Penile health and frottage: what are the risks?
Frottage, or rubbing one’s genitals against another person’s (or against another part of the body), is a popular sexual activity, especially among young people. One of the appeals of frottage is that men assume it comes with no chance of penile health problems. However, that is not exactly the case, and those for whom proper penile care is a concern should learn a bit more about the risks involved in participating in frottage.
What’s new?
Technically, frottage is any form of activity in which a person’s genitals are stimulated by contact with a body part of another person (or persons). A man with a foot fetish, for example, could be considered frottage if he rubbed his penis against his partner’s foot for sexual pleasure. While frottage usually brings to mind bare genitalia, a couple may rub each other while clothed; therefore “dry humping”, or the rubbing of one’s genitals while clothed, could be considered a form of frottage.
However, for the purposes of this article, frottage will be specifically considered the rubbing of two (or more) sets of bare genitalia. It can involve mixed-gender couples or same-sex couples.
Frottage is a popular activity among young couples who have not yet lost their virginity, as well as adult gay men; however, adult heterosexual couples also revel in the practice.
health risks
When considering the health risks associated with frottage, it is important to note that this discussion pertains only to sexual acts in which there is no penetrative sex other than frottage. Practicing unprotected oral sex or vaginal or anal intercourse adds an additional layer of risk that will not be considered here, but should be considered by all responsible sexual partners.
Frottage is one of the “safe sex” activities, but the transmission of health problems is certainly possible. After all, when organ skin rubs against organ skin, and when penile and vaginal fluids are secreted during activity, there is always the possibility of spreading conditions from an infected person to an uninfected person. .
The following are some of the health problems that can occur due to rubbing of bare skin:
– Public lice and scabies. These irritating parasites are easy to contract through direct skin-to-skin contact. Neither is considered a serious problem, but the itchiness and discomfort they can cause, as well as the embarrassment they cause, can be a major nuisance.
– Genital herpes. One of the most common sexually transmitted infections, genital herpes is also one of the most resistant. The recurrence rate of the lumps is very high, so it is advisable to avoid getting them in the first place.
– HPV and genital warts. Human papillomavirus (HPV) and possible resulting genital warts are much more likely to result from penetrative sex, but there is some risk from direct skin-to-skin contact from frottage. Many may choose to get vaccinated for HPV prevention.
– Chancroid. A person infected with sores can easily spread this painful bacterial infection.
– HIV. The chances of transmitting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through frottage are very, very low; however, if blood or genital fluids from an infected person get into an open wound, it is possible.
Being aware of the risks and knowing your partner’s sexual history can help prevent the spread of these problems during frottage, as can using a form of barrier protection.
There are also more common penile health problems that can occur during frottage, such as passing a rash or incurring a mild skin problem that causes itchiness and pain. Including a premium penis health cream (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) in a man’s routine can help with this. A cream that contains a high-quality emollient like shea butter is a great remedy against dry, flaky skin. Also good: a vitamin A cream, which has powerful antibacterial properties that can add a strong protective element to overall penile health.