I’m young, I’m male, I’m gay and a “side” (side = neither top nor bottom, I just don’t like anal sex at all).

The question might be weird, but serious: How do I get started with non-anal sex (e.g. oral, handjobs or frotting)?

I’d like to start using Grindr or similar and meet people, but:

  • not liking anal sex eliminates what most people like to do. Are there even people on Grindr like me? Most of the profiles are like “top”, “bottom”, “versatile”, but all with a focus on anal sex.
  • oral sex is kind of a difficult topic. Doing it without a condom with a person you’ve never seen before feels unsafe. Doing it with a condom feels weird.
  • When doing handjobs or frotting, at least the topic “safer sex” is pretty much gone, but it could be difficult to find people for that.
  • should I try to get something like PrEP? Is it even worth it in my situation when I’m at “step zero”?

Anyone here with a similar situation or with tips for me?

  • FriendOfElphabaEnglish
    4·
    11 months ago

    First of all, you should do only those things you feel comfortable with. You should state your desires clearly so as to not mislead people, and that might lead to some missed opportunities, but you should lean into that and find it totally acceptable. If you get to feeling a weird vibe from a guy, you should just bail out. Consent is everything.

    You’re correct that oral sex is not risk free. Know where your comfort zone is and communicate that. You can also talk to your gay-friendly healthcare provider and see if they have particular advice or if there are any outbreaks of concern in your area.

    It’s okay to cuddle on the couch and see where it goes, but again I’d advise being super up front about what you’re looking for. A lot of younger and less experienced guys want to take things slow, and the people you hook up with should respect that. It’s not at all uncommon, but some guys will push or try to test your boundaries. Don’t let yourself get manipulated.

    I’d advise considering going on prep if you’re having sex, just because sometimes things get out of hand (so to speak), and you don’t want to have those regretful worries. Again, a gay-friendly healthcare provider can give you more specific guidance and set your expectations. Of course, you have to realize that it’s only about HIV, and there’s a ton of other STDs to think about. It’s a good idea to get screened for STDs regularly if you’re sexually active unless you’re in a strictly monogamous relationship.

    It’s also a good idea to just get friends and a social network in the community. At some point, everyone will have had sex with everyone else, and things are a lot more comfortable when you’re all part of the same social circles. You can still hook up with strangers, but having your go-to people can really help.