WEIGHING THE RISKS OF UNPROTECTED SEX

When it comes down to making choices about using a condom or not, it is very simple:
unless a couple is in a serious, committed, monogamous relationship and the HIV and health status of each partner is known (through recent medical testing), condoms should be used for each and every intimate sexual encounter. Condoms need to be used correctly every time, from start to finish, with no exceptions if they are to effectively prevent infection with sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, or pregnancy.

There really is no "choice" here. Other than abstinence, condoms are the only effective way to prevent infection with diseases which range from annoying and embarrassing to life-altering and life-threatening. Trust in the person and the fact that a potential sexual partner looks healthy has nothing to do with it. Whether you trust a person or not does NOT tell you whether they are walking around with HIV replicating in their body, ready to pass it on to you. The person may look healthy, be active and athletic, and may be the most trustworthy and kind person that you have ever known and still have HIV. Unprotected sex without knowing the facts is always unsafe sex.

As for sex being more pleasurable without a condom, I disagree. An intimate sexual relationship between two people who care about each other is a complete connection, irregardless of a condom. Sensation and pleasure can even be enhanced if the right condom is chosen; the couple should experiment with different high-quality condoms to find one that is mutually pleasurable. There are thousands of couples in the U.S. alone where one partner is HIV positive and condoms must be used throughout their marriage. These people will attest that the condoms do NOT make their sex any less pleasurable.

Those who have the mindset that using a condom robs them of sexual pleasure are playing roulette with their lives. I don't think that AIDS is a very pleasurable thing, either. In this day and age, we don't have a choice in this. It is up to each and every one of us to make responsible decisions if we are to ever stall the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The choices that you make affect you as well as anyone else that you have "pleasurable unprotected sex" with. Do the right thing and use a condom.