Are swingers really at higher risk than others?
A few years ago, an alarmist newspaper article carried the headline; ‘Middle-aged swingers indulging in drug-fuelled orgies are fueling a rise in STIs’.
A quick read of the article gave the impression that it was well based on unequivocal medical research. It was certainly compelling enough to make anyone thinking of embracing the swinger lifestyle think again.
However, a little more scrutiny of the article provides a clue to its tabloid bias because it describes swinger parties as “Drug-fuelled orgies”. For anyone who has attended swinger clubs and parties, this description simply wouldn’t match his experiences. All swingers clubs I know of have a zero tolerance policy on drug use on their premises, and drugs are not used at the vast majority of parties held in private residences either.
As you read further into the newspaper article, more clues can be found that call into question its validity. The research on which it was based came from a study of 289 patients in a STIs Clinic in Holland. Of these, more than half were regular drug users who had also engaged in extensive unprotected sex with multiple partners, which may have even included prostitution. The journalist seems to have used this part of the investigation, originally intended to deal with the relationship between drug abuse and STIsand turned it around to create the swinging article.
Most swingers are careful
The reality of the swinger lifestyle is that most swingers are careful and responsible when it comes to minimizing sexual health risks. However, it would be a mistake to pretend that the swinger lifestyle does not create more risk of infection than a strictly monogamous one. STIs they are not pretty and even mild infections can lead to serious health problems. The very small minority of swingers who don’t take risk seriously are not only ignorant of their own well-being, but also pose a risk to the health of others. These people are mainly among the older swingers, so their number is declining. Younger swingers are more willing to accept the need to use condoms and it is rare today to find swingers who want to have unprotected sex.
What else can swingers do to be safer?
Besides insisting on protected sex only, there are other things swingers can do to make it safer. Most important of all, pay attention to personal hygiene. It is important to understand that the bacteria that can accumulate in the genital area can be a source of infections that are difficult to get rid of. Swingers should make thorough washing before and after sex a matter of routine. Showers are often available whether you’re at a swinger club party or at someone’s home or hotel, so there’s no excuse not to take one after having sex.
Dental hygiene matters too. Bleeding gums and sores on the lips increase the chances that infections are transmitted through oral sex. The key to prevention is regular dental visits, good tooth brushing habits combined with the use of bottle brushes and mouthwashes. Women may also want to consider using dental dams. These barriers are designed to decrease the amount of bacteria entering the genital region and also protect the partner’s mouth from oral infections.
For more detailed and medically reliable information about STIsAnyone considering the swinger lifestyle should consult reliable and authentic sources of health information, such as the NHS Livewell website pages instead of paying too much attention to the exaggerated reports that appear from time to time in the popular media.
