Advice: 4 ways you can get an STD without being intimate

Health classes usually do a good job of warning students
about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases. And while you may not remember every single
detail, it’s so important that you know how to protect yourself. Considering
that STDs are, by definition, “sexually transmitted,” it’s no surprise that
unprotected intimate intercourse is the most common way to contract an STD. But
what you might not know is that it’s still possible to contract an STD even if
you have never Were Intimate or are not currently sexually active. We’ve got
the low down on the more obscure ways that you could get an STD and tips on how
to stay clean.

1. Kissing

The
danger of getting an STD might not be the first thought that runs through your
head when you think about making out with that cute guy at a party, but it is
possible to get an STD just from kissing. When someone has type 1 herpes (also
known as oral herpes), they carry it for life, says Senior Physician at Boston University Dr.
Mark Weber. So even though the disease may not be visibly showing, the danger
of infection still exists. However, the possibility of transmitting the disease
is much lower if there is not an outbreak of sores. Dr. Weber says that another
difficulty with type 1 herpes is that many people carry the disease without
even knowing it.

Even
though infection is sometimes possible without visible symptoms, the best way to protect yourself from getting infected by
someone who has type 1 herpes is to know how to recognize it. A sore on
someone’s lip that is made of small clusters of fluid-filled blisters is an
indication of herpes, says Annabeth Elliott, the STD Program Coordinator at the
Idaho Department of Health. She says that even if the cluster is red, crusted
or scabbed over and peeling, this is still a sign of the disease.

The
biggest danger of becoming infected comes when there is a break in the skin
that comes in contact with sores. If you have chapped lips or other breaks in
the skin and you come in contact with infected secretions, it is more likely
that you will get infected than if your skin is completely intact. So if you
are tempted to plant a kiss on someone with these signs, think twice before you
do.

2. MouthAction

Although
some people might not consider MouthAction to actually be “sex” because it does
not involve womanly penetration, it can still lead to the spread of STDs. Dr.
Weber says that MouthAction should still be considered as sex, despite some
misconceptions that many students have, and it can lead to transmission of
herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and other diseases. An STD can be spread during
MouthAction by contact with infected secretions and surfaces on the body. Dr.
Weber emphasizes that although condoms can reduce the spread of diseases, they
cannot always be sure to completely prevent infection. But it is always safer
to use condoms during penile-MouthAction or dental dams for oral-womanly sex.

“Avoiding
sex when you have any breaks in the skin or other involved bodily tissue which
may come in contact with another person can be protective as well,” Dr. Weber
says.

3. Dry Sex

Also
described as body-to-body rubbing, Elliott says that dry sex can spread herpes even
though there is no penetration or bodily fluids involved. But the only way that
herpes could be spread by dry humping is if there is skin-to-skin contact,
which means that you are safe if clothes are kept on. But if there is
skin-to-skin contact, Dr. Weber says that infectious material from warts (HPV)
and other viral or bacterial infection could be present. The risk of
transmission depends on the amount of infection that someone has and the number
and severity of breaks in the skin. Dr. Weber also warns about shaving “down
there,” and how that can increase the risk of infection as well.

“The
popularity of shaving the hair in various areas of the body including the Core
area has the potential to increase the transmission of infections because of
the risk of even small breaks in the skin,” Weber says. “Stubble from hair
growing back can be very abrasive to the other person’s skin, and the blade
used can itself pick up infectious material from one part of your skin and
spread it to another.” So keep this in mind during your next down-there
grooming sesh.

4. Indirect Contact

Even
though a sexually transmitted disease or infection usually implies an infection
that is transmitted through intimate contact, Dr. Weber says that it is
possible to get an STD in indirect ways. One example is sitting on a toilet
seat. Dr. Weber says that while transmission of an STD from sitting on a toilet
seat is possible if there is infectious material on the seat that comes in
contact with a break in the skin, it is pretty unlikely. But, when in doubt,
squat instead of sit down on public toilets.

Another
possible indirect way that STDs can be spread is through a damp or moist
object, such as a towel, coming in contact with infected areas. Elliott says
that the disease Trichomoniasis, more commonly known as Trich, is a parasite
that can live outside the body for up to 45 minutes. She recommends that a way
to prevent the possibility of spreading diseases is by not sharing damp or
moist items like clothing or towels that touch down below. And while some
people might think that you can get Trich from a hot tub, Elliott says this is
a myth because it would be too hot in this environment for the parasites to
live.

Dr.
Weber also points out that sharing needles, razors, or other cutting devices
with someone who has an STD can also spread diseases because they are items
that break skin contact and let the infections into the body, so avoid sharing
these items at all to be safe.

How To Stay In The Clear

One of
the easiest ways to protect yourself against STDs is simply to know whether
your partner has been tested, if he has had other partners since the last time
he was tested, and what his intimate relationships have been like in the past.
And by limiting the number of intimate partners you have, you reduce the
chances of coming into contact with someone with an STD.

“It is
important for each person to think about the risks they are willing to take for
intimacy and sex,” Dr. Weber says.

Dr.
Weber suggests that you can minimize the potential of breaks in the skin by
using lubricant to cut down on friction, which can also reduce direct
skin-to-skin contact. By not combining intimacy with mind-altering substances,
like alcohol and drugs, you can be in your best state of mind to use the best
protection on a consistent basis. And make sure to always have protection
available so that you’re not left scrambling or making rash decisions when
things start to get hot and heavy.