Sex without a condom – what you need to know

12-March-2022

Many people find that having sex without a condom is a more enjoyable and pleasurable experience. Some people may also have latex allergies which mean that using a condom is not an option. Here we discuss the risks and considerations you should take into account before having sex without a condom.

What are the risks of having sex without a condom?

There are two main risks that come with having sex without using a condom.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

During oral, anal, or vaginal sex, condoms are the most effective way to prevent transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Although they don’t prevent all STDs, they can prevent the majority, including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV and syphilis. If you have sex without using a condom then you are at a much greater risk of catching a sexually transmitted infection.

Unwanted Pregnancy

Penetrative vaginal sex without a condom can result in a pregnancy if it's the only method of contraception you're using. It could also lead to pregnancy if you miss taking your contraceptive pill for two consecutive days leading up to the encounter. If you do not currently use contraception, make sure that you always use a condom in order to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

Considerations before having sex without a condom?

You may want to explore having sex without a condom if it’s something that both you and your partner are ready for. It’s important that you discuss this together openly and it’s a decision that you take together. A few things should be considered before taking a decision.

Make sure that you’ve both been tested

To ensure that you and your partner are both tested for STDs before having sex without a condom, both of you should take an STD test first. This is the only way of knowing for sure that both you and your partner don’t have any STDs that you can pass on to each other. It’s important that you’re open and honest about this at the start of any relationship to prevent you passing an STD on to your partner, causing an even more awkward situation.

It's important to check for sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV, herpes, and trichomonia before you engage in any sex without a condom. Your Sexual Health offers a Premium Profile test that screens for all of these conditions and is accurate up to 28 days following exposure.

One night stands

Avoid having sex with someone you don't know without a condom because you don't know if they've been tested beforehand. If you don’t know them that well then they might not be honest with you when they say that they’re all clear.

Alternative contraception

You should use alternative contraception in order to avoid unwanted pregnancy before opting to have sex without a condom. There are many different forms of contraception so it’s important to discuss the options and decide on the best one for you. You can visit a contraception clinic or sexual health clinic to discuss contraceptive options.

Don’t feel pressured

A decision to have sex without a condom should always be discussed first and both you and your partner should take it seriously. It’s important that you are both ready to have sex without a condom before doing so and that you don’t feel pressured into it. Ensure that you’ve had time to think about the considerations above as rushing into this can lead to much more stress, anxiety and worry down the line.

I’ve had sex without a condom, what should I do?

Having sex without a condom might not always prove to be the right decision. In some situations for women, it may not have been by your own choice. From a sexual health point of view it’s important that you take decisive action as soon as possible after the event, whilst trying not to worry too much about the situation.

STDs

In most cases, sexually transmitted infections are invisible and may not present obvious symptoms during a sex session. STDs are always a risk when you have sex without a condom, particularly if both you or your partner haven’t been tested since your last sexual encounter.

In these cases you ought to constantly take a STD test in the wake of having unprotected sex. Numerous STD tests will offer precise outcomes from 14 days post openness and for most of STDs you'll have the option to get basic and powerful treatment. The more drawn out that you live with a STD without getting treatment the greater effect this could have on your drawn out regenerative wellbeing.

On the off chance that you are explicitly stressed over the gamble of HIV, you should visit a sexual wellbeing center as quickly as time permits. They will actually want to decide the HIV risk status and might have the option to offer you PEP (post openness prophylaxis) which can leave HIV speechless in the initial 72 hours post openness.

Pregnancy

Unplanned pregnancy is always possible if you have sex without a condom and you’re not on any other form of contraception. Pregnancy is also possible if you’ve missed taking your contraception or forgot to take it on time in the days leading up to your unprotected sexual encounter.

If you’re worried about unplanned pregnancy following a sexual encounter where you didn’t use a condom then you should seek out emergency contraception as soon as possible. There are two forms of emergency contraception, including the emergency contraception pill, also known as the morning after pill. These are more effective the sooner that you take them from 12 hours to 5 days following sex.

You can pick up emergency contraception easily from a number of places, including pharmacists, GP surgeries, NHS walk-in centres and many NHS GUM clinics. These are available free on the NHS or you may have to pay depending on your circumstances.