Table of Contents

Health - Safer Sex:


PRACTICE SAFER SEX
Safer Sex protects against HIV and lowers the risk of catching another sexually transmitted infection (STI). We've put together some info about risks and tips on how to protect yourself in the most common forms of sex.

Oral Sex:

Aka cock sucking. Stimulating a cock with your mouth or tongue is seen as low-risk provided no blood comes into play. What's important is not to get sperm in your mouth or on any cuts, on mucous membranes or in your eyes. If you do get cum in your mouth, don't swallow it but spit it out quickly and wash out your mouth – ideally with alcohol. If you get cum in your eyes, wash them out quickly under water. To be completely safe, use a condom for oral sex – this will also eliminate the chances of picking up oral gonorrhoea.

Penetration with Fingers:

Aka finger-fucking. Fingering the ass is also seen as low-risk, even if the skin has cuts (but make sure your finger nails are well clipped!).

Anal Sex:

The risk here of picking up HIV or some other sexually transmitted infection is particularly great. The arse is well supplied with blood and its mucous membranes can very easily be torn.

The "active" partner too – that's the one who sticks his cock in the arse – can also become infected. This is because the sensitive glans (penis head) and meatus (opening of the urethra or "piss pipe") can also come into contact with the virus.

Condoms used together with a non-fatty lubricant provide good protection for anal sex. PrEP, however, seems the way to go in the future.

Fisting:

Whether it's anal or vaginal, fisting is a low-risk sexual practice as long as no blood-with-blood or blood-with- mucous membrane contact occurs. Rubber gloves give good protection (keep those finger nails well clipped!). If you use a fatty lubricant (like Crisco), anal or vaginal intercourse after fisting is high risk as the fat damages most condoms and removes their protective function.

S/M (Sado-Maso):

S/M rituals are no-risk as far as HIV is concerned – but only provided there are no cuts on the skin where blood or sperm can get in or no blood or sperm comes into contact with the eyes, mucous membranes or the mouth. S/M toys are safe too – as long as no blood comes into play. If your toys have been used by or on other people, always give them a good cleaning with soap and water before using them again.

Games with Sex Toys:

As far as HIV is concerned, dildos, vibrators and other sex toys are safe if they are only used by or on the same person. If they are going to be used by or on other people, slip a new condom on them or wash them properly with soap and water.

Other Sex Practices:

Practices involving piss (golden showers) and shit (scat) like arse licking (rimming) involve no risk of HIV infection (provided always no blood is in play). Even so, you can still infect yourself with other STIs like hepatitis. You can get yourself vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. Deep kissing, mutual masturbation and massage, rubbing yourself against your partner and other such practices all carry no risk of HIV infection so long as no blood or cum comes in contact with your mouth, eyes, mucous membranes or with any cuts.

PrEP:

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) is when people at very high risk for HIV take HIV medicines daily to lower their chances of getting infected. A combination of two HIV medicines (tenofovir and emtricitabine), sold under the name Truvada® (pronounced tru vá duh), is approved for daily use as PrEP to help prevent an HIV-negative person from getting HIV from a sexual or injection-drug-using partner who’s positive. Studies have shown that PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV if it is used as prescribed. PrEP is much less effective when it is not taken consistently.

Daily PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90%. Among people who inject drugs, it reduces the risk by more than 70%. Your risk of getting HIV from sex can be even lower if you combine PrEP with condoms and other prevention methods. Currently, Truvada® taken daily, can cost $1000 a month in Canada. Prices are expected to drop now that it is an approved drug for prophylaxis and as health insurance companies come aboard.

Bi-Sex: Sex with Women:

No, that's not a misprint! In general I want to pack every woman-related topic in this section and not have 'em scattered throughout the text. I'll just touch on the main issues and refer you to the links for more in-depth information. If I put this info under all the separate headings, there'd be complaints!

The same rule applies here too – using condoms for anal or vaginal sex offers the best protection.

Licking female genitals is seen as low-risk except during menstruation (if you want to be completely risk-free, place a cut-open condom or a sheet of food wrap between your mouth and the clitoris). Penetration of the vagina with fingers is also low-risk, but during menstruation finger caps, condoms or rubber gloves should be used.