Reply #61: One thing you'll be happy to hear

[tavalon]

is that most (never all, unfortunately) of us in the poly community are very proactive about safer sex and getting the whole battery of STD testing frequently. We call it having our papers and yet, many of us still choose not to fluid bond because of the ongoing risk possibility.

I do have a question though. I'm a huge proponent of using the female condom both for vaginal and anal (and even oral sex after washing the lube off) but the last information I was able to get was the the female condom isn't as safe as latex condoms. Is that really true and if so, how much extra risk is one taking on by using the female condom instead of latex? Is it also true that using nonoxynol 9 potentially increases one's risk for contracting STDs because of the irritation and micro tears it causes in mucus membranes? If so, do we have a replacement spermacide?

Oops, that was three questions. :)