Barriers (such as condoms, dental dams and latex gloves) reduce the risk of passing on or contracting sexually transmitted infections by creating a physical barrier between bodies, or between sex toys and bodies. Using barriers is a way of making risky sexual activities significantly less risky.
This article contains detail on the different kinds of barriers you can use. It’s not a prescriptive list: nobody usesallof the barriers described below all the time. These are just the options that are available; it’s up to you and your partner(s) to decidewhento use barriers andwhichbarriers to use if so.
Assuming youdowant to use barriers of some form or another for some activities, you’ll also find some guidelines below on how to use those barriers effectively.
♦ Why use barriers?
To prevent pregnancy
Condoms prevent pregnancy. If you don’t want a child, using condoms is an effective way of ensuring that you don’t end up with one – and when paired with another form of contraception (such as the contraceptive pill or implant) they’re pretty close to being bulletproof.
To reduce STI transmission
Many (not all) condoms also reduce the likelihood of sexually transmitted infections being passed from one person to another. Again, this can be paired with other safe sex measures (like getting tested on a regular basis) to make STI transmission reassuringly unlikely.
Most people know and accept that putting a condom on a penis = safer sex. But other barriers (such as gloves and dental dams) also help to reduce risk. It’s important to remember that, although most sexually transmitted infections affect the genitals, the rest of your body isn’t immune to infection.
To smooth out rough edges
Some people find sex with barriers more pleasant than sex without – gloves, for example, offer a little bit of protection from fingernails, calluses, and other sharp or rough textures found on the naked hand.
Equally, though, the protection they offer is limited. A much better option is to simply get rid of the roughness by (for example) filing down nails and clipping off hangnails before you play.
To keep things clean and pleasant
Often, people use barriers not just for safety reasons, but because they find using barriers more enjoyable. For example they might:
• Enjoy giving blowjobs, but not want come in their mouth
• Want to rim their lover’s arse, but feel more comfortable with a barrier
• Have a sensitive dick, and want to avoid skin irritation
To protect injuries
Wearing barriers is particularly important if you have a cut, graze, or other minor injury on a part of your body that’s going to come into contact with your partner. Wounds on your hand are the most common issue. Glove up, and you won’t get come in that papercut.
♦ Using barriers correctly
Barriers need to be used correctly in order to be effective. This means…
Applying the barrier at the right time
The right time to apply a barrier isbeforethere’s been any contact. In the case of a condom, that means before penetration occurs,notjust before you come. In the case of gloves, that means before you touch your partner’s genitals. If you masturbate your partner andthenstrap on a glove to finger them, you might have missed the point somewhat.
Using barriers that are in good condition
Barriers are sensitive little pieces of matter, and can easily degrade to the point where they aren’t very useful. Every so often, then, you should go through your collection and chuck out any that:
• Are past their expiry date
• Have been folded or squashed
• Have been exposed to excessive heat or cold
♦ Using barriers with toys
In kink contexts, people often use condoms or other barriers to cover toys (specifically, insertable or genital toys like dildos and vibrators – good luck getting a condom on a flogger). This is a good idea in these scenarios:
• You’re not 100% sure what the toy is made of.Maybeit’s bodysafe silicone… but you aren’t absolutely certain.
• The toy has been (or is going to be) used by someone other than you at some point.
Of course, you could also respond to the above scenarios bybuying toys that you are 100% confident are safe, or by ensuring that everyone has and sticks to their own toys. Using a condom instead isn’t a perfect solution, but it helps.
♦ Disposing of used barriers
Don’t, please, put your used barriers down the toilet. Your plumbing deals with enough trauma already. Instead, dispose of barriers by wrapping them up in a neat little parcel of toilet paper and putting them in the bin. Tie a knot in used condoms first to prevent spunky leakage.
