There are some who would argue we’ve not only entered, but in fact, have become pretty immersed in a new sexual revolution. Fueled by online dating sites and the ever-increasing number of ‘meat market’ pick-up bars, the opportunity to hookup is more convenient than ever.

Unfortunately, unlike the erotic revivals of the ’60s and ‘70s, this new rebirth comes with a price. Along with sexually transmitted diseases that have plagued the promiscuous since the dark ages, we now have such modern human scourges as HIV and HPV.

The recent ruling that forces males in adult films to wear condoms is an indication of the severity of such epidemics. Although some may argue that such decisions by lawmakers are an infringement on freedoms to choose, you can’t argue the fact that the ruling will likely save lives. The mandate is a sign that, as a society, at least some sectors of the population are not governing themselves well enough to avoid such interventions.

Now, since we don’t have to be porn stars to contract life-threatening, sex-borne illnesses, and since we have been fortunate enough not to have our private bedrooms invaded by overzealous lawmakers, it is up to us to halt the tide of STDs.

Certainly this starts with condom use, but sexual safety goes way beyond that. There are maladies that can be spread orally, there are trust issues that can be deadly and the use of drugs and alcohol can seriously impair one’s decision-making in the passionate heat of the moment.
Many a man has awoken to the heartbreak of some mysterious discharge or unsightly penile anomaly because he had a tryst with the wrong (orally infected) guy. The dimly lit confines of singles bars sometimes make it difficult to see a tell-tale mouth sore.

Also, beware of infidelity. It is awesome to have someone with whom you are so in love. Just make sure he feels the same way you do about monogamy. You can’t afford to stake your life on a relationship with unstable trust.

Lastly, the same adult refreshments that decrease inhibitions can increase your chance of coming down with any of the wealth of woes that afflict the affectionate. It is perhaps an overstatement to say that alcohol can send one into a lull of false security. But what of the vast array of drugs (both legal and illicit) that can dull the senses and decrease responsibility? Crystal meth, one of the most popular drugs of recent years, is also one of the most dangerous in the nostrils of the extremely horny.

So the hazardous hurdles are easy enough to recognize. How we react to them, though, will have a lasting impact on the future health of us all.