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SEX WITH ANIMALS AND STDs?
(1)
Alice,
I recently had intercourse with a sheep at a friend's house. He is a sheeprancher and one day he was talking about how good it was. He left town for a few days and asked me to feed his animals. I took the chance and gave it a try. The strange thing is that I enjoyed it more than having sex with my girlfriend. When I was a young lad I was molested by a female babysitter. I was wondering if you may think that the earlier incident in my life has affected my sexuality. I liked it so much that I want to do it again, but I am worried that I may contract a STD from the ewe. I have heard that you can.
Could you please help me?
Sincerely,
Woody
(2)
I read your answer to "Sheep Herder" concerning beastiality. While it was a stimulating discussion, it did not answer the question concerning STDs being passed from animals to humans. I really need to know.
Goldilocks.
Dear Woody and Goldilocks,
STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), including HIV, cannot be transmitted through sexual contact between humans and animals because they are species-specific. If you remain concerned about potential disease risk in general, follow safer-sex guidelines — such as wearing a condom — in all of your sexual encounters.
Here's something else to consider: it's virtually impossible for animals to consent to sex with humans, and these acts are illegal in most places. If animals become the focus of one's sexual attention and activity (as you've hinted they might for you, Woody), it's time to call a mental health counselor in your area to explore what's on your mind: concerns, motivations, etc. Still with you, Woody: confusion, fears, mistrust, anger, or anything else you might feel about the sexual abuse you experienced earlier in your life is reason enough to pick up the phone for some assistance regardless of what behaviors it may or may not be triggering now. (For more on help in this area, see Resources for male survivors of childhood sexual abuse and incest in Alice's Emotional Health archive.)
As with other uncommon, taboo, and/or illegal activities, sexual contacts with animals might be stimulating for some people because they are secretive, forbidden, and dangerous. An animal doesn't "kiss and tell," nor do his or her expectations "get in the way." Some historical background on human-animal relations, along with other reasons why anyone would even horse around this way, can be found in the Alice archived answer titled, Bestiality.
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