Safer Sex: Tips for Clients
Professional Conduct
Sex workers are professionals and make it their business to ensure they do not catch or pass on diseases. This includes all diseases – sexually transmitted infections, diseases of the skin, colds, coughs, flu and any other infection.
That is why you should never visit a sex worker if you are at all ill. Arrive in clean clothes, having bathed and cleaned your teeth.
Sex workers insist on cleanliness. Some will require you to shower on arrival, and some will wash your body as part of an erotic service. However, they may also be discreetly searching for lice, scabes and crabs, and examining your genitals for spots and discharge, before engaging in any intimacy.
Clients and potential clients need to understand that this work provides the sex worker with a livelihood, and catching diseases and becoming ill will disrupt their income as well as their health.
It should be clear that you are far more likely to catch a sexually transmitted infection from someone you pick up in a bar or an amateur than from a professional. The reason for this is that professional sex workers are much more likely than other people to engage in safer sex.
What is Safer Sex?
Safer Sex means taking precautions to prevent any sexually transmitted infection (STI) spreading from one body to another.
Most STIs (HIV, gonorrhoea, hepatitis) are spread by bodily fluids (semen, blood, vaginal secretions) entering the blood stream of another person. They can enter via cuts and sores, or through the fragile membranes inside the vagina, urethra and anus.
Other STIs (e.g. Herpes, thrush, warts, chlamydia) are spread by actual physical contact of the infected area with the genitals or mouth. Syphylis, crabs, and scabes can be caught from any skin contact.
Sex toys which have been used by other people can spread infections. They need cleaning in bleach before being passed along.
How to stay safe
Use a condom for all oral, vaginal or anal sex. Cover any cuts elsewhere on the body if you are going to play with genitals, or rub, kiss or lick a partner.
You don’t need to have sexual intercourse in order to enjoy sex. There are many other exciting things to do, such as playing erotic games, stroking and massage, masturbation and oral sex, watching each other and talking sexy. You may well come away feeling as if you have had a much more exciting time with a sex worker if you spend the time exploring some of these options.
Sex workers have their own supplies of condoms. If you have problems using a condom, the Femidom is a female condom which forms a barrier inside the vagina. However, the Femidom does not protect the woman’s urethra or anus, and you need to be careful that semen does not run into these openings. Femidoms can also be used for anal sex (place it over the penis before penetration). Professional sex workers may refuse to use Femidoms.
If you have a Herpes sore, do not make an appointment with a sex worker until you are sure it has gone. If a sore develops before an appointment, cancel it. Never allow a Herpes sore to come into contact with the skin of another person.
If you have experienced unsafe sex with anyone, visit a Genito-urinary (GU) clinic for tests immediately. In fact, everyone who is sexually active should have regular check-ups as many infections have no obvious symptoms.
If you have a discharge from the vagina or penis, spots, painful peeing or other symptoms, go to a GU clinic, refrain from sexual intercourse, and obey the instructions of the clinic.
What will happen if you catch an STI?
So long as you are diagnosed quickly, some diseases can be cured. However, HIV is currently incurable and can lead to AIDS which can make you very sick and some people die. Chlamydia is often without symptoms so does not get treated. It can make a women infertile. Some forms of hepatitis can be fatal. Herpes is incurable and you will be infectious every time you have an outbreak. Many STIs are passed on to offspring.
It is important to take this advice seriously without panicking and becoming too afraid to enjoy sex. Remember, you are safer with a professional.
Other Tips
Never try to persuade a sex worker (or anyone for that matter) to have unsafe sex with you. This is insulting and dangerous.
Each condom is to be used only once. If it falls off, use another. If the condom falls off or splits during intercourse, you need to use emergency techniques, ask your clinic for advice.
The penis exudes pre-cum before ejaculation, so you need a condom on all the time penetration is taking place.
Extra strong condoms are required for anal sex.
GU clinic staff will be friendly, highly professional and supportive – irrespective of your test result. If you cannot visit a clinic, visit the website www.drThom.com for a postal service.