How do you catch an STI?

Home: Survivors: For Sex Workers: Sexually transmissible infection

You can become infected if you have unprotected sexual intercourse with someone who already has an STI. 'Unprotected sex' means penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth with a penis or with a shared sex toy that has no condom on it. Some STIs, such as genital lice and warts, live on the surface of the skin and can be passed to another person through skin to skin contact.

Who do you catch an STI from?

You can't tell by looking at someone whether they have an STI or not; so if you're having sex without using a condom, you're taking a risk.

Even if you know a person well, you may not be able to tell they have an STI. People can look healthy and strong and still be infected. A person may not realise they are infected or that they may infect you.

You can get an STI from a new partner who has had unprotected sex with an earlier partner or from a long term partner who has sex with other people.

Sharing injecting equipment with anyone or letting someone pierce your skin is also a risk.

Your behaviour or failure to act can lead you to risk catching an STI. For example, if you take drugs or drink too much, your usual judgement is altered and you can't protect yourself properly. Also, you may get an STI if you are too afraid to use, ask for, or provide condoms.

You should be at low risk of getting an STI if you have one partner, both of you have had check ups for STIs and neither of you have sex with anybody else.

Can I prevent infection?

The basic rule for safe sex is to avoid blood, semen or vaginal fluids from a sexual partner entering your body, unless you know for sure that your partner is not carrying an STI.

Ways to protect yourself and others:

• Use condoms and water based lubricants correctly with all partners
• Have sex without making contact with sexual fluids
• Safe sex also includes kissing, mutual masturbation and sensuous touching
• Be monogamous, that is, only have sex with your regular partner
• Be celibate, that is, don't have sex.

Unprotected sex with a regular partner can be safe if:

• Both of you are fully tested and clear of all STI infections and neither of you has sex with anyone else.
• You use some other form of contraception if you need protection from pregnancy.

Talk to your partner about your relationship. If you still feel unsure, you have an absolute right to insist on safe sex practice. Your first priority is to protect yourself.

If you both agree that it's OK to have sex with other people, it's important to decide that 'safe sex' is practised all the time.

Published by Public Health Division
Victorian Government Department of Human Services
Melbourne Victoria
July 2001
Copyright State of Victoria 2001
For further information, contact:
Health Protection Services
Department of Human Services
GPO Box 4057
Melbourne 3001
Telephone: (03) 9637 4000

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Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 9 Jun 2009