As a porn professional, I get one question more commonly than any other: Is porn inherently risky? The answer is a very clear and firm one: Sometimes. If this confuses you, let me explain it in a much simpler way. Sex, in general, can be risky, especially casual sex with other people who have casual sex. Porn can be both riskier and safer than sex with a date, depending on what area you’re referring to.

With any form casual sex, there is always the potential risk of an STI or STD, especially if your partner isn’t showing symptoms. If there are no symptoms or physical indicators, it’s difficult to tell, and sometimes the tests don’t detect an early infection. In most places, most people in porn will get tested fortnightly to monthly for a wide variety of sexually transmitted infections and diseases to prevent spreading it around. This also proves to make it safer than casual hookups outside of porn, since most people outside the industry never get tested unless they’re required to.

There are, of course, other aspects, too. Porn tends to be more adventurous than normal vanilla sex, so creating porn means you’ll find yourself in wilder situations than most people. A big one is taking in more than the average dick size. Whether it’s a larger-than-average dick or a large dildo or a fist, there is the potential for tearing in your nether regions, whether it’s vaginal or anal. With porn, there is usually a lot of lube and plenty of communication before a scene is filmed so your partner knows what you’re comfortable with and what you’ve tried before.

Essentially, porn stars end up communicating more than most couples in regards to sexual stimulants and past experiences and we tend to be more open about what really turns us on so we can make better content for the viewers. Are there risks? Absolutely! But there are far more risks when you’re picking up some random Joe at the bar or finding a Tinder date, and in porn, you’re less likely to be judged for sleeping around.

Charlie x