Can I Get an STI From a Virgin?

Is sexual contact with a virgin “safe” when it comes to preventing sexually transmitted diseases?

The answer is no.

While it’s rare, it’s possible to get an STD —even if you’re both virgins.

Let’s talk about STDs and how they are transmitted from one person to another.

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What is a virgin?

If you’re going to ask if you can get an STI from a virgin, we need to establish what a virgin is. It’s not quite as clear as you might think…

Virginity can be a slippery concept to get your head around. In general, when people say “virgin”, they’re referring to someone who hasn’t had sexual intercourse. This usually means penetrative vaginal sex.

However, you can have sex without having vaginal sex.

What do we mean by this?

Lots of people who consider themselves virgins will still admit that they’ve performed oral sex or digital stimulation. These lower-risk sexual acts allow lots of people to get intimate with a sexual partner without having to worry too much about unwanted pregnancies.

Some people may also think that performing or receiving anal sex doesn’t count as “losing your virginity”.

So, you can perform certain kinds of sex acts and still consider yourself a virgin, right?

While this may be the case, that doesn’t mean those sexual acts are completely safe. You can still get an STI if you’re a virgin.

What are STIs?

In order to understand how virgins can have STIs, we need to understand what STIs are and how they function.

STIs are infections that most people get through some kind of physical or sexual contact with another person. They pass on through infected bodily fluids, usually through semen, vaginal secretions, and blood. Once the pathogen takes hold in your body, it multiplies, establishing an infection.

How does this happen?

While penetrative sex with a penis and a vagina transmits the vast majority of STIs, infections can be transmitted through a wide variety of sexual acts, including:

Oral sex
Anal sex
Genital to genital contact
Skin to skin contact
Sharing sex toys

Bloodborne infections also don’t require sex to be transmitted. Some infections can be transmitted through sharing personal hygiene items like razors and toothbrushes, unsterilised tattooing equipment, and contaminated blood transfusions (although this is fairly rare in countries with advanced healthcare services).

It’s important to keep in mind that most STIs are transmitted through unprotected sex. If you want to decrease the likelihood of getting an infection, practice safe sex where you can.

What sexually transmitted infections can virgins have?

It’s technically possible for a virgin to get any STI. However, some are more likely than others.

Human papillomavirus (HPV): HPV only requires skin to skin contact to transmit. This can easily happen when performing manual stimulation of the genitals.
Herpes: Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV 1) infections can be transmitted through kissing.
Oral Gonorrhoea: Data show that oral Gonorrhoea infections can be passed on between men who have sex with men.
Hepatitis A: You can get Hepatitis A by consuming contaminated food and water.
Hepatitis B and C: You can get both Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C by sharing personal hygiene items like razors and toothbrushes with an infected person.

Common STI symptoms to look out for

If you’ve had sex and you’re worried about STIs, it can help to stay on the lookout for symptoms. Most symptoms will appear a few days to a few weeks after the encounter.

Stay vigilant for:

Unusual discharge from the penis, vagina, or anus
Painful urination
Bumps or growths on the genitals or anus
Blisters, sores, or a rash around the genitals or mouth
Flu like symptoms, including fever, body aches, headaches, sore throat, and nausea

While experiencing symptoms is a sure-fire sign to get tested, most STIs don’t show any symptoms. It’s possible to have an STI for months or years and not know it.

What can I do to prevent STI transmission?

First and foremost, if you want to avoid getting an STI, you should practice safe sex. Limit how much bodily fluids come into contact with your mouth, eyes, anus, and genitals.

You can decrease your infection risk by ensuring your and your partner’s hands are clean before engaging in “fingering” or manual stimulation. While not free from risk, oral sex is much less likely to transmit any STIs than vaginal or anal sex.

Try to avoid contact with open wounds or sores. If you see something that concerns you, stop immediately.

You may also want to have honest and upfront conversations with your sexual partner about your sexual history. Many couples get tested for STIs together. This can help keep everyone safe and establish trust that can greatly benefit a sexual relationship.

Final thoughts

While both you and your partner may be virgins, sexual activity comes with risks. The only way to know whether you have an STI is to get tested.

You can get tested for many STDs at one of Better2Know’s conveniently located sexual health clinics. They can provide discreet screening services that can give you peace of mind and the treatment you need.