Outercourse: different view on contraception
When you hear word "sex" you may associated with enjoying penetration. But this doesn't have to be an ultimate word for sexual relationships especially when we talk about safer sex. Today you can choose an alternative sexual practice to increase assurance of your sexual health, which is called outercourse.
What is an outercourse?
Outercourse is a sexual activity that excludes penetration either vaginal or anal. This doesn't involve the contact of body fluids.
What does an outercourse includes?
- Mutual masturbation (touching each other's genitals)
- Watching your partner masturbating
- Kissing
- Erotic massage
- Sex toys usage
- Petting (erotic touching, licking, hugging)
- Frottage(rubbing of partner's genitals against each other)
- Sharing sexual fantasies
- Erotic talk
Why should people practice outercourse?
In fact, a person is free to decide whether he wants to be engaged in outercourse or any other sexual activity. Some people would find outercourse not fullfilling, others would see it as a new vision on erotic relationships. But there are other reasons why people choose outercourse:
Safety - as long as outercourse doesn't include the exchange of body fluids and the egg cannot be fertilized by sperm the outercourse becomes a good solution to avoid unwanted pregnancy and risks of transmitting STD's
Knowledge - if some of partners is not ready for intercourse but feel the desire to make first steps, outercourse allows both partners to get to know about each other's bodies and sexual response in quite safe way.
Health problems - when one of the partners has chronic disease that creates some difficulty for the intercourse to happen. In some cases outercourse can have therapeutic effects for overcoming some sexual problems (like vaginismus in women).
Increasing pleasure - different forms of outercourse may prolong the erotic play. As women usually require more time to orgasm, this form of sexual practice may teach her and her partner to make the play last longer.
Is an outercourse completely safe?
Generally speaking the outercourse is safe, but there are some precautions that should be taken to avoid some risks.
The most safe form of outercourse is considered to be contact of bodies when people are dressed. But as outercourse includes different types of sexual stimulation, there are chances that body fluids may pass through the open area if for example, underwear will be shifted.
It is highly recommended to wear gloves or finger cot for such activities as fingering (stimulation of genitals with fingers). If minor scratches on hand or vagina are present, the risk of contracting infection is possible.
During frottage, the pre-ejaculating fluid may leak to genitals of the partner and increase thee risk of getting STD.
Sex toys use is quite safe if you keep to care and cleaning rules and don't share sex toys. It is also advisable to put a condom on a sex toy if you use dildo or vibrator.
Any oral-genital contact is also about some risks of STD's contraction, which means that you should apply a dental dam or condom to increase the protection.
You should remember, that some STD's like genital herpes and HPV can be passed on even with no body fluids contact, if one of partners has a contact with unprotected area. Just because viral infections like herpes can not be seen to the naked eye, but the possibility of passing it even if signs are not visible, cannot be excluded.
There also should be warning against the possibility of outercourse turning into intercourse. Both partners should preliminary discuss the topic and decide on such practice consensually.