Answer:
by Konstance McCaffree: ()
It is important to ask the questions that you are asking. Disease transmission certainly is a serious problem and you want to do what you can to lessen the possibility of getting something.
Even if you use a latex condom you certain run a slight risk of getting something that is spread by contact outside of where the condom covers. You mentioned you are both virgins, but that term is usually applied to vaginal intercourse. Does that mean you haven't kissed anyone else, or done oral sex with anyone, or mutually masturbated someone during sexual pleasuring. These all have the potential to spread diseases such as herpes, genital warts (HPV) which are caused by viruses.
Now, having said all that, you still are at very little risk for disease transmission if you trust that both of you have not exchanged fluids with anyone else through vaginal, oral or anal sex. It is always safer to use a latex condom to prevent that exchange of fluids and to be a back up to the hormone methods such as pills and the shot but if you don't intend to use condoms, you still should be relatively safe. A lot of it depends on what other sexual behaviors you engaged in when you were younger and if either of you were exposed to any viruses then.
I hope this was helpful, and if you need to ask more please feel free to write back. I will not be answering questions until after May 6 though, so wait until then to write again. Reviewed by: Scott Gross M. Ed.
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