Tag: safe sex

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Experimenting With Rope Bondage Safely Is HOT

Dating enthusiasts have started to wonder aloud what the “new normal” will look like in a post-pandemic dating world. From the surveys and data available in the Adult FriendFinder community anonymously, we can piece together some of the upcoming trends in the kinkster community. One that has clearly gained immense popularity as of late is Rope Bondage play.

Rope Bondage has become so popular lately that Cosmopolitan Magazine recently did a multi-page spread explaining 14 Rope Bondage Sexual Positions to their readers. While that title is titillating, we found it a bit scary that they made very little reference to the sorts of safety precautions novices need to know if they want to enjoy safe, fun, and satisfying rope play. So, we have taken it upon ourselves to ask the Adult FriendFinder dating community experts about their rope play best practices for your benefit.

5 Important Things To Know As Novice Rope Bondage BDSM Playmates

 

1 Know Your Experience Level And Play Accordingly

Maybe you’ve seen rope play in a few porn videos. Perhaps you read a book or two that mentioned certain types of rope bondage in an excerpt. In the nicest way possible, we need to say that doesn’t make you a rope bondage expert… yet! Take the time to practice, and understand that rope experts have devoted hundreds or thousands of hours to mastering the nuances of each knot, so they know precisely how much pressure is being exerted at each point of rope play on their submissives. It’s great to be a novice, and learning should be celebrated at every step along your sexual journey.

2 You Can Learn A Lot Online From Rope Experts

In some larger cities, you may be able to find rope play classes among the local kink community. There are also many rope experts available to you online. It’s not the sort of thing that will be commonplace on a YouTube DIY channel, but in a kinkster dating community like Adult FriendFinder, there’s never a shortage of rope experts willing to share what they’ve learned with novices that are following in their footsteps. Be ready to ask questions and be open to listening to answers. Take what you can use and be patient with yourself as you become an expert yourself, and eventually, as you be able to share what you’ve learned with others.

3 You Can Always Tighten More Later

Ask any carpenter about woodworking, and they are bound to mention the old adage “measure twice, cut once.” That’s because you can always cut more later, but you can’t easily turn two pieces of wood back into one. That analogy is even more important when it comes to rope play. Whatever positions you try or style of rope play you’re discovering, it’s important to always keep in mind that a rope can easily be tightened at any point, but if you go too tight, you may cause unintentional pain or damage before you can loosen the knots again. Always start light and gradually tighten up your ties as you tighten up your skillset. There’s no urgency to reach the pinnacle of bondage from the start, and the slower, more gradual approach adds a level of suspense to suspension play that can be exhilarating in its own way.

4 The Rope Itself Matters Quite A Bit

Rope Bondage isn’t about heading out to a local hardware store and grabbing the first piece of course rope for your next play session. The rope itself matters quite a bit. Some experts prefer wax-coated clothesline to reduce skin friction. Many look for ropes with flat surface areas to avoid unintentional lacerations. Other components of rope play, like lubrication, can make a big difference in certain positions. Take the time to find the right materials because they are every bit as important as finding the right rope play sex partners.

5 Communicate Completely In Advance

Like any other form of bondage, you and your partners must communicate in advance of any play session when it comes to rope play. Always establish a simple safe word and a physical safe motion that your partner can make even after being tied up. Take the time to discuss what you are into, exactly what will happen, and to ensure you and your partners share a similar mindset before you wrap that first length of rope around any part of their trembling bodies.

Is Rope Play For Everyone?

Like many aspects of sex that suddenly become popular, rope play is going through a bit of a spike in the adult dating community these days. However, that doesn’t mean everyone will enjoy it, so be honest with yourself and your partners. If you aren’t into it, say so. If you’re just experimenting, say so. If this is your time to shine because you’ve been waiting to be tied up, say so. The most important part of sex is communicating honestly with your sexual partners before, during, and after every encounter.

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Dating Post COVID – How Soon Is Too Soon?

Are you ready to start dating again? If you’re thinking about what the “new normal” will look like as the world begins socializing again, you should know that you’re definitely not alone. In fact, everyone has been out of the loop for so long that it’s almost like starting over from square one. Now, as we all rekindle our desire for intimacy with others, we’re seeking to sort out the mixed bag of emotions we have about getting started.

One of the first questions you need to ask yourself is, “is it too soon to start dating again?” If you used your time in quarantine wisely by meeting new potential mates online via Adult FriendFinder, you probably have a lot of new prospects you’re eager to explore. Plenty of people sent photos, winks, and more during the dating downtime and established new connections, so now you need to know if it’s safe to finally meet them face to face.

Check Out Those Vaccine Cards

For starters, make sure that you and your prospects are all vaccinated. Remember, you’re not considered fully inoculated until two weeks after your second shot. So, going out to get a hot beef injection the day after your first vaccine injection is not advised. Instead, it’s worth waiting for the vaccine to take full effect on your system.

One great thing about the adult dating community is that everyone is already accustomed to the safety protocols that come into play with any form of STI or other transmittable illnesses. It may be helpful from a dating point of view to treat Covid 19 just how you would treat any other STI – with honesty, transparency, and genuine communication.

What About People Who Don’t Want to Get Vaccinated?

Here’s where the thought process gets a lot trickier. Science tells us that vaccines prevent you from getting sick and passing the disease on to others. The same is true for mask-wearing and social distancing. If you put all the political rhetoric aside, the science doesn’t much care what anyone would like to believe; it’s raw statistical numbers that show declines in cases among people who follow vaccine protocols. Period.

Meeting someone who says they don’t plan to get vaccinated or who thinks not wearing a mask is a political statement is very similar to meeting someone who tells you they just don’t like the way a condom feels.

Sure, there are reasons to prefer sex without a condom, but do those feelings change the fact that sex without a condom among strangers is far more dangerous? Of course not, because the science of STIs doesn’t care if you prefer skin-to-skin sexual intercourse. The data clearly demonstrates that having unprotected sex without a condom puts you at a much higher risk of getting pregnant or contracting an otherwise avoidable sexually transmitted infection.

Aren’t There Exceptions?

Yes, there definitely are exceptions. Some people cannot get the vaccine due to other preexisting medical conditions. Meanwhile, the CDC has instructed those with specific allergies to wait before getting vaccinated until more testing can be completed. Other ailments almost make the vaccine problematic.

If you’re dating someone you think could be your soul mate, it’s time to consult your doctor, have those serious conversations, and decide what’s best for both of you. There may be a way to establish some kind of quarantine bubble together, but that’s not a decision to take lightly. If they’re just #8 on your list of “The Top 10 People I’d Like to Fuck Right Now,” it’s probably better to take a rain check.

The Bottom Line on Re-Starting Your Dating Life

Only you can decide when you’re ready, and it’s a health-based decision that you shouldn’t take lightly. You can always talk with your doctor, and if you aren’t quite sure yet, it may be best to wait a while longer. Simply put, nobody wants to have a one-night stand with a playmate that’s obviously preoccupied with the anxiety that they may be having unsafe sex.

If you decide to start dating now, make sure you’re doing so with all the confidence and excitement you usually bring to any first date. As we already know, there really is nothing better than the first time you meet someone and get a chance to discover what makes them tick in bed. Just be sure you’re up for it before you say yes to your next rendezvous. Enjoy!

 

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AFF Health Advisory: COVID-19 Safe Sex Guidelines

When the world went into quarantine, people suddenly found themselves home alone with nothing – and no one – to do. It’s a far cry from the hot hookups and lust-fueled sex parties everyone is used to, and while some have turned to virtual sex, many still crave skin-on-skin contact. 

Most states have lifted stay-at-home orders for the time being, but the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. With some states contemplating secondary shutdowns and hospitalization rates on the rise, most experts say it’s best to avoid sexual contact with people outside of your immediate household. Abstinence is undoubtedly an effective way to prevent Coronavirus’s spread, but it may not be realistic for everyone, especially if this pandemic continues into the coming months and even years.

So, the real question is, how can you be sexually active while still taking measures to protect yourself? No method is 100% safe, but that doesn’t mean you should throw caution to the wind. Here are some tips to help you stay safe based on the recommendations put forth by the New York City Health Department.

Hold your own.

If you don’t have a partner or don’t want to risk in-person contact, masturbation is the safest way to handle your sexual needs. Just be sure to wash your hands before and after, and don’t forget to keep your sex toys clean, dry, and properly stored at all times. If you’re not sure how to properly clean your pleasure devices, here is a quick run-down:

  • The easiest way to wash your sex toys is with mild soap and warm water because it’s safe for all materials and doesn’t require a lot of time and effort. Just wash the toy, pat it dry with a clean towel, and store it safely.
  • If you want to sterilize your toys, you can boil anything made of silicone, Pyrex, or stainless steel.
  • You can run sturdier sex toys through the dishwasher on the top rack. Just be sure to avoid using dishwashing detergents, as the chemicals could be too harsh for anything that touches your genitals.

Sex within the same household is safer. 

If you live with your partner or even a roommate with benefits, then you should be ok to have sex freely so long as neither of you is infected. Just be sure you are both taking the proper precautions any time you leave the house and avoid contact should one of you feel like you are getting sick.

Minimize your risk of transmission when having sex with a partner. 

Discuss your Covid-19 status.

Just as you would want to know about a potential partner’s HIV status, you should also know about their COVID-19 status. Don’t be afraid to ask your partner if they have symptoms or came in contact with someone who may be infected. It may sound like a mood killer, but everyone will be better off if you get this out of the way before making it into the bedroom.

Ask potential partners if they are sleeping with other people. 

You can significantly lower your risk of contracting or transmitting the virus by limiting your sexual partners. If one of you decides not to be exclusive for some reason, it is vital to have a conversation about that. If you’re ok taking the risk of sleeping with other people while you are sleeping with each other, that’s fine, but all parties should be empowered to make their own informed decision.

Know how Coronavirus spreads.

Doctors are still learning about how the virus is transmitted, but we know it spreads through saliva, mucus, and droplets we exhale when breathing. While it’s hard to control these things when you have intimate contact with someone, you can limit exposure by avoiding kissing or wearing a mask in more extreme cases. Experts have even suggested that people wear masks anytime they have sexual contact with someone outside their home. It may sound a little extreme, but if you are worried about contracting the virus, it can offer you an extra layer of protection.

Condoms and glory holes, oh my! 

If you want to be a little more adventurous than masturbating and sleeping with people in your immediate household, the New York City Health Department has some safety recommendations. You should still always use condoms to prevent the transmission of STDs. They also recommend sexual positions and “physical barriers” that allow sexual contact without partners being face-to-face. A few ideas would be doggy style and wait for it…gloryholes. Who would have thought we would see the day when the health department suggested gloryholes? What a time to be alive.

Get Tested.

Get tested for STDs as usual, and if you are currently sleeping with a partner outside of your immediate household, you should consider adding COVID-19 testing as well. While it’s imperative not to see anyone while you have symptoms, some people may be asymptomatic and unknowingly spread it to others.

Self-Quarantine After a Hookup.

While it’s essential to protect yourself during this pandemic, it’s crucial to protect those around you. You would probably feel pretty guilty if you caught COVID-19 from a hookup and passed it to an elderly relative or someone with underlying health issues. To avoid spreading the COVID-19 to loved ones, always self-quarantine for 14 days after a casual encounter.

For more information on how to protect yourself from COVID-19, visit the New York City Health Department and CDC websites.