Risks of sex

Sex and STIs

How easy it is to get an STI, depends on the STI: 

• Genital warts, gonorrhea and Hepatitis A and B are very contagious
• With HIV it depends on how much of the virus somebody has in their body. If someone takes their HIV medication correctly and is undetactable, it is impossible to contract HIV during sex 

Read more about all STIs

What kind of sex you have, changes the chance of getting an STI. With fucking the chance is higher than with blowjobs or handjobs. If you are getting fucked (bottoming), the chance is higher than when you are fucking (topping). Read more about STIs and anal sex.

You can also pass on an STI or HIV. For example because you:

• Share the same sex toy
• Share lube
• Share a sniffing tube or syringe when taking drugs
• Use saliva from the throat as lube

The chance of getting an STI during sex is not easy to calculate. It is not possible to give 1 number. This risk differs for each person and every time you have sex. 

When do you have a higher chance on getting HIV or an STI? 

The chance gets higher when you: 

• Have sex with more people, or group sex 
• Have sex with someone who has symptoms of an STI or (beginning) HIV. Sometimes this person is not aware. 

Your body can also be more vulnerable to an STI or HIV. For example by: 

• Having rougher sex like fucking with little lube, or fisting
• Having sex for a prolonged time 
• Having a little wound at your penis or anus. For example through shaving or an operation
• Having bleeding gums in your mouth
• Hemorrhoids
• Drugs
• Another STI you already had

Do you have HIV? 

Also when you correctly take your HIV medication, you still have higher chances of getting an STI. After the HIV came into your body, it is possible it weakend your immune system in certain areas of your body. For example your ass.

Condoms and lube

Condoms are the best protection against all STIs and HIV. Also always use enough lube for anal sex. Otherwise little tears can appear in your ass. Read here how to use condoms correctly. 

PrEP protects really well against HIV, but not against other STIs. Read more about PrEP.