Going Raw: Things You Should Consider Before Contemplating Sex Without Protection

At some point in adulthood, you may find yourself playing with fire often, and in ways you don’t think are so bad. For instance, maybe you have been dating someone exclusively for almost a year, and after finding yourself unprepared in a hot and heavy situation, you contemplate going au naturel. Or, in other words, raw. But before you assume that everyone is doing the pullout method and go forward to take that plunge (pun intended), here are some things to take into consideration.

According to statistics, each year, there are almost three million new cases of chlamydia, many of which are found in adolescents and young adults. It is estimated that as many as one in five Americans have genital herpes, a lifelong (but manageable) infection, yet up to 90 percent of those with herpes are unaware they have it. In a national survey of U.S. physicians, fewer than one-third routinely screened patients for STDs/STIs. So the question is, when’s the last time you’ve been tested? When’s the last time your partner was tested? Where’s the proof? I mean, in the heat of passion you might not be thinking about all of that, but contracting an STD/STI isn’t like catching a common cold. You can’t just go to the drugstore or pharmacy and grab something over the counter to make it go away. So think wisely before you decide to have unprotected sex. If you’re in a long-term relationship, the best thing to do is get tested — together — so that the both of you are on the same page.

I think it’s important to know where you both stand before letting him dip and dive. Are you an exclusive couple? Was that something left unsaid? Sure, you might be loyal to him, but he might still be dating around. Are you both free to date and sleep with whomever (see the stats above if this is you) in this relationship or situationship?

When you have unprotected sex, you have to know that there’s a 50-50 chance that pregnancy can occur just as there’s a 50-50 chance that disease and infection can as well if you don’t know your partner’s status. Unless you’re on birth control, which still isn’t 100 percent reliable, ask yourself, are you ready to be a parent? If so, can you put up with that person for the duration of your child’s youth? Does he know how to time his pullout properly? If it’s a no to all of these questions, you should probably reconsider unprotected sex because you might not be responsible enough just yet to deal with the consequences should you run into an issue.

I’m sure many of us have encountered or fallen victim to the “Let me just put the tip in” dude and before you know it, the tip turns into something a lot longer. And the “I’ll pull out” guy? Good luck with that. Pregnancy scares aren’t fun, and neither is the week or two wait after getting tested to know your status or the stressful interim between that withdrawal method moment and when you think your period is scheduled to come. So before you decide to go raw, no matter how good you think it feels, please consider these things.