I think the problem lies in the fact that STIs are effectively invisible and take time to show, if they show at all. So if you have sex with someone it is almost impossible that you could tell if they already had one.
If you go bareback you risk picking up something they didn't know they had. Or passing on something you don't know you had.
I prefer sex without a condom - I think 99% of people do. But I'd rather lose 10% of the pleasure than 10 years of my life.
A lifestyle choice of bareback sex with people whose history you don't know (the definition of swinging) is a choice to catch something. Each encounter carries a risk, 10 encounters carry 10 times that risk. How many encounters does it take to pretty well guarantee you get something? I don't know but I bet many people on here have already had more than that number. Luckily most people (I believe) use condoms.
The only way any of us KNOW we are clear is if we haven't had sex since the last 2 STI tests 3 months apart. How many of us can say we are in that position?
we are great friends with a couple, we met at a swinging party and we have been top friends since.
we have got to a point, were we play bare back, with any others we all condom up.
The odd thing its more friendship now than sex so even though we see them most weekends we hardly have sex with them
I think it is terrifying that people play bareback but do see others point that it is a personnal choice. However i wonder how many of those on the moral high ground use condoms for oral sex? Although a smaller risk - std's can still be spread by oral for both males and females. I know i havent asked a male to wear a condom whilst doing that.
well im in agreement with everyone else who has answered this thread and said your are either a risk taker or fool for playing bareback..
if you play bareback you are not only playing with your own life ,you bare also playing with the life of the others you play with...
you can take the risk with your own life if you play bareback,but why take the risk with someone elses life...
so of you have no conscience go ahead and take the risk with your own life but not no one elses ......
We comment on this thread (for now) beyond saying,
I am sorry, but it is everyones responsibility to be safe, it takes two people to have sex, wether couples or whatever. We always use condoms and if someone doesn't want to, well they won't be having sex with them.
But it is just as much for them to insist upon them themselves.
We all our responsible for our own choices. Everyone knows the risks by now.
please note my comments have nothing to do with lying cheating gits of any sex!they are scum and shud be treated as such
my beef is with HIV being labled as an STD and therefore a "sin" in the eyes of the god squad and their ....... you get the idea
I don't understand these people either, it is not something you should be playing with.
I wonder if they've spent the last 20 years unaware of this world
If people wish to go bareback and be confident they don't have a problem, then they should all visit the clinic at the same time and share results.
This might seem a clinical and far too practical thing to consider. But if its important, you should do it.
Or is that too difficult for some folks?
I think being sexually active with a number of partners without taking precautions against disease or infestation is a pretty stupid thing to do.
I woudlnt do it but if people are aware of the risks and choose to behave in such a manner who am I to judge them for it.
I suppose I could bleat that such behaviour is "costing us the tax payer millions" but frankly thats a nonsense argument when you think about the amount of health care that has to be provided becuase people acceept the risks of:
motoring
drinking
eating
smoking
for example.
And I dont like posts that contain the "oh no not another thread about" comment. Imagine yourself in a pub and somebody starts a converstaion that youve had before. Do you
A Say oh Ive had this converstaion before do shut up.
B Say oh yes I was talkin to some friends about this recently and carry on to give your slightly more informed and considered opinion
C Wander off and find another converstaion taht interests you more.
Id suggest that A is downright rude and happens far too often on forums. B and C are perefectly acceptabel to me.
Looks like we agree on the thread subject Naughty.
Apologies if I missed the emoticon and came over like a grumpy old sod.
I think the reason folk keep asking this particular question is cos if you are taking risks or thinking about taking them you feel a hell of a lot more comfortable doing it if you know lots of other people are taking those risks too.
Safe sex as a swinger isnt soemthing you can usually bring up at work or down the lcola pub or in many other social environments so these forums are a vital outlet for such discussions.
I once met non-latex-Verity, myself sporting something rather shiney and tight at the time, being very pro-latex.
strangely, we never got along
lp
it can be those little scuttling blighters that surround the main arena... always on the sidelines... ready to nip....
lp
I've been to a club when one guy was told by a woman, "you have to have a condom if you want to shag me"
His reply was, "yes here it is, in my hand". He then started to "climb on". Luckily I told the woman that this guy's education level was soooo low he obviously thought that holding the condoom was sufficient protection during sex.
I've also seen several guys put on a condom, start having sex with a lady, then fumble around and remove the condom only to then carry on having sex.
:shock:
Ian
You can avoid all the mess by containing both participants and the custard inside a large moisture-proof bag. Said bags are available from builders merchants. I would recommend that both people leave their heads outside the bag to facilitate breathing: imagine the inquest...
If a person cheats on the spouse and joins in the swinging (or non-swinging) world has knowledable unprotected intercourse and then goes home to their spouse who is ,and read, 'unknowing' and their is an infection tbh whether HIV or any of the other STD's then the 'unknowing' party is wholly an innocent victim. 
:x :x
....even using condoms and dams still allow a certain amount of risk.