Do you use Condoms????

[mrs good times]

Due to the recent interest in swingers and condom use I thought I would bump this poll to see how the current readers respond.

[Thkmlkchoclik]

Condoms is a must for me.

[Amanda69]

Absolute must we don't take any chances with our health no matter how well we know the couple.

[2jersey]

Condoms - always, never or sometimes?

2jersey: ALWAYS

We are happy to learn (from the results of this poll) that a very small number of people have chosen to not use condoms – and we assume that some of these people are in exclusive relations with their swing partners (as far as they know).

We are unimpressed by those who argue that “safer sex” does not provide foolproof protection. In this situation, we are advocates of a half-a-loaf-is-better-than-none approach. We refute the notion that condom users believe they are completely insulated from STDs.

We are unimpressed by those who believe they can detect and avoid sexual partners which carry STDs – many diseases, particularly recently contracted diseases, produce unnoticeable symptoms.

Finally - We are disturbed by those who appear to have blanket disregard for authoritative medical studies promoted by organizations which have genuine, rather than ulterior, motives.

From the World Health Organization:

1) Laboratory studies have found that viruses (including HIV) do not pass through intact latex condoms even when devices are stretched or stressed.

2) In Thailand, the promotion by the government of 100% condom use by commercial sex workers led to a dramatic increase in the use of condoms (from 14% in 1990 to 94% in 1994); an equally dramatic decline in the nation-wide numbers of bacterial STD cases (from 410,406 cases in 1997 to 27,362 cases in 1994); and reduced HIV prevalence in Thai soldiers.

3) The most convincing data on the effectiveness of condoms in preventing HIV infection has been generated by prospective studies undertaken on serodiscordant couples, when one partner is infected with HIV and the other is not. These studies show that, with consistent condom use, the HIV infection rate among uninfected partners was less than 1 percent per year. Also, in situations where one partner is definitely infected, inconsistent condom use can be as risky as not using condoms at all.

The discordant couple study is particularly compelling:

In a study of discordant couples in Europe, among 123 couples who reported consistent condom use, none of the uninfected partners became infected. In contrast, among the 122 couples who used condoms inconsistently, 12 of the uninfected partners became infected.

This study was published by a respected medical journalist:

De Vincenzi I. (1994) 'A longitudinal study of human immunodeficiency virus transmission by heterosexual partners', the New England Journal of Medicine; 331:341-346

[SuAndBud]

We can't answer the poll (sorry, but very poor set of options).

Up to now we've not used condoms (only having swung with one other, so far).

We expect to be swinging with him and his S/O at some point in the future and as they are in an exclusive relationship, we won't expect condoms (neither will he) but she might, in which case we'll wrap 'em up.

It depends who we're with and what activities are taking place and how well we know/trust you or him or her or them to be D&D free and how well they know/trust us.

In short, yes and no.