Bareback sex is simple: It is the practice of having sex without a condom. The term was borrowed from the world of horseback riding, where "bareback" riders mounted their steeds without any saddle.
In the process, they incurred a greater level of risk, and increased the excitement of their riding - just like fans of condom- less sex believe that their sexual techniques are more enjoyable than using condoms.
However, it's a controversial way to make love. Avoiding condoms can lead to numerous health problems (not to mention pregnancy), so think twice before you agree to go to bed without them.
On the face of it, it's surprising that people would choose to do away with condoms. Despite the emergence of sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS since the 1980s, avoiding contraception has actually gained a kind of cult status among some people.
This has been particularly pronounced in the gay community - even though they are known to have higher risks of contracting HIV. In fact, a third of gay men are thought to engage in unprotected sex every month.
Why is this?
Well, for some people the risks of HIV are receding thanks to new medications.
For others, condoms are simply uncomfortable (and many have allergies to the plastic they are made from). Some are also into "bug chasing" - the deliberate contraction of HIV to avoid having to worry about doing so during their active sex life.
For others, the risk is irresistible. When you place sex and risk together, many people choose to engage in risky practices to heighten their pleasure, and kinky unprotected sex is a classic case.
The resurgence of bareback sex hasn't just been limited to the gay community. All you need to do is browse a few pornographic videos on the web to realize that the practice hasn't gone away.
Actually, when women try anal sex, studies have found that they are more likely than gay guys to do so without a condom. This even extends to Christian communities in the USA, where "saddlebacking" is a major phenomenon (having unprotected anal sex instead of the participants losing their virginity).
In fact, the prevalence of heterosexual unprotected sex has led some commentators to call the 20 somethings of today the "pull-out generation". Either through the quest for cheap thrills or laziness, young people routinely avoid condoms when they engage in casual sex.
The resurgence of barebacking may be something of a myth. It might never have gone away. What is certain is that people will always engage in unsafe sex, posing risks for their health, but heightening their pleasure - a trade off the millions of men and women make every day.
Warning: bareback sex is one of the riskiest sexual practices you can engage in. Unprotected sex carries the risk of contracting serious sexually-transmitted diseases, including HIV and Syphilis, along with more common diseases like Herpes, Chlamydia, HPV and Gonorrhea.