message for no charge. |
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Instant Messaging - Classic Chat |
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How do I use the Instant Messaging feature? | Top | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Set your profile to "Chat Ready"As a Full or Guest member you must have your profile settings and your status in the instant message window set to "Chat Ready" and you must be "Online" to initiate a chat session. Your online indicator must be green and read "Online". To set your status to online go to "Manage Profile", Profile Settings, the box beside the option "Check this box if you wish to show as OFFLINE when you are logged in", should NOT be selected, click "Save". To set your status as "Chat ready" click the "Status" button located to the left of instant message window. It must read "Available for chat" and appear green. Searching for a "Chat Ready" memberYou may use the Quick Search drop down menu, the Advanced Search feature and your Favorites list to locate chat ready members. Quick SearchOn the Quick Search Tool Bar click on the arrow beside the text box that reads "Anytime" and chose "Chat Ready" then click "Search".  Advanced SearchClick the button that reads "Advanced Search".  On the Status/Login bar select "Chat Ready" and click "Search" located at the bottom of the page.  Favorites ListTo chat with a chat ready member on your "Favorites" list go to "Lists" and select "Favorites" You may click on the button that reads "Chat with me" located under the "Status" column, the instant message window will open and you may begin to type your greeting in the dialogue box.  Full Members - How to initiate a chat sessionTo begin an instant message session, locate a member who is "Chat Ready", view their profile details page and click the "Chat with me" button (the button must appear active and NOT grayed out). The instant message window will open. Type your greeting in the dialogue box and click the "Send" button. Your instant messaging session options will appear. Choose the session duration you wish to begin and click "Start Session".   How to View a Member Profile in ChatThe nickname of the member you are chatting with appears in every exchange of chat with each member. Their nickname is highlighted and underlined. You may click on this link to view the profile details of this member.  Member ListWhen a member comes into your chat, the member list will open and be displayed to the right of the instant message window.  When you have a message waiting from a member their nickname will flash and change color in the member list. Click the nickname to view the conversation.  You may hide or show your member list at any time by clicking the arrow key located to the right of the instant message window. You may remove a member from this list by clicking the x located to the right of their nickname. Pop out windowTo maximize your chat window click the "popout" maximize button.
To minimize and restore the screen click the close button located in the titlebar of your chat window or click on the popout minimize button  .
Alternatively you may click on the message reading "The chat client is currently popped out. Click here to restore chat client." located in your main browser. Pause/Timer Button - Full Members onlyThe pause button is located to the left of your instant message window and will only appear when you have initiated a chat session and will be visible until you have used all your minutes.
You may hover your mouse over the pause button to view your remaining minutes. To resume chatting click the "Pause" button again. 
When you are using your credits for a chat session, you may click the "Pause" button to stop the timer. The pause button will turn red. Banking MinutesYou are able to bank your remaining minutes for a 24 hour period from the time you started your session before they expire. EmoticonsYou may select an emoticon to send during your chat by clicking the yellow smilie emoticon located to the left of the IM screen. To send an emoticon, select an emoticon and press the enter key or click the "Send" button.  Change your chat statusTo change your chat status from the IM Window, click the green status button located to the left of the IM window and make a selection.  GiftsTo send a gift click the "Gift" icon located to the left of the IM window.
Gift selections will open in the lower portion of the page. Choose the gift you wish to send, you may type a personal message or send the pre-composed message, click "Send Gift". Private Showcase Keys - Send & RevokeYou may send your private showcase key to a member by clicking the key located to the left of the IM window.
You may revoke your private showcase key by clicking the key again. Emoticon Legend
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Ad Profiles |
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How do I create a Free Ad Profile? | Top | |
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To create your own free Ad Profile, (Guest Membership) click 'Register' from the Ashley Madison home page. (www.ashleymadison.com)
Complete the online Membership form and upload photos the get the best results. NOTE: Your email address, password, answer to security question, zip/postal is held in the strictest confidence and is never revealed to any other member. After you have completed the Membership form you will have unlimited access to the free features offered by the Ashley Madison system. You can contact or be contacted by, opposite sex and same sex members if you choose. |
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What are the Ad Profile Guidelines? | Top | |
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Your ad should be positive,interesting and give other members intriguing details about who you are, what you like and what you're looking for. Remember, this is your first impression. If you're vague or crude, you may not get a large response. Try to imagine yourself at a party or a club, and you've just walked up to someone you're interested in - How would you introduce yourself? How would you describe yourself?
Your preferences can say just about anything. Show off your charm. Here are some things that are not permitted: Personal contact information in your profile or opening line. This includes MSN or ICQ numbers, personal email addresses, phone numbers, websites, etc. Graphic or foul language (swearing) or inappropriate language in your 'Caption'. Anything cryptically imbedded in your information that may violate anything in this section. Solicitation of any goods or services. Slandering / defamation. Illegal activities / Promoting anything illegal. Please also review our Terms and Conditions for more details. |
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How long does it take for my Ad Profile to be approved and does it ever expire? | Top | |
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Ad Profiles are active immediately after completing the FREE registration process. Custom written content must be approved by our administrators and is generally approved within 4 hours however may take up to 24 hours during peak times, week-ends and holidays.
Your Ad Profile never expires. |
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For what reason(s) will my Ad Profile be removed? | Top | |
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Upon registration you agree to our Terms and Conditions of Use. Any member who violates these terms will be suspended. | ||
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Billing & Payments |
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How will the charges appear on my credit card? | Top | |
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Please visit the Buy Credits section for details on how your payment will appear on your credit card statement for payments made in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
Note: For your discretion and your convenience, there are additional and more anonymous methods of payment available. Click on the 'Buy Credits' button while logged into your account for more details. |
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What methods of payment are available to me? | Top | |
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You are able to register an Ad Profile for "FREE". When you are ready to upgrade your account you are able to view our convenient methods of payment by clicking the "Buy Credits" button while logged into your account.
There is no obligation to purchase at any time. |
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What company name appears on my Bank Statement when paying by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)? | Top | |
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If paying using our EFT option (Virtual Debit) the transaction will appear as: "AshlyMadsn" on your Bank Statement.
(U.S. Customers only) |
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About The Ashley Madison Agency |
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Does Ashley Madison encourage infidelity? | Top | |
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No, Ashley Madison does not encourage anyone to stray. In fact, if you are having difficulty with your relationship, you should seek counseling.
However, if you still feel that you will seek a person other than your partner to fill your unmet needs, then we truly believe that our service is the best place to start. At Ashley Madison, you can communicate with other like-minded adults who may be more sympathetic to your circumstances. You never compromise your safety, privacy or security and will never have to reveal your identity unless you choose to. You can go at your own pace and change your mind any time you wish. |
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How long has Ashley Madison been in business? | Top | |
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The Ashley Madison Agency was started in late 2001 and officially launched our website to the public on January 21st, 2002.
You may register as a Guest member for Free with no obligation to purchase at any time. |
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Does a service like Ashley Madison make it easier for people to stray? | Top | |
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Of course not. People don't stray because it is easy or convenient. Most stray because they are missing something in their relationship and feel they need or deserve more than their primary partner offers.
Providing a service like ours does not make someone more likely to stray any more than increasing the availability of glassware contributes to alcoholism. No report contradicts this finding. On the other hand, putting up barriers and making it difficult to stray has never discouraged infidelity; if anything, it simply makes people want to even more. |
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Why does Ashley Madison offer an outlet for people that don't care about their spouses? | Top | |
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Unfortunately, stereotypes about philanderers abound. Most unfaithful people do care about their spouse and will take steps to work out their problems.
Our role is to keep them from taking unnecessary risks while they explore the feelings that got them to our website to begin with. Helping individuals stay safe and anonymous impacts the potential outcome of their decisions. |
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This website seems like a radical idea. What do people have to say about it? | Top | |
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Public opinion is clearly in favor of a free and democratic society that lets people do as they wish, including signing on to our service to have an affair - (Even if they would not use our service themselves). A recent survey suggested that as many as 75% of those polled believed that: "While 'cheating' was inherently wrong, we should still have the right as a free society to make up our own minds".
Besides, the most fatal decision is that of a settled point of view. |
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Is this the right place for me? Will I find someone? | Top | |
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The good thing about The Ashley Madison Website System is that it really can work.
Having an affair is a risky proposition. There are many obstacles to overcome and you always face the risk of getting caught. It's probably a good idea to seek relationship counseling and work out your marital problems before you attempt an affair. Getting caught can bring on many undesired repercussions and will probably result in ongoing mis-trust between you and your partner or divorce. Serious consideration should be given to all possible outcomes. Please choose carefully. While we can never guarantee that you are going to find a suitable companion, Ashley Madison has thousands of Ad Profiles to choose from and we're always advertising to bring on hundreds of new members every week. You may find your perfect match right away or sometime in the near future as new members sign on and wish to contact or be contacted by you. |
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Safe-Sex Tips & HIV / AIDS Prevention |
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How can I reduce the risk of HIV or other diseases? | Top | |
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Because sexual contact is the major transmission route for HIV infection, eliminating sexual contact eliminates risk of transmission by this route. Abstinence, however, may be neither desirable nor practicable for many people. Nonetheless, it is an important option to consider, as some persons may feel that at least limited periods of abstinence may be the best choice under certain circumstances.
Sexual contact with many persons increases the probability of coming in contact with an HIV-infected partner. Thus, one risk-reducing strategy to consider is a reduction in the number of sexual partners, but this in no way reduces the risk of infection by sexual contact with even a single partner who is HIV positive. Because risk of HIV infection derives only from exposure to HIV-infected partners, avoiding sexual exposure with partners known or likely to be HIV infected would be an appropriate risk-reduction strategy for many people, but in many cases it is not possible to tell whether or not a given partner is HIV positive. One reasonable approach is to choose a partner who is at low risk of being HIV infected and then practice safer-sex techniques with that partner. |
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Are some sexual practices considered more risky than others? | Top | |
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Evidence shows that some sexual practices are associated with a greater risk of HIV transmission than others. Proper use of barrier methods can reduce the risk of transmission associated with many of these practices. Thus, decision making about safer sex involves choices about specific sexual practices in addition to choices about partner selection.
These sexual activities carry the highest risk, based on epidemiologic studies of transmitting HIV between partners of unlike or unknown HIV serostatus: (High-risk practices) Vaginal intercourse without a male or female condom. Anal intercourse without a latex condom (highest risk is to the receptive partner) Anal penetration with the hand or other rectal trauma without a latex glove, or fisting followed by unprotected anal intercourse. |
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Which methods of sexual activity are considered to be lower risk? | Top | |
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These sexual activities cannot transmit HIV: (No-risk / lowest-risk practices)
Self-masturbation Touching, massaging, hugging, caressing Social (dry) kissing Any type of sexual intercourse between partners who are certain that they are uninfected. These activities carry a small (based on case reports) or theoretical risk of HIV transmission between partners of unlike or unknown HIV serostatus: (Extremely low-risk practices) French (wet) kissing. Mutual masturbation (if no cuts on hands, and no ulcers or lesions on genitals of either partner) Vaginal sex with a male or female condom (with proper use, including putting latex or polyurethane condom in place before any penetration) Fellatio with condom (with latex condom placed on penis before oral contact) Cunnilingus with dental dam (with latex dam placed over vaginal area before oral contact) Anilingus (rimming) with dental dam (with latex dam placed over anus before oral contact) Contact with urine (only with intact skin, avoiding contact with mouth) Using one's own sex toys (without sharing of any toys that contact body fluids) Epidemiologic studies have found these sexual activities to have a low probability of HIV transmission between partners of unlike or unknown HIV serostatus: (Low-risk practices) Fellatio without condom (Risk of HIV infection to insertive partner is extremely low, risk to receptive partner is increased if ejaculation occurs in mouth.) Cunnilingus without a latex dam. Anilingus without a latex dam. Anal intercourse with condom (with proper use of condom, including placing latex condom on penis prior to any penetration, and using ample amounts of water-based or nonpetroleum-based lubrication with latex condoms) Anal or vaginal penetration with the hand with latex gloves. |
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Advanced Searches |
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What is the Advanced Search Feature? | Top | |
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Ashley Madison has created advanced search technology so you can easily find your perfect match.
To use the Advanced Search Feature, click on the 'Advanced Search' button located on the main console page. You can refine your search by selecting specific criteria to find your match. Key Word Search You are able to enter key word descriptions that identify the type of person you are looking for. To enter a key word, scroll to the bottom of the Advanced Search page to locate the "Keywords" blank field, enter your keyword(s) and click "Advanced Search". |
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Trouble Shooting |
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Why am I timing out? | Top | |
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If you are timing out while logged into your profile, please check the following:
- Use the most updated version of your browser. We suggest using Mozilla Firefox for best results. - Disable any fire walls, ad blockers, pop up blockers and anti-virus programs that you have running. Some of the above mentioned programs read some of our site features as ads and block them. - Clear your temporary internet files before logging into your account. If you continue to experience problems after following the above steps, please contact us during regular business hours Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. EST (excluding statutory holidays). |
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