Safe Sex Guidelines

important tips for safe sex and safe play...

Generally speaking, an erotic power exchange scene is not more dangerous than any other form of sex, provided you take sufficient precautions. Safe sex is a must, and not only from an HIV point of view.

• Condoms
  Always use a condom when penetrating, either vaginal or anal. Using condoms when having oral sex is generally advised (you can buy mint or menthol flavored condoms for this purpose).

  This may sound silly, but if you have never bought condoms before, please avoid the vending machines in discotheques, bars, etc. The problem is that you never know how old the condoms are when you buy them. A condom with an expired maximum vending date is unsafe to use, because the latex deteriorates over time.

  Do use condoms when penetrating with vibrators, dildos or other toys. When in scene, it is very possible your toys will lay about and attract dust and germs. Using condoms on your toys will keep them in a better condition as well and makes them easier to clean afterwards.

  Some people have allergic reactions to the lubricant that is standard on most condoms. If you are not sure, buy non-lubricated condoms with a separate, water-based lubricant.

• Dental Dams
  It's a must to use dental dams when rimming (licking the outside anal area) and it's generally advised for oral-vaginal contact. Outside the USA, dental dams are sometimes hard to get. Contact a center for information about sexually transmitted diseases for addresses.
• Latex Gloves
  Latex gloves will protect your and your partner from all sorts of things. When penetrating either the vagina or anus, wear gloves. Especially when you're fisting (including vaginal fisting).
• Lubricant
  Lubricant makes it easier to penetrate, both vaginal and anal. Buy only water-based lubricants. Oil-based lubricants will ruin your condoms and other latex protective gear in seconds (this goes for your valuable latex clothing as well!). Be aware of the fact that massage oil, baby oil and butter will have the same effect on latex.

  Some lubricants contain nonoxynol-9. Some people have allergic reactions to this. If you want to be on the safe side, buy a lubricant without it. On the other hand, nonoxynol-9 makes it a lot more difficult for the HIV virus to survive. If you and your partner(s) are not allergic then it's worth using.

HIV Risks

All the general stuff about HIV infection (direct blood and sperm contact) of course goes for erotic power exchange as well. Take extra precautions when you are and (accidentally) draw blood or when you are into needle play or cutting. Nipple clamps sometimes may cause bleeding of the nipples, women may experience this more while having a period. Intense stimulation of the nipples - clamps, binding and piercing(!!) - may incidentally cause a woman's nipple to lactate slightly. Even some men will start to produce small amounts of lactate. Lactate may very well contain the HIV virus.

Extra precautions should, of course, be taken if you are into some edge play situations.

Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

Alternative sexual games open new possibilities for STD infection. Most of these are caused by viruses and are easy to catch if you allow them to enter a body opening (sex organ, mouth or small wound). We will give some short descriptions here:

Virus Infections

• Hepatitis
  is an inflammation of the liver. There are different forms (A and B are the most common), caused by a virus. Symptoms may vary from relatively harmless flu type reactions to fatal liver diseases.
• Herpes
  (also around in different forms) causes small fluid filled blisters. It is a virus. The blistering will not be triggered by the disease but by external factors like exposure to the sun, emotional stress or another illness or fever. The blisters may appear on and around the mouth, the genitals or other parts of the body, depending on the type. Herpes is not fatal, but may cause complications with other infections and sometimes can be painful. Herpes simplex, that may cause blisters on the mouth and/or genitals, cannot yet be cured.
• Syphilis
  in modern society is rare, but still around. It is caused by an organism and causes swellings on the body that will leave a scar after healing. Unrecognized syphilis will eventually ruin the vascular and nervous systems and cause death.
• Genital Warts
  (small swellings in and around the genitals) are caused by a virus. They may cause the development of cervix cancer and should be taken seriously. They need early and repeated treatment.

Bacteria

• Gonorrhea
  has been around for ages and still is something to watch out for. It may cause sterility (men) or inflammation of the fallopian tube (women). An infected women may pass it on to the eyes of a newborn child when the infection occurs during pregnancy.
• Chlamydia and Ureaplasma Infections
  are the most common group of STDs. They are likely to cause all sorts of diseases. Treatment and interruption of sexual contacts is advised. This group spreads easily and rapidly. Having dirty hands or fingernails when penetrating or dirty toys are the most common causes.

  We've mentioned only the most common STDs here, there are a lot more around. When in doubt, always check with your doctor. You may be embarrassed about it. This is only natural and the doctor will understand this. Remember, it may the first time you are confronted with STDs, but the doctor has seen it all before. Not seeing the doctor in almost all cases leads to trouble. Most of the STDs will not go away by themselves and some are nasty and persistent.

Be aware that some BDSM techniques can also be responsible for transmitting STDs

• Unprotected Toys
  are the most common transmitter of bacteria and are likely to cause one of the infections mentioned above. Even if it has just been laying around for awhile it may have picked up bacteria. When you penetrate, always use a condom - and don't forget your wonderful penis-shaped whip grip.
• Bondage Ropes
  when used in the genital area, are another possible transmitter of disease. The general advice is to wash your ropes regularly, disinfect them and reserve marked ropes for these areas. When just hanging on the wall and not being used for some time germs and bacteria may find a nice nest inside your bondage ropes. (Guess you'll just have to use them more!)
• Nipple Clamps
  are another well known toy often used in this (genital) area. Again regularly clean and disinfect them.
• Leather
  is a living material and germs and bacteria will nest in it, especially if these toys have not been used for some time.
• Whipping
  one thing you should be aware of is that causes the small veins in the skin to open up and send blood to the whipped area. This creates an expressway for viruses and bacteria to infiltrate the body and not only the std-related ones. You should be aware of this phenomena, especially when the genital area. Extra attention to hygiene and regular cleaning and disinfecting of whips is required.

First Aid Kit

This entire safe sex section may scare you a bit. There's no need for that, but it's always advisable to be aware of possible risks and to take precautions when necessary. This goes for having a first aid kit around as well. Mishaps always occur. Most any general first aid kit will do, with two extras: first of all a pair of bandage scissors. These will enable you to quickly and safely cut ropes and even leather straps when you need to. Bandage scissors are designed to avoid harming your partner unintentionally. Next to this it's handy to have freeze spray (or cold spray) around for muscle treatment (makes a wonderful toy as well).

Note: we'll be adding a complete page on "S&M First Aid Kits" soon - look for it on the index page or join the newsletter list and never miss any of our new feature pages.

Based on materials from the POWERotics Foundation © 1996-2000