Quote:
Originally Posted by cufan86
Not to rain on anyone's parade, but it seems like this lifestyle carries an unreasonably high risk of STDs, including AIDS. Are people taking precautions and it is just to be assumed in the posts? The posts I read in this thread and others seem to include unprotected oral, vagina, and anal sex.
Is it a risk people are willing to take or am I just misreading everything?
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You are correct and raise a very good point, any unprotected sex carries with it risks. Unfortunately this carries true from people who hook up after a few drinks in a bar as well as people in the lifestyle. We strongly encourage anyone to use protection and along with it some common sense whether they consider themselves to be in the lifestyle or not.
For us, if you read our stories here we do require protection for any penetration but that does not include oral. Again, the risks are inherent not just among lifestyle couples but among the general population as well and oral sex is also the most common for many people.
For us we do the following to protect ourselves the best we can:
- Condoms are used by everyone. (A few guys have been allowed to go bareback as they have been tested regularly and continue to be tested to show proof of being clean. There have also unfortunately been probably 2 or 3 over the years who have either lost a condom or in the heat of the moment have gone bareback.)
- We both, including Dave are tested twice a year to ensure we have not been exposed to anything.
- My wife carries a "sex purse" with her anytime we go out. It contains some essential items including three condom sizes, snug, regular and magnums. So far we have only had one guy who was to large for the magnum size. The purse also has water based lube and a pack of baby wipes for clean up.
Unlike most vanilla bars most lifestyle clubs have condoms in supply and available in bulk quantity free for the taking for those unplanned hookups. When we have managed clubs or done events we always ensure we have a large supply of mixed condoms and cleanup supplies available and we encourage people to take extra to have on hand. Many of the lifestyle sites have little kits with a condom or two and a small pack of lube with a handi wipe they provide free to members and can easily be carried in a purse unnoticed.
I can't say the lifestyle has a lower incidence of STD's but I also do not think it has a higher risk than that of the general population.