CARNAL NATION

You've got the basic concept down: condoms can protect you from some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) but not others. Condoms offer good protection against diseases—like HIV, gonorrhea, and chlamydia—that actually travel in semen (including pre-cum) and women's vaginal or cervical fluids. As long as the semen stays in the condom, it can't get into anyone's orifices and cause infection. Likewise fluids from a partner can’t make contact with the vulnerable mucous membranes of the penis.

But other STDs aren't so easy to prevent. The reason makes sense when you think about it: condoms can only protect the areas they cover. Same goes for internal "female" condoms and dental dams. Some sex diseases, including syphilis and chancroid, cause open sores or ulcers, and contact with these ulcers can spread the germs. These sores might occur on the penis or inside the vagina or anus—and in those cases condoms can be protective—but they can also appear elsewhere in the genital or anal area, where condoms don't provide any coverage.

Herpes can spread through skin-to-skin contact even when there are no open sores. A recent study found that condoms reduce the risk of herpes transmission by 30%—hardly enough for comfort. Similarly, human papillomavirus (HPV) can be transmitted via contact with genital or anal warts that are too tiny to see without a microscope. Hepatitis B and C are probably spread via small amounts of blood in the genital or anal area, but sexual transmission of these viruses isn't completely understood.

The CDC and Planned Parenthood both provide good basic info about specific STDs and how to prevent them.

A head-to-toe rubber suit will indeed protect you from catching pretty much everything, but unless that's your particular kink, you don't have to go that far. Certainly, it's smart to use condoms to prevent HIV and lower the risk of other diseases. Talk with your partners about your respective sexual health, but don't forget that everyone doesn’t always tell the truth, and some people don't even know what they’ve got.

To make sure you don't fall into the latter category, it's a good idea for sexually active people who aren't in a stable monogamous relationship to get tested regularly for STDs—and immediately if you have symptoms. If you're too embarrassed to ask your doctor, most cities have public clinics that will do this cheaply. Fortunately, most STDs can be treated, and early treatment both offers the best chance for a complete cure and lowers the risk of passing the nasties along.

You’re right—condoms do not protect you from everything 100% of the time. They are absolutely a good start, but not guaranteed, as some sexually transmitted infections (STIs)—like herpes—are not necessarily confined to the genitals and passed by skin-to-skin contact.

Fetishizing latex a bit is a good idea—and it’s kind of fun that you’ve stumbled upon something that you like. I’ve never seen a latex suit (the image from the sex scene in film Naked Gun 33 1/3 keeps coming to mind) but I’m sure they’re available somewhere, and if you’re into it, well then, go for it. No matter how into it you are, though, it’s still a different experience than actually curling up skin-to-skin with someone else.

So how do you keep yourself safe? I can think of three things:

1. Give up sex completely—or, at least, give up sex where you come into contact with someone else. You already said this isn’t really an option for you, which, hey, I can get that— it isn’t for me either. But it probably is the only thing that is 100% safe.
2. Have only safe(r) sex, using gloves, dams, condoms, or perhaps a full-latex suit. This isn’t quite as guaranteed to protect you, since there are still things that pass orally and by the skin. But it’s much better than nothing, and you kind of like the plastic anyway: Win!
3. Communicate extensively with your sex partners. Get to know them before you sleep with them. Find out how trustworthy they are so that when they tell you a) how many people they’ve slept with, b) whether or not they practice safer sex, c) when they were last tested, and d) what their results were, you’ll know more about how reliable that information is.

Also, keep educating yourself about the processes around sexually transmitted infections—for example, when you say, “test me for all the diseases,” your doctor may still leave some tests out, and some infections take many months to manifest any sort of symptoms. You have to know what to ask to be tested for, follow up, get informed, do your research.

Remember too that an STI is not the end of the world—or your sex life. They are, unfortunately, extremely common, and it is still possible to have an active, safe sex life. Check www.scarleteen.com for much more information about STIs—it’s a site geared toward teens, but that just means the information is plain and accessible. 

Ah, the wonder and beauty of contemporary culture! Gone are the days when sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were unheard of and all one needed was a little spit to make it through the night. Pity, but c'est la vie. You do raise the issue around the rise of latex as a fetish, particularly in the United States, where our fear factor is through the roof with the help of an alarmist media. Clearly anyone in the know since 1981 or so, has begun using latex with much frequency (hence the rise of latex allergies as well).

Unfortunately "safe" is not really guaranteed in anything in this world—riding the bus, dentist appointment, getting a mani/pedi), and especially not sexual activity, but there are certain options that are safer than others. Knowing what is clearly safer than not is valid and important. I might add though, that many "diseases" are not "discovered" until they are discovered; so if you wish to be super safe, your options will be mightily limited. On a final note, although I suggest you question your need for self preservation so fiercely, I also commend you for your desire to be informed and creative.

To be clear, you are worried about STDs and would like to have fun sexual activity, particularly with rubber right? If that is indeed the question, then let's look at some options.

Mutual masturbation: watching each other stroke, slap, suck, and fuck can be really hot. Use your own dildos/toys and don't worry about another person's goo, ew! And if you seek company: let them watch you; you watch them. Whatever works, super easy, super fun, super "safe."

If you must touch/penetrate, latex is your friend. Wear latex gloves (I suggest sexy black ones) and use a sturdy well-made non-expired condom. Change the gloves and condom as much as necessary to keep bacteria away. Check your partner for open sores, etc. If you're turned off or find something you don't want to get near, don't make the person feel guilty. Find a way out that says "I'm not in the mood tonight," and, if possible, broach the subject when you are no longer in the heat of the moment.

Rubber/latex clothing is a great addition to one's wardrobe. It looks beautiful, cleans easily, and is so much like a second skin that you can feel every little movement from the outside. Rubbing with hands or other latex-clad body parts (don't forget the silicone lube), ice, vibrators—all will work wonders outside the latex. I recommend getting some inexpensive shorts to start, from say, Westward Bound or The Latex Store (tell 'em Minax sent ya). Play around with the various sensations until you determine what you like, then prepare for the next step!

So your shorts are fun, and you know how to play with them. Perhaps you've even found a rubber fetish playmate! Well then, how about some more advanced pieces like a catsuit from Cocoon or an inflatable and suspendable body bag from Studio Gum? Yummy! Add a remote electro e-stim device, like the ET302R, and you've got a party where you will never have to touch skin again!

if you still crave penetration but are afraid of condoms and the catsuit won't do, try a latex cube with an insertable entry point made just for you or your friend. One of you can wear the catsuit while the other is suspended and fucked in the cube. Yowzah!

Rock on Rubber Soul! Enjoy your new semi-safe sex life!