Sex Without a Condom – Here’s Everything You Need To Know

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. In this blog, we explore how you can have safe sex without a condom, but the risks that may come with it. So, first things first, what happens if you don’t wear a condom during sex?

If you don’t wear a condom, or any other method of barrier protection, during sex, you run the risk of transmitting (or catching!) unwanted STDs, like chlamydia or gonorrhoea. There is also the risk of unintended pregnancy if ejaculation or pre-cum was present.

In this blog, we discuss the risks and considerations that you should take into account before having sex without a condom, plus some condom alternatives to protect you from STDs and pregnancy.

What Happens if You Have Sex Without a Condom?

There are two main risks that come with having sex without using a condom, including the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), or unintentional pregnancy.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Condoms are the single most effective way of preventing the spread of sexually transmitted infections during oral, anal or vaginal sex. 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.

Unintentional Pregnancy

Having penetrative vaginal sex without a condom could lead to unwanted pregnancy if it’s the only form of contraception that 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’re not currently using any form of contraception then you should always use a condom to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

I’ve Had Sex Without a Condom, What Should I Do?

Having sex without using a condom might not always turn out to be the correct 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

Sexually transmitted infections are often invisible and may not present easily recognisable symptoms when you have sex with someone. 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 instances you should always take an STD test after having unprotected sex. Many STD tests will offer accurate results from 14 days post exposure and for the majority of STDs you’ll be able to receive simple and effective treatment. The longer that you live with an STD without receiving treatment the bigger impact this could have on your long term reproductive health.

To find out more about how long you need to wait before being tested for an STD, read our recent blog: How Long After Sex Should You Test For STDs?

If you are specifically worried about the risk of HIV then you should visit a sexual health clinic as soon as possible. They will be able to determine the HIV risk status and may be able to offer you PEP (post exposure prophylaxis) which can stop HIV in its tracks in the first 72 hours post exposure.

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 an 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.

How Safe Are Condoms?

When used properly, condoms are 98% effective against pregnancy and some STDs. However, many people don’t actually use them effectively, which can reduce their effectiveness to a figure more like 85%. Saying that, condoms are still super effective when having oral or penetrative sex. 

How Likely Are Condoms To Break?

When condoms are used properly, they are 98% effective, meaning only 2 in every 100 uses that they’ll slip off or break. This figure may be increased if you are unsure how to use a condom effectively. Here’s some of the steps that you should take to increase the effectiveness of your condoms:

• Buy the right size for your penis
• Don’t use them past their best-before date 
• Don’t open them with your teeth, or any other sharp objects
• When putting it on, pinch the tip, before rolling it down your shaft
• Don’t use it more than once

Are There Any STDs That Can Be Spread Even When Using a Condom?

Yes! Whilst most common STDs, like chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and HIV can be prevented by using a condom, there are a few STDs that can be spread via skin-to-skin contact of the genital region. These include:

• Herpes
• Genital warts 
• Syphilis
• HPV
• Public lice (also known as Crabs)

So, to completely minimise the risk of transmission of an STD (with or without a condom), it is important to get tested for STDs each time you sleep with someone new.

How To Have Safe 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. There are some things that you should consider before taking this decision, which we explore in more detail below.

Make Sure That You’ve Both Been Tested

If you’re having sex with someone without using a condom you should always ensure that both you and your partner 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 further down the line!

To prevent the spread of all STDs during sex without a condom then you’ll want to make sure that you have a comprehensive test that checks for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV, herpes and trichomonas. Your Sexual Health has a Premium Profile test that checks for all of these conditions and is accurate from 28 days following exposure.

Avoid One Night Stands

Whilst it may be tempting after having a flirt with a stranger in a bar, never have sex with someone you don’t know without using a condom. You’ll never be able to know if they’ve been tested prior to that sexual encounter. If you don’t know them that well then they might not be honest with you when they say that they’re all clear. If you’re going to engage in a one night stand, make sure you use a condom, and get tested after the encounter.

If you’ve had a one-night stand without using a condom, find out what to do next in our helpful blog: What To Do if You’ve Had a One Night Stand

Best Condom Alternatives

Before deciding to have sex without a condom you should ensure that you have alternative contraception in place to avoid unwanted pregnancy and STDs. There are many different forms of contraception so it’s important to discuss the options and decide on the best one for you. The best condom alternatives to prevent STDs include:

• Dental dams (for oral sex)
• Diaphragms

If you’ve been tested for STDs, and both you and your partner are in the clear, but you still want to prevent pregnancy, you may want to use a non-barrier method of contraception. This could include:

• The pill 
• The patch, such as Evra
• The intrauterine device (IUD)
• The NuvaRing
• The Depo-Provera injection

You can also visit an NHS contraception clinic or sexual health clinic to discuss contraceptive options.

Don’t Feel Pressured

Having sex without a condom is a decision that both you and your partner should take seriously and you should always talk about it first. However, it isn’t something you should do with a total stranger. 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 more stress, anxiety and worry down the line. Trust us, having a conversation about using a condom is far less awkward when trying to tell someone you’ve got an STD!

Get Tested Before Having Sex Without a Condom

Considering sex without a condom? Before you take that step, make sure you and your partner are fully protected. Book an STD test with Your Sexual Health today to ensure you’re both in the clear. Our discreet and reliable testing services give you the peace of mind you need to enjoy safer, worry-free intimacy.