What are the chances?

We have a lot of unknowns in the STD field, but there are some things we know for sure.  When asked about chances for getting an std, it can be frustrating if we don't know for sure.  Here is the best of what we do know for chances and what you might get from certain sexual activities:

*  giving oral sex - low risk - possibilities are gonorrhea and syphilis, VERY low risk for HIV

*  receiving oral sex - low risk - possibilities are gonorrhea, syphilis, genital hsv1 and in men, NGU

*  protected vaginal sex - very low risk - possibilities are HPV/genital warts, syphilis, hsv2, molluscum

*  protected anal sex - very low risk - possibilities are HPV/genital warts, syphilis, hsv2, molluscum

*  unprotected vaginal sex - high risk - possibilities are chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hsv2, molluscum, HPV/genital warts, hepatitis B, HIV (HIV risk is higher for women who have sex with men than for men who have sex with women)

*  unprotected anal sex - high risk - possibilities are chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hsv2, molluscum, HPV/genital warts, hepatitis B, HIV

There are "groups" of people who have higher risk - men who have sex with men, for example, are at higher risk for HIV than those who have sex with people of the opposite gender.  Women who have sex with women are at lower risk for some stds than women who have sex with men, but if their partners have sex with men, the chances increase.

My best advice to anyone who is concerned about having an std is to get tested.  Please don't sit and wonder and worry.  Testing will give you the answers you are looking for.  

And as always, use condoms!!

Aj