Can you get an STI from fingering?

Fingering is a common sexual activity, and many people don’t think twice about it.

But what they may not realise is that fingering can put them at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

In this blog, we will explore the risks associated with fingering and how to reduce your chances of getting a sexually transmitted disease.

What is fingering?

Fingering (digital vaginal penetration or digital anal penetration) is a form of sexual contact involving inserting one or more fingers into another person’s vagina or anus.

While fingering may not constitute full sexual intercourse, it still risks transmitting a sexually transmitted infection due to skin-to-skin contact. That’s why it’s important to practice safe sex when engaging in any kind of sexual activity.

Risks of catching an STI from fingering

Most sexually transmitted infections pass between people primarily during sex through the exchange of bodily fluids. This tends to happen during vaginal sex, anal sex, oral sex, and when sharing sex toys.

Sexually transmitted diseases are likely to be passed on when the bodily fluids of an infected person meet a partner’s mucous membrane, like in the vagina, penis, anus, mouth, or eyes. Since the fingers and hands don’t have mucous membranes, fingering is considered a fairly low-risk sexual activity.

However, transmitting an STI with manual stimulation, including hand jobs and fingering, is still possible.

STIs transmitted by fingering

Here are some STIs you can get from fingering.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

HPV is perhaps the most contagious STI and is easily passed on through skin-to-skin contact. The virus causes Genital Warts and certain types of cancers. Most people will get some strain of HPV at some point in their lives.

Studies have shown that HPV can live under the fingernails of people with a genital HPV infection, so it is possible to pass on HPV through fingering.

Herpes

Perhaps the STI you’ll most likely get from fingering is Herpes. A Herpes infection is more likely to be transmitted if an open sore is touched, whether within the anus or vagina, or if the person performing the fingering touches their own Herpes sore beforehand.

There is also a condition known as Herpetic Whitlow, where you get a Herpes infection in the finger. This condition occurs when someone with a cut or open wound on their fingers touches a sore during a Herpes outbreak – whether their own or someone else’s. Symptoms of Herpetic Whitlow include swelling and inflammation of the finger, blisters or sores on the finger, and a darker skin tone around the site of infection.

Scabies

Scabies is a parasitic infection of the skin that is commonly transmitted sexually. It spreads through sharing things like clothing and bedding, and through prolonged physical contact with an infected person. Therefore, fingering may allow the parasites to spread, given the prolonged physical contact involved.

Syphilis

One of the main methods of transmission for Syphilis is direct skin-to-skin contact with a Syphilitic sore. If the person performing the fingering is infected, transmission is more likely if the infected person touches their genitals before performing the act.

If the person receiving the fingering is infected with Syphilis, the person performing the fingering will be more likely to contract the STI if they go on to touch their genitals, mouth or lips after performing the act.

Gonorrhoea

Some studies have suggested that men who have sex with men (MSM) can pass on a Gonorrhoea infection to the anus and rectum through fingering.

How to reduce your risk of getting an STI from fingering

Many different people engage in fingering during their intimate encounters. If you want to try vaginal or anal fingering, there are ways to reduce your risk of contracting or spreading STIs.

Wash your hands thoroughly before engaging in any sexual activity, and before and after touching your own genitals or the genitals of your partner. In addition, you should avoid contact with any sores or open wounds.

You may also wish to use finger cots, internal condoms, and dental dams while fingering to further reduce the risk. Remember to change each of these as needed to avoid spreading body fluids.

Final thoughts

If you’ve done anything to make you think you have an STI, it’s always better to get tested.

Call the number above to speak to one of Better2Know’s Sexual Health Advisors. They will be able to help you choose an STI clinic and STI test that’s right for you.