12-29-2010, 03:44 PM
It's as well that you are thinking ahead to take care of yourself and your partner. If you want the relationship to last beyond a couple of dates you might want to consider that you don't necessarily have to have sex the first time? It's not actually in the rules 
But if you go ahead you might find it is quite enough to deal with just being intimate with another person without going as far as, say, having anal intercourse.
However, if you are going to go "all the way" you are right to be prepared and lube and condoms are the way to go. If you live outside the city you might find it difficult to get hold of anything that isn't sold in your local chemist, supermarket or garage (sorry, I don't know what is generally available in the RoI. In the UK I know that, were I to be caught short, I could go to my local gay pub and pick up a free pack containing condoms and lube from a basket near the events noticeboard. There are health charities providing services like this all over the UK, but I don't know if the same thing happens in Ireland. Given time to plan ahead it is cheaper to order supplies online. My partner and I usually buy from an NHS-affiliated service called "Freedoms". It is one of many, but offers a choice of condoms and lubricants at competitive prices. If, of course, you are simply going to end up masturbating you are not really going to need them.
There are different sorts of lubricant. If you are going to be using latex condoms a water or silicon-based lubricant is best. Most lubricants sold for sex will be water or silicon based. Oil-based lubricants (for example, Vaseline) risks damage to the latex of a condom and will reduce your protection from STIs.
KY is fine, but if you have to keep reapplying it you may find you don't like squeezing it out of a tube. Silicon generally lasts longer, but is often more expensive, although this is offset by the fact you use less of it (although however careful you are it always seems to get all over the outside of the container!). Many consider the pump dispenser option of many water-based lubes more convenient. You'll eventually decide on your own preferences after time to experiment.
But if you go ahead you might find it is quite enough to deal with just being intimate with another person without going as far as, say, having anal intercourse.However, if you are going to go "all the way" you are right to be prepared and lube and condoms are the way to go. If you live outside the city you might find it difficult to get hold of anything that isn't sold in your local chemist, supermarket or garage (sorry, I don't know what is generally available in the RoI. In the UK I know that, were I to be caught short, I could go to my local gay pub and pick up a free pack containing condoms and lube from a basket near the events noticeboard. There are health charities providing services like this all over the UK, but I don't know if the same thing happens in Ireland. Given time to plan ahead it is cheaper to order supplies online. My partner and I usually buy from an NHS-affiliated service called "Freedoms". It is one of many, but offers a choice of condoms and lubricants at competitive prices. If, of course, you are simply going to end up masturbating you are not really going to need them.
There are different sorts of lubricant. If you are going to be using latex condoms a water or silicon-based lubricant is best. Most lubricants sold for sex will be water or silicon based. Oil-based lubricants (for example, Vaseline) risks damage to the latex of a condom and will reduce your protection from STIs.
KY is fine, but if you have to keep reapplying it you may find you don't like squeezing it out of a tube. Silicon generally lasts longer, but is often more expensive, although this is offset by the fact you use less of it (although however careful you are it always seems to get all over the outside of the container!). Many consider the pump dispenser option of many water-based lubes more convenient. You'll eventually decide on your own preferences after time to experiment.
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