While I'm a known advocate on here for promiscuity without all the negative dogma and social stigma that's attached to this way of life, I accept that there are plenty of potential risks attached to having casual sex, many of these are STI related. To be honest, I'm not as educated on the subject as I would like to be and a lot of the information that comes up from research is quite vague in a lot of ways: it's hard to say how well-sourced or credible this information is. If you have better information, then by all means post in the comment section. However, I notice that most of the advice on the subject people give online and in schools is simplified to 'use a condom', 'only have monogamous sex', so I believe that what I have to say on this can be of use. There's a few reasons why this traditional advice misses the mark.
1. STI from long term relationships
'Even people who are in long term monogamous relationships can get STIs. Some STIs, such as herpes or HPV, can lie dormant in a person for months or years before they are diagnosed. For example, the most common test for herpes is a swab of a suspected lesion; testing for herpes is not standard practice, so it is possible that a person may have herpes for years and not know it until they pass the infection to a partner.
Sometimes STIs are spread in ‘monogamous’ relationships because one partner is secretly having sex outside the relationship. Having more than one partner or having a partner that has more than one partner increases the chances of getting an STI.'
This is not to mention the question of what happens if your partner cheats on you and gives you a virus.
Also, there are many STIs that take a long time to show on test results. HIV can take a long time, so even if you and your partner have been tested it's a good idea to wait a while until the remaining results come out before you have sex without a condom.
2. Using a condom
'A condom can act as a barrier for fluids but it does not eliminate all skin-to-skin contact. As a result, transmission of STIs such as herpes, HPV, syphilis, pubic lice, or scabies can occur even if a condom isused.'
And conditions like herpes or HPV are often treatable but there is the risk, especially with genital herpes, that the virus will never go away. It is true that you can visually identify sores and lesions on the skin that would suggest genital herpes, HPV or scabies but with some of these conditions.
You also have to account for the fact that people often make mistakes putting condoms on:
putting the condom on wrong, putting the condom on too late (whatever that means!) and taking it off too soon are three of the most common errors people make according to this quick quiz:
https://www.webmd.com/sex/rm-quiz-condoms
Also, it is important to squeeze the air out of the nib of the condom and make sure it is not put on too tightly
STI from Oral Sex
Skilled lovers nowadays are expected to indulge in a little foreplay before sex. However, it seems that there are still risks attached.
'Herpes simplex virus (HSV), human papillomavirus (HPV), syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydiacan be passed between genitals and the mouth or throat. If you are concerned about STIs during oral sex then condoms or dental dams can lower the chances. Using flavoured condoms may add to the pleasure of sex.'
https://smartsexresource.com/about-stis/my-chances
This is not to mention how unsexy dental dams can look and how awkward it can be to suggest you use a dental dam or flavoured condom in bed: "why, don't you trust me?"
Sometimes if a guy refuses to go down on you ladies, it's NOT because he thinks your vagina is unsexy!
I'm not even sure if regular condoms are fine for oral sex or if a flavoured condom is recommended.
Anal Sex Condoms
The anus is a higher risk for contracting HIV and thus it is recommended you use a thicker condom. But strangely enough it seems that there is not a kitemarked condom for anal sex in UK and in the US there is no FDI approved brand. This is because the respective governments do not 'recommend' anal sex as a healthy activity. How homophobic!
I don't really plan on having anal sex personally but if I was homosexual or my partner wanted to try it, I would be very irritated about having to buy them online:
https://www.condom-sizes.org/best-condoms/best-condoms-anal-sex
Dura extra strength seems to be the best bet.
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