Sense Project

This week’s Ask Anything column is answered by Liam, a fantastic Sense animator who facilitates our workshops in schools! As I mentioned before, Sense now has a formspring account where you can ask us anything - any of your awkward, out-there or just plain practical questions about sex. You can ask your questions anonymously at any time in the box to the right –> and we’ll post the answers here on the blog!

Q: is anal and oral sex safe without condoms?

The short answer is no, but, it’s always more complicated than that. For instance, oral and anal sex with condoms isn’t completely safe either. For instance, herpes, HPV (genital warts), and parasitic STIs (crabs, lice, and trichomoniasis) can be passed on even if a condom is used properly because condoms can only protect the area that they cover and these STIs are located all over the genital area, not just on the shaft of a penis. Instead of safe vs. unsafe, it makes more sense to talk about ’safer’ sex. Condoms are a very effective method to prevent the transmission of a lot of STIs, many of which can be passed on through anal and oral sex.

Using a condom for anal sex can be a bit tricky because anuses often have less lubrication than either mouths or vaginas. Be sure to use a water-based lube with a latex condom and to go as slowly as you need to. Be sure not to double-bag (wear 2 condoms at the same time) because they rub together and actually increase the risk of a condom mishap.

For oral sex, condoms or dental dams can prevent the transmission of gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV and Hepatitis A/B/C, and can help reduce the risk of HPV and herpes transmission. But remember that if open sores are present and they’re not covered by the condom or dental dam, infections can be transmitted from skin to skin contact.

The take-away lesson is that proper condom use and caution when there are open sores around will do a lot to keep you safer.

Hope this helps! Happy safer sex!

Here’s an awesome video created by the Midwest Teen Sex Show that talks about anal sex. If you want additional info, please check out our Peer Education Manual (pp.152-154).

So, the “bottom” line is:

-Respect the rectum (i.e. never insert anything in the anus that doesn’t have a flared base to prevent it from slipping up into the rectum and beyond, poop before (if necessary), make sure whatever you use for penetration is clean and be safe).

-Proceed slowly and use lots of lube (i.e. use water-based lubricant and massage the area…You know, work with the rectum).

-Don’t double dip! (i.e. anything that goes into the anus should be cleaned or given a new condom before it goes anywhere else)

-Try different positions and have fun!

What’s more risky for contracting HIV - having unprotected vaginal intercourse OR having anal sex with a condom?

While the answer to this question might seem obvious to some, both HIV stigma and homophobia have skewed the manner in which some people define and perceive anal sex. The point of this question was to destigmatize certain types of sex and show, that no matter what kind of sex you’re having, you should do it safely!!! Indeed, having unprotected vaginal intercourse is way more risky because you are, simply, unprotected.

What’s more risky for contracting HIV - having unprotected vaginal intercourse OR having anal sex with a condom?