Bedsider

Spring Is Here! Before You Get Wet and Wild, A Few Things to Consider…

Originally published on SexReally.com on April 11, 2011.

When you think of water you may well think of fun and wet—pair that up with sex (also, hopefully, fun and wet) and you have a winning combination, right? Not necessarily. If you are thinking about getting wet and wild in the water, there are a few things you should consider first.

Be Sexy and Safe

No matter where you’re doing it, if you are having sex you should always protect yourself against STIs and unplanned pregnancy. One problem here is that condoms and water don’t always mix. There is a chance that the condom can slip off and when you combine chemicals and hot water it can affect the durability of the condom. So what’s a couple to do?

• It’s a good idea to double up with an effective form of contraception like the IUD or a hormonal method to prevent pregnancy. If you’re using a reliable contraceptive method and want to forgo the condom, make sure it’s with someone with whom you’re in a mutually monogamous relationship and who you know is STI-free.
• Water can wash away a woman’s natural lubrication, so consider using a silicone-based, water-resistant lubricant (check out Ride Silicone, for example) to keep everything slipping and sliding (in a good way).
• If you use a condom, then definitely use a silicone-based, water-resistant lubricant—it’s more comfortable and will make it more likely that your condom stays intact.

Location, Location, Location…

When getting it on in the water, it’s best to stay close to home. Public pools and hot tubs contain more chlorine and chemicals that a private pool or hot tub would. The last thing you want is highly chlorinated water rushing in and out of the vagina – hello infection! If you really want to get intimate in a public setting, let me recommend oral sex. You can still use a condom if somebody’s out of the water, so it can be fun and safe.

Thinking of a lake or an ocean? Salt water and sand aren’t a vagina’s best friend. No matter how careful you think you’re being, oceans and lakes are filled with organisms, dirt, and sand that can get pushed into a vagina – hello infection, the sequel! When it comes to sex on the beach, personally I’d stick with the cocktail. If you insist, make sure you’re on a thick blanket.

Tubs and the shower can be fun and should present far less exposure to chlorine or organisms. The only thing to keep in mind is that tubs and showers are slippery and sometimes tiny spaces – I would recommend some anti-slip treads in the shower and maybe some light stretching beforehand.

Different locations might call for different positions, too, so you may want to check out this handy list of suggested “Water Sex Positions” courtesy of Cosmopolitan.

And finally, some myths about sex in the water that must be busted immediately if not sooner:

Myth #1: You can’t get pregnant if you have sex in the water.
False. Truth is that once a man ejaculates into the vagina, those sperm are on a mission to find an egg and fertilize. No amount of water is going to abort their mission. Water is not a method of contraception.

Myth #2: Hot tubs and Jacuzzis are hot, so they prevent pregnancy.
Erroneous. Some people think that the high temperature in the hot tub will kill sperm. Truth is that even though hot temperatures can decrease a man’s sperm count, he is still ejaculating several million of those little guys. It only takes one to fertilize an egg.

Myth #3: You can get pregnant if a man ejaculates into a pool.
Bogus. If a man ejaculates into a pool, it is extremely unlikely that a women will get pregnant. Pools and Jacuzzis have chlorine and other chemicals, so sperm don’t stand a chance for more than a couple of seconds out on their own. If a woman is sitting on the edge of a pool, I highly doubt that the sperm will be able to swim through the water and jump through the air – Free-Willy-style – and land in the vagina. I know that sounds ridiculous but I’m just trying to make a point here.

Myth #4: You can’t get an STI in the water.
Untrue. Truth is that if you are having unprotected sex, you are at risk for STIs regardless of whether you are floating in a pool or not. On the other hand, risk of STIs comes from direct contact with a person, so if there’s no unprotected sexual act of any kind going on, no need to worry about the water.

Got all that? Keep it in mind, go forth, and enjoy the new season!

*****

Danielle DeSilvis is a blogger and sex-positive activist. She holds a Masters in Sexual Health Education and a Masters in Science. Danielle is currently teaching at the university level and pursuing her nursing degree specializing in women’s health. She blogs at The Boom Boom Blog.