Sterile Safety

Sterile Safety

To be Sterile is to be without living organisms. This means that an object must be free or cleansed of all forms of known life, including microscopic bacteria and viruses. Achievement of a state of sterility for objects used or reused in BDSM scening is often a poorly understood issue for newcomers into the D/s or BDSM communities. Ignoring sterilization issues puts anyone who contacts such a 'soiled' scene object at high risk for exposure to disease. Since we now have several aggressive diseases which are life-threatening or fatal, it becomes increasingly important that persons involved in higher-risk activities (such as BDSM scening) thoroughly educate themselves on the 'real' dangers and mandatory handling techniques of 'soiled' scene objects necessary to provide real 'safety' to those coming into contact with such objects.

The first choice of any individual scening in the BDSM community is to provide their own scene objects. This choice is frequently called a personal reserve. By utilizing 'sub' specific objects, the 'sub' reduces the potential of any tool or object used upon them to have or pass disease to them. The general idea of this practice is quite simple; it is hard to catch something from yourself. Having or owning a personal reserve does not exclude the sub from practicing aggressive sterilization techniques upon their own equipment. Full and proper maintenance of a 'kit' includes complete and thorough cleaning and sterilization, where possible, to reduce the risks to the individual further. It can be considered that such maintenance is a form of self-respect and respect for any Dominant who may 'use' this reserve in-scene. It has increasingly become my position that any sub/switch/slave/bottom should choose to create and maintain their personal 'scene kit', and that they should list 'cross-scening apparatus' as a hard limit with any persons they might scene with. A Dominant/Top may purchase 'to' this kit, but they should relinquish all ownership privileges to any objects so purchased (when such objects are unable to be fully sterilized). I also recommend that the 'sub' should color code or otherwise 'overtly' distinguish their kit objects so that if they are being scened with other persons or subs present, the scening Dominant or Top can easily distinguish the correct ownership of the objects in use. This also makes it easier to identify the correct ownership of an object after scening.

Some objects used in BDSM scening can be purchased pre-sterilized. These include condoms, hypodermic needles, catheters, medical lubricants, medical soaps, sutures, etc. Hypodermic needles should never be reused after scening. The person purchasing the needles should also ensure that they have appropriate 'sharps' containers for proper disposal of the needles after use. Recently, I have received numerous reports from submissives who have had piercings done through 'reputable' piercing companies or individuals. Several of these submissives have reported that their nipple and labia piercings appeared to heal properly for a few months, then they discovered discoloration of the skin, lumps, and other discomforts. Upon investigation (doctors' visits and examinations), at least two of these subs have reported that the 'needles' used to pierce their nipples were contaminated and passed to them staff infections as well as other bacteria. It should be noted that the human nipple is not skin but glandular; these glands could be considered to be conduits to deeper tissues within the breasts. As a result of this 'cluster' of nipple/labia related submissive injuries, I am now suggesting that any submissive intent on receiving piercings, 'scene or permanent' should purchase the necessary 'sterile needles' themselves and provide them to the practitioner at the time of the piercing. It is also important to remember that the practitioner of any form of needle or skin penetration play must be 'as sterile as possible'. Many practitioners use sterile gloves, medical sterilizing soaps, and the same types of scene preparation that one would normally associate with any medical procedure. Failure to follow standard sterilization techniques is a violation of 'SAFE' play.

Many objects used in BDSM scening can be sterilized using an autoclave. This is a device that applies significant steam heat and pressure to 'burn away' many microorganisms. If you do not have access to an autoclave, then you can utilize a kitchen 'pressure cooker' to sterilize anything which will stand the incumbent heat involved. Place the objects (such as medical sounds, all metal knives, metal cock rings, nipple clamps, etc.) into a paper bag and seal the bag well with masking tape. Elevate the bag above the water (in the bottom of the pressure cooker) using a rack or metal basket (many pressure cookers come with such attachments). Cook the bags for 30 minutes at 15 pounds of pressure. (Some items may require this process to be completed twice, with a cool-down period in between) Allow the pressure cooker to cool, then lift the basket (without touching the bags) and place the basket or rack into your kitchen oven (preheat the oven to 200 degrees). Immediately shut off the oven and allow the heat in the oven to dry out the bags. Once cooled, the paper bags can be placed into a ziplock bag (remember not to open the bags until or during the scene) - label the ziplock bag and store once more in your kit. It is crucial to remember that anything that comes into contact with blood or semen must be sterilized between uses. Anything that comes into contact with bodily fluids (such as sweat) should be sterilized between uses. When purchasing any object for scening, be certain to ask the salesperson for proper handling, sterilization, cleaning, and storage of that object. Remember that objects come in all kinds of materials and that each may require a specific type of handling.

Most leather goods, including whips, floggers, paddles, etc., cannot be sterilized. In addition, these objects may irritate the skin and accumulate trace amounts of blood and bodily fluids during the scene. Most such accumulations are barely visible, and a Dominant/Top may erroneously conclude that the whip is still 'clean'. Some leather goods and canes can be cleaned or decontaminated using a mixture of 10% chlorine bleach, 70% alcohol, and 10% hydrogen peroxide. This mixture will generally kill most bacteria and viruses. (Use appropriate safety gloves when using these chemicals.) It will kill HIV, but it will not kill other viruses, such as hepatitis or herpes. This mixture may cause discoloration, staining, stiffening, or other changes in leather and other goods. When using the mixture, be sure to thoroughly rinse (with water) the object being cleaned before using that object again. This is a decent mixture for many of the dildos, butt plugs, cockrings and piercing implements (those which are not hollow needles). Please note that hollow needles cannot be adequately sterilized (dispose of them after usage).

Lubricants can also convey microorganisms. The person 'dipping' or 'touching' the lubricant should be sterile or use sterile gloves. Only use the lubricant on the owner of the lubricant - do not go from sub to sub with a tube or tub.

The first 'thing' to go into any kit 'Dom or sub' is a completion certificate from a comprehensive CPR course. Before playing, educate yourself on the minimums of response necessary to keep your scene partner alive. Many BDSM organizations have members within the medical fields who offer CPR BDSM specific courses. TAKE ONE!

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Archivist Note: Email links (steeibtrfl@aol.com, steelbfl@sonic.net) are no longer valid and have been omitted from this archive. The bookstore link was for a heritage site that is no longer active and has been omitted from this archive. OP's works were not found on the successor live site. Also, the discussion group on Yahoo Groups is no longer available and was not found on archive.org.

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