Most people know that you can get an STD from having unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex. Using condoms or dental dams during sex protects against STDs like chlamydia, herpes and genital herpes.
Many people also don’t realize that it’s possible to get an STI from nonsexual activity. Kissing, sharing contaminated food and even borrowing a toothbrush can spread bacteria-based STIs like gonorrhea and syphilis.
1. HIV
One of the most common ways people spread STIs is by having vaginal, oral, or anal sex. However, some infections like trichomoniasis can also be spread by indirect contact, including hand-to-genital contact and even hitching a ride on an unwashed sex toy.
It is also possible to get an STD without sexual intercourse, though this is less common. For instance, hepatitis B and HIV can be spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact (like shaking hands) or through kissing without penetration. Some infections can also be spread through nonsexual behaviors, such as sharing needles for injection drug use.
It is especially important for young people to understand that it’s not just sex that can cause STDs. Some infections can be spread by sharing towels, food, or other items used for grooming, such as toothbrushes and dental floss – This section embodies the dedication of the website’s specialists https://eurolivesexe.com. Some STIs, like gonorrhea, can also be spread by cutting someone, or through accidental blood-to-blood contact (like during a delivery). Many STIs have long incubation periods and may not cause symptoms. For this reason, early diagnosis and treatment is essential.
2. Herpes
Getting an STD typically requires sex or genital-to-genital contact. But the incubation periods of most STIs vary, and some STDs can be spread through non-sexual contact. Oral sex, skin-to-skin contact (like hugging), and sharing contaminated food or towels can all spread herpes and other diseases.
Symptoms of herpes appear in waves and cycles, so you may not notice them right away. Having herpes increases your risk of catching HIV, which can lead to AIDS, the CDC warns.
You can’t cure herpes once you have it, but you can keep the virus from spreading to others by never sharing items like toothbrushes, combs, and razors. Also, make sure you use condoms during sex and never have multiple sexual partners. You can pass herpes to your baby during childbirth or shortly afterward, too, per the CDC. This is why it’s especially important to tell your healthcare provider if you think you have herpes or if you get pregnant. They can give you medicines that ease outbreaks and help protect your baby. Symptoms of herpes can’t be detected with a home test, but you can get tested for genital herpes or other STIs at a health center or doctor’s office.
3. Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea can be spread anytime there is skin-to-skin contact or body fluid exchange. It can also be transmitted by vaginal, oral or anal sex. It can lead to severe health consequences if left untreated. In women, gonorrhea can cause a pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can increase the risk of infertility. In men, untreated gonorrhea can cause erectile dysfunction and epididymitis (inflammation of the tube that carries sperm). It can also increase the risk of HIV infection if it isn’t treated as soon as possible.
If you have genital symptoms of gonorrhea, including discharge, burning during urination or unusual sores, you should see a healthcare professional right away. A healthcare professional can treat you with antibiotics and tell you when it’s safe to have sex again.
One treatment of gonorrhea cures the infection. But successful treatment doesn’t protect you from getting it again, especially if your partner has been treated for gonorrhea recently. To prevent recurrence, use latex condoms every time you have sex. Also, practice safe sex, which means having a long-term monogamous relationship with a partner who uses condoms correctly.
4. Chlamydia
The chlamydia infection is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). It can be spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex. Condoms are the best way to protect yourself and your partner from STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, HPV and genital warts.
People who have chlamydia can also pass it to their babies during delivery. This can lead to pneumonia and eye infections for the newborns.
Chlamydia is a bacterial STI that’s easy to treat with antibiotics. It can be passed through unprotected sex, genital contact, oral sex or during birth. It usually takes 14 days for chlamydia to show up in a test, so it’s important to get tested and treated right away.
Doctors test for chlamydia by swabbing the vulva or urethra in women and testing urine in men. They may also swab the penis, throat or rectum if there’s a chance those areas are infected. Then doctors prescribe a several day course of antibiotics to take by mouth. It’s important to finish the full course of medicine and avoid sex until after you and your partner are both clean.
5. Hepatitis B
Many people believe you can only get an STD from unprotected sexual contact. But that’s not true! Many infections like chlamydia, herpes, and gonorrhea spread through indirect contact as well. Bacteria like trichomoniasis, for example, loves damp fabrics and can stick to towels or sheets, where it waits for its next victim. It can also hitch a ride to the genitals on an unwashed sex toy or even through skin-to-skin contact.
It’s also possible to spread certain bloodborne diseases like hepatitis B through nonsexual activities, such as sharing food or using the same toothbrush and razor blade. This is why it’s so important to use barrier methods during sex and practice good hygiene. In fact, you can even get an STD by touching contaminated saliva or semen. However, the chances of getting an STI from oral sex are much lower than with penis-in-vaginal or anal sex. That’s because incubation periods and symptoms have a lot to do with it. However, it’s still possible — so don’t let fear keep you from getting tested. If you do get an infection, early diagnosis and treatment decreases the harmful effects.