Closed relationship...still use protection?

I don't really have any experience with it myself, but I know a couple friends of mine who are in long term relationships still use protection. You can never be too safe.

 

All the health professionals I've heard weigh in on this issue, always say condoms for anal sex, always, even in a relationship.

 

Yes, not only for HIV/STD's sake but possible infection to top guy since things could get in his urethra while inside the rectum.

 

I do for anal. Less for safety (I'm very sure that we're both negative), but because it makes clean up a lot easier. It's just part of the process now.

Lex

 

I think I would still want to use a condom for anal sex if in a long term relationship. Despite the fact that both partners are negative for everything, there are still a lot of bacteria in there and it would feel cleaner if a condom were used.

 

Honestly in my very first relationship my bf at the time pressured me into not using condoms cause he didn't want to and me being dumb and naive I let him have his way for months and we eventually broke up. I've been with my bf now for 11 months now and we always use condoms, but we do have our slip ups here and there. I get tested regularly. I don't judge people/couples that don't use them though because that is their own decision and as long as they know the risks then more power to them.

 

The girl that i am seeing insists on me being tested. Which is totally fair enough. Its about been protected, and knowing you are safe then you can have lots of safe fun

 

well. not in a lesbian relationship. l know there's a small risk of some STIs but l honestly don't care.

with men l was on the pill and am very much looking forward to never going back on it.

 

Hm, yeah, I did not consider that danger for infections and stuff when men do it anally.
I was going to say that my personal philosophy is that until both have been tested twice (HIV requires two, with three months apart) you use protection. After that when it`s established that you are safe, then it`s okay to skip it. If you feel your BF is the cheating type, or are worried about it, then I`d continue with using protection. But like they say above me, anal sex can lead to infections, so possibly best to continue using condoms during those activities.

---------- Post added 19th Feb 2013 at 02:10 AM ----------

Yeah, I am kind of thinking like you. In a lesbian relationship, whatever protection there is feels clumsy and weird. So, I don`t use it. I test regularly though, or did, back when I was single. I have also been on the pill, and that was a nightmare! One of the perks of lesbian relationship, you can hump as much as you want to, but at least I won`t knock her up

 

For the first couple months at least, yes. HIV tests dont show positive sometimes for up to three months, so Dr.'s reccomend using birth control until both of you have tested negative twice within a 4 month period. May seem stupid and annoying but hey, its HIV. If you think it's not scary go get tested, my girlfriend and I did for our biology class and even though i had been in a 4 year closed relationship and she had been celibate for 6 years, the weight of what a positive result would mean really hits you when you wait that 15 minutes.

After that it is up to you. Do you trust them?

Or if your in a heterosexual relationship, birth control should always be used.

 

I have HPV. This STI could have been dormant in my system for years. So, though I have not in the past, I will always use a condom when I have sex. There is still a risk of transmitting HPV with a condom but it is better than nothing.

 

ok I will be honest .. with my ex who I was with for 6 months we had sex without protection it only happened once and I was sure we were both free from infections and stds I just wanted to experience it .nothing special BTW guess I was lucky it will never happen again.
I do understand all the seriousness. I told my friend about it and he almost dragged me to the clinic next day .

 

I intend to always use protection, unless I am in a relationship with a female-bodied person and we are *ahem* trying. :icon_wink It's cleaner, and if discussing anal, there's a lot of nasties up there even in a healthy person.

 

me and my partner have been together for almost 2 years and we have been tested many times, as he is in the medical field. We stopped using protection after becoming exclusive for many months and after many tests.

 

I've been with my partner for almost four years, we've been tested and don't use protection.