No-sex STIs
Question
I've never had sexual intercourse and will not be doing so until I get married. However, my boyfriend and I masturbate and perform oral sex on each other. We have not had any previous partners, though. Is it possible for us to contract STIs by doing this?
Answer
To reassure you, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can only be caught from someone who has one. If neither of you has had sexual contact before then it is unlikely that either of you has an infection.
However, there are some infections that can be transmitted via both sexual and other contact. For example, if someone is prone to cold sores (herpes), the infection can be passed on to another person's mouth and genitals through oral sex. Remember, it's possible to have herpes without any sores being present, and there's a risk that the virus can be passed on even when you can't see the sores.
To reduce the risk of getting an STI through mutual masturbation and oral sex, always use a condom. Dental dams (thin squares of latex) can also be used as a barrier during contact between the mouth and the vagina, or the mouth and the anus.
If you'd like more advice and information about sexual health, you could speak to a doctor or nurse at a Brook Centre or family planning clinic, where advice and contraception will be offered free and in confidence.
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