Relationships are hard. To sustain a romantic relationship for the long term, you need trust, mutual respect and understanding. And very few things can disrupt the harmony of relationships more than the specter of an STD.
However, contrary to what many people believe, one can get an STD without cheating.
Learn more about how this is possible and what you can do if it happens.
Asymptomatic infections
The main thing to know about STDs is that most of them appear without symptoms. Even when symptoms do occur, they can often be so minor that they can be ignored or mistaken for less serious illnesses such as a cold or flu.
But just because you don’t have symptoms doesn’t mean you can’t spread an infection. It is estimated that up to 80% of people with a chlamydia infection will not know they have it. This makes transmission of the infection more likely.
Some infections that are more likely to cause no obvious symptoms include:
In the case of an asymptomatic infection, it is possible to have an infection, enter a new relationship and infect your partner without either of you knowing.
Do you think you may have an asymptomatic infection? Have confidence in your sexual health with Better2Know’s confidence screen.
Treatment failure
Treatments for STDs can sometimes fail. This is usually because the treatment was not fully completed and, as a result, the original infection was not eliminated. Sometimes, the right treatment can be applied, but the infection does not go away completely for various reasons.
Treatment may also fail due to antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is increasingly common among bacterial STDs such as gonorrhea, which have developed increasing resistance to the most common antibiotic treatments. Of course, this makes it more difficult to successfully treat the infection.
Imperfect control
Most STD tests on the market test for the most common infections, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, and syphilis.
However, there are many different types of sexually transmitted diseases, and some screens may not screen for all infections. Less common bacterial STIs that may not be included in some screens include:
Here are some other STIs that may not be included in an STI screen:
If you’re looking for a comprehensive STD screen that will check for many different infections, you might want to give it a try Platinum Screen by Better2Knowwhich it tests 11 different infections.
No sexual intercourse
Most STDs are transmitted through sexual contact, such as vaginal, anal, and oral sex, as well as sharing sex toys. But there are some STDs you can get without having full sex.
Hepatitis A
While hepatitis A can be transmitted through sexual activity, it is also transmitted through contact with contaminated feces, contaminated food and water, sharing intravenous drug needles, and skin-to-skin contact.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B can be spread through sharing items such as needles and razors.
Hepatitis C
Like hepatitis B, hepatitis C can be spread through sharing needles, razors, and getting tattooed using unsterile tattooing equipment.
HIV
HIV can also be transmitted through sharing contaminated needles, unsterile tattoo equipment, and transfusions of contaminated blood.
Herpes
Oral herpes (HSV 1) can be spread through oral contact with someone’s cold sore. In rare cases, touching a sore during an outbreak and touching someone else can also spread the virus.
Gonorrhea
While gonorrhea is usually only transmitted through vaginal, anal, and oral sex and through the sharing of sex toys, there have been rare cases where deep kiss with an infected person can lead to a throat infection.
How you can’t get an STD
While there are a few ways you can get STDs outside of sex, here are some transmission methods that some people think can spread an infection, but don’t:
- Toilet seats
- hug
- Waving hands
- Insect bites
- Sharing utensils
Final thoughts
At the end of the day, it is not possible to determine the exact mode of transmission for a particular infection. That’s why you should get tested if you or your partner notices symptoms.
It’s always best to know your sexual health status so you can protect your health and the health of those you care about.
Book an STD screen for you and your partner at a local sexual health clinic near you.
