More than the weather is about to heat up.

Americans are more interested in sex during the early summer than other times of the year, according to a 2012 study by the Archives of Sexual Behavior, a peer-reviewed journal. Now that there is a totally valid excuse to have on as little clothing as possible, there are a few summer-specific behaviors to consider before you strip down.

1. Keep the motion out of the ocean

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Actually, don’t have sex in any type of water, especially women. More than just the current is working against you. A natural source of water like the ocean or a lake is full of bacteria, which can cause an infection if it gets trapped inside the body. A pool or any chemically treated water can do the same, while also throwing off a woman’s natural pH balance.

On top of the medical risks, water decreases your body’s natural lubrication, which can make for some not-so-smooth sailing. Also, regardless of what you may have heard, it is completely possible to get pregnant in any body of water, including hot tubs.

2. Protect your protection

You should be protecting more than your skin from the sun. Keep condoms out of your car and away from hot rays. Condoms should be kept in temperatures less than 100 degrees, according to LifeStyles Condoms. Storing them in sunny summer temperatures can lead to premature deterioration, which makes them less effective.

3. Shaving is risky

Pubic hair serves a purpose. It protects from abrasions and pathogens such as STDs. When you remove body hair, small wounds are being created which makes for an ideal location for infections to thrive. Shaving increases the risk for diseases transmitted through bodily fluid, like Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, as well as skin-to-skin ones, like HPV and Herpes, according to the STD Project, an organization dedicated to STD education.

4. Keep it private

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You may want to be weary of intense public displays of affection. While it may be tempting, sex in public or lewd behavior is illegal in many states. One couple in Florida currently faces up to 15 years in prison for having sex on a beach. Public indecency in Illinois can come with a maximum of one year in jail and a $2,500 fine. Also, because it is considered a sex offense, people found guilty may have to register as sex offenders. Legal risks aside, there are also potential health hazards. Like water, sand is full of gross bacteria that can cause viruses or diseases like urinary tract infections.

Salukis, stay safe this summer.