Frottage, or rubbing one’s genitals against another’s (or against another part of the body), is a popular sexual activity, especially among young people. One of the attractions of frottage is that men assume it comes with no chance of penile health problems. However, that’s not exactly the case, and those for whom proper penile care is a concern should learn a little more about the risks involved in engaging in frottage.
What’s new?
Technically, frottage is any form of activity in which one person’s genitals are stimulated by contact with a body part of another person (or persons). A man with a foot fetish, for example, might be considered to be frottage if he were to rub his penis against his partner’s foot for sexual pleasure. While frottage generally brings to mind bare genitalia, a partner can rub against each other while clothed; thus “dry humping”, or the rubbing of the genitals while clothed, could be considered a form of frottage.
However, for the purposes of this article, frottage will be considered specifically as the rubbing of two (or more) sets of bare genitalia. It may involve mixed-gender couples or same-sex couples.
Frottage is a popular activity among young couples who have not yet lost their virginity, as well as among adult homosexual men; however, adult heterosexual couples also revel in the practice.
health risks
When considering the health risks associated with frottage, it is important to note that this discussion refers only to sexual acts in which there is no penetrative sex other than frottage. Practicing unprotected oral sex or vaginal or anal intercourse adds an additional layer of risk that will not be considered here, but should be considered by all responsible sexual partners.
Frottage is one of the “safe sex” activities, but the transmission of health problems is certainly possible. After all, when the skin of the organs rubs against the skin of the organs and when penile and vaginal fluids are secreted during activity, there is always the possibility of spreading the conditions from an infected person to an uninfected person. .
The following are some of the health problems that can occur due to bare skin rubbing:
– Public lice and scabies. These irritating parasites are easy to contract from direct skin-to-skin contact. Neither is considered a serious problem, but the itchiness and discomfort they can cause, as well as the embarrassment they cause, can be a major annoyance.
– Genital herpes. One of the most common sexually transmitted infections, genital herpes is also one of the most resistant. The recurrence rate of the lumps is very high, so it is advisable to avoid getting them in the first place.
– HPV and genital warts. Human papillomavirus (HPV) and possible resulting genital warts are much more likely to result from penetrative sex, but there is some risk from direct skin-to-skin contact from frottage. Many may choose to get vaccinated for HPV prevention.
– Chancroid. An infected person with sores can easily spread this painful bacterial infection.
– HIV. The chances of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through frottage are very, very low; however, if blood or genital fluids from an infected person get into an open wound, it is possible.
Being aware of the risks and knowing a partner’s sexual history can help prevent the spread of these problems during frottage, as can using a form of barrier protection.
There are also more common penile health issues that can occur during rubbing, such as passing a rash or incurring a mild dermatological problem that causes itchiness and pain. Including a top-tier penis health cream (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) in a man’s routine can help with this. A cream that contains a high-quality emollient like shea butter is a great remedy for dry, flaky skin. Also good: a cream with vitamin A, which has powerful antibacterial properties that can add a strong element of protection to the overall health of the penis.