Welcome to Reader’s Request Fridays. As a reminder, I’ll be addressing one reader email per week, so if you have a specific question you’d like answered or a topic you’d like covered, please email me. If you’re interested in counseling, call (415) 658-5738 or visit my Appointments page to schedule a consultation.

Today I’m finishing my comprehensive wrap-up of Karen’s question from a few weeks ago!

For my final post on this subject, I’m tacking sexual risk.

Most sexual behavior is risky. There’s always the chance of getting an STI, causing harm to your body, or getting pregnant.

Risk isn’t limited to just sex of course. It’s around us all day every day – from crossing the street, to driving our cars, to eating sushi.

Risk can’t be completely avoided, but you can help yourself make educated decisions to minimize risk.

No risk

Holding hands

Cuddling

Massaging

Giving/getting a hickey

Kissing or touching breasts

Phone sex

Spanking

Masturbation

 

Very low risk

Fingering a woman’s genitals

Hand jobs

Dry humping with clothes on

Kissing

French kissing

Light bondage

Mutual masturbation

Ejaculating away from mouth, genitals, or anus

Using clean sex toys, without sharing

Prostate massage

 

Medium risk

Rimming

Fisting

Protected (condom) vaginal sex

Protected anal sex

Unprotected (no condom) vaginal sex for men

 

High risk

Sharing sex toys

Unprotected oral sex

Unprotected vaginal sex for women (it’s an unfair reality that unprotected sex is more risky for women than it is for men!)

Unprotected anal sex

Unprotected threesome or orgy

Blood play

Feces/urination play