My girlfriend and I are starting to take the first few steps into the swinging scene but we are a little concerned about the health risks involved. Obviously we would use condoms for sex. We would probably use condoms for blowjobs as well, though I get the impression it's not unusual for people to go natural for that. For cunnilingus I know there are dental dams available, but I've never heard of anyone actually using them and I reckon we would probably be laughed at if we suggested it. And then there's handjobs - as ridiculous as it sounds to catch an STI from a handjob, the reading I have done suggests it is possible (syphilis and herpes).Using genital herpes (HSV-2) as an example, many people may not even realise they have it. Herpes is spread by skin to skin contact - not through bodily fluids - and it has no cure. It is very contagious when an infected person is "shedding" - that is, they have a sore or spot that will develop into a sore that is excreting the virus. A reliable source says that contact with an area of shedding has a 75% transmission risk!! Those that do have it may not recognise the times when they are contagious (you can be contagious without having visible sores), and some people are contagious without having any symptoms at all. A woman who stokes the infected areas of a contagious person can get the virus on her hands and further touching of herself or other people can spread it - though I'm sure the risk of transmission this way is very low. Condoms are not foolproof either as they only cover the penis, whereas the virus can be spread from all around the groin.Given that people active in the swing scene likely have many play partners over the years, are infections like herpes quite common? Do you think about things like that when you play, or do you block the risks from your mind so as not to spoil the mood? Do you know people in the scene who have herpes? Do you know if they tell all partners about their condition, or do they simply abstain when they are showing symptoms and then shut up about it when they don't think they are contagious? If someone warned you that they have herpes but don't currently have any sores, would you still play with them?