If you've ever wondered, "Is it bad that I’ve slept with more than one person this week? And is it dangerous?" We are happy to tell you, hell no!
“It’s not dangerous to have sex with more than one person in the same week, as long as you (the one having sex) feels positive and good about it and, of course, you’re using condoms,” says Rudi Rahbar, Psy.D, a clinical psychologist specializing in relationships.
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“Condoms are a wonderful thing,” says Gail Saltz, M.D., psychiatrist and associate professor of psychiatry at The New York Presbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornell School of Medicine. “There’s no magic number as to how many people you can sleep with or how frequently you sleep with a variety of people—what matters is whether or not you protect yourself against STDs and HIV.”
The biggest danger associated with having unprotected sex with multiple people in a short time span isn’t HIV (though that's still a big factor), it’s HPV. That's because this sexually transmitted disease isn't detectable in men, says Rahbar. “Unlike all the other STDs, HPV is the one that can cause cancer, so it’s very serious and needs to be more widely talked about," she says. So, yeah, use a condom. Every. Single. Time.
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Another issue: “If you’re having sex with multiple partners to feel better about yourself or to make someone else happy, then it’s not healthy,” says Rahbar.
The best way to approach this is to ask yourself, "Why do I want to have sex with this person?" Check in to determine if you’re having sex to keep the dudes around or because they’re hot and your libido is through the roof.
You can also quiz yourself post-sex. Do you feel satisfied? Sh*tty? Hungry for more? Your answer should clarify whether your busy week is anything more than just a good freaking time.
“I never tell anyone that they should limit their sexual activity,” says Rahbar. “We all have different bodies, minds, and libidos.” Do what feels right for you. If you want to have sex, go for the gold. If you don't, don't. There are no rules. Except when it comes to practicing safe sex. And use a condom—every time.
Jenn Sinrich is an experienced writer, digital and social editor, and content strategist covering health, fitness, beauty, and relationships. After a decade-long career in New York City working in the magazine industry and at a myriad of digital publications, Jenn returned to her hometown just north of Boston to pursue freelancing full-time.
