STD'S - all I hear and read is that STD's are on the rise

[opensexejoy 16]

Can anyone tell me if it's as bad as I am hearing and reading that std's are on the rise?

 

I noticed on polls that a lot of folks don't ask about playmates possible std's or even if they've have been tested or just don't care and play bareback!

 

I am a member of a swing club and notice folks seem to have strangers coming to play. It seems like they jump from one bed to another?

[funcoupledayton 2,708]

Can anyone tell me if it's as bad as I am hearing and reading that std's are on the rise?

 

I noticed on polls that a lot of folks don't ask about playmates possible std's or even if they've have been tested or just don't care and play bareback!

 

I am a member of a swing club and notice folks seem to have strangers coming to play. It seems like they jump from one bed to another?

 

The best source for STI information on national prevalence is the CDC website. Your state health department can give you information about incidence by county in your state.

 

I think the main thing is to be educated, get tested regularly, understand the risks, and then protect yourself. I don't find it helpful to try to determine what other people are doing as far as their play styles. Whether people at a club are playing with strangers, playing bareback or jumping on the beds, really doesn't affect me. If I want to play with someone, I will use a condom and understand I am taking a risk.

[Alura 2,773]

I have to confess that Laura and I didn't worry about STI's very much, Opensexejoy! We figured our best bet for avoiding them would be to play with people who had had little exposure. Admittedly, we did little to guard against them beyond carefully selecting our partners. Still, we realized that we were taking a chance, however limited.

 

Our first enduring playcouple had been married in high school and had never had sex with anyone besides each other. We never found that combination again.

 

We didn't go to clubs, nor did we have sex with strangers. We realized that policy offered little assurance that we'd stay healthy.

 

Decide how much risk you are willing to take. You will never be able to eliminate all risks. If that is not acceptable to you, don't swing.

[SW_PA_Couple 4,023]

STIs are a fact. For my wife and I, it's all about managing risk. We do not deny the risk. We believe we are balancing the risk with the benefit.

[njbm 2,863]

We full swap with condoms, but run into a lot of folks who play bareback. There seems to be a line of thinking that if you know a couple or like a couple, they are unlikely to have an STD. Not a great theory.

 

At a party this weekend, we saw condom use on men receiving oral sex. Have not seen that much before in the lifestyle, but it was used particularly when the men intended to ejaculate.

[Sophy 568]

Look, sex it has been always a risk, I know this since I started my sexual life when I was a teenager. We both do understand the risks and we both manage it, for us the outcome is much more rewarding, saying that this is our current situation:

 

1. We do not use condoms for oral, for me the taste of the condoms is a big mood-breaker, flavor or no flavor, sucking on a piece of rubber is a bad experience for me.

Also, most of the time I handle the male orgasm in my mouth.

 

2. We use condoms for penetration, we have condomless sex ONLY with our most closest friends, people we know for years -> these are two couples and I remark that one of these couples are "not swingers per se" they are a very quiet couple that only swap with us twice a year or so.

 

3. As a swinger I feel a lot more safer than many younger and single people living their normal sex lives. In the last 7 years I have only received cum inside me from 3 different guys including my hubby.

[opensexejoy 16]

Condoms must have a bad taste you think, but understand the why for. Know they make flavored condoms too.

[opensexejoy 16]

I wish to thank all for your comments to this subject, just a note: I am one that gets tested once year or two, BUT that really no help! Condoms it is the only way out of getting STD's or STI? Saw this new observation few days ago means same thing (Sexual Transmitted Disease ) Infection ).

 

But man it really takes the feeling away. All it takes is one person to ruin a great feeling of two humans or more?

[The Fuse 1,012]

Hi opensexejoy,

 

As much as we hate the risk of STDs, the truth is that there's pretty much no way to have zero risk while still having sex with new people (unless they're virgins, which doesn't seem likely or advisable). Like motorcycling, there is simply some risk inherent to swinging. You can significantly cut down the risk by using condoms, choosing your partners very carefully, getting tested yourself, and asking that your partners be tested.

 

However, I can say that at least in my experience, if you find a group of swingers who has known each other for a while and mostly stays within the group, you would have a lower chance of getting an STD. People often repeat the anecdote that you're more likely to get an STD in a committed relationship where one partner is cheating. If an active swinger with friends in the local scene gets an STD, then they may self-select out in order to protect their friends and their own reputation.

 

I'm sorry there's no magic bullet. If you want to swing, the best thing you can do is educate yourself and then do what you can to mitigate the risk. Condoms do reduce the feeling for some people. Perhaps try different types and find the best one for you?

[opensexejoy 16]

Hi opensexejoy,

 

As much as we hate the risk of STDs, the truth is that there's pretty much no way to have zero risk while still having sex with new people (unless they're virgins, which doesn't seem likely or advisable). Like motorcycling, there is simply some risk inherent to swinging. You can significantly cut down the risk by using condoms, choosing your partners very carefully, getting tested yourself, and asking that your partners be tested.

 

However, I can say that at least in my experience, if you find a group of swingers who has known each other for a while and mostly stays within the group, you would have a lower chance of getting an STD. People often repeat the anecdote that you're more likely to get an STD in a committed relationship where one partner is cheating. If an active swinger with friends in the local scene gets an STD, then they may self-select out in order to protect their friends and their own reputation.

 

I'm sorry there's no magic bullet. If you want to swing, the best thing you can do is educate yourself and then do what you can to mitigate the risk. Condoms do reduce the feeling for some people. Perhaps try different types and find the best one for you?

 

I thank you so much for taking your time to write and basically, I came to the same thoughts on a group that trusts one and other. You must know too in this lifestyle more now than when I started swing 25 years ago time and priorities for most folk have change. See on swing sites how many just jump from one bed to another. I love to find a group that you described. Again thank you for your support. Ed