Raw

Raw is a slang term for condomless sex, meaning penetrative sex without a condom. It is used descriptively across gay and broader sexual cultures and shows up often in personal ads and hookup profiles. The related term "barebacking" carries the same meaning. Raw sex matters in sexual health because condoms reduce transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. The picture has shifted with newer prevention tools: people taking PrEP as prescribed, and people living with HIV who maintain an undetectable viral load (the U=U principle), have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV, though other STIs can still pass. Choices about condom use are personal and are best made with full, accurate health information.