I’m an expert and here’s how you could get an STI without having sex

AN EXPERT has warned you can be unfortuante enough to catch an STI without having sex with someone. 

Most people would assume the bugs are spread only when you have intercourse.

But for some unlucky folks, it only takes a bit of fondling for infections to spread.

Navin Khosla, Superintendent Pharmacist at , an online doctor service for men’s health, said: “Some STDs like HPV are transmitted simply by touch and you could catch them without or outside of sexual contact.”

Genital warts, caused by the HPV (human papillomavirus) virus, are the second most common STI in England.

They can be passed by sexual skin-to-skin contact.

You don’t need to have penetrative sex to catch it from someone – you could just touch the genital area affected, share sex toys or give oral sex.

However, you can’t get genital warts from kissing or sharing items like cutlery and towels.

The NHS says some ways to prevent genital warts spreading include always using condoms and not sharing sex toys between different people. 

Genital herpes is another STI that can be passed without actually “doing the deed”.

You can get herpes through oral sex, foreplay, if a cold sore touches your genitals or by sharing sex toys. 

Meanwhile, in rare cases HIV can be passed when someone with the condition gives oral sex, particularly if they have mouth ulcers, sores or bleeding gums.

However, people who take HIV medication daily as prescribed have an undetectable viral load and therefore virtually no risk of sexually transmitting it to others. 

The terms STI and STD mean different things but are used interchangeably.

Technically, a condition only qualifies as a disease if you have advanced symptoms or complications of an infection.

The term ‘infection’ applies to when a bug invades the body and multiplies, often not showing symptoms. 

STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhoea can go under the radar for a long time because they tend to show no symptoms, Navin said.

But “STIs such as genital warts, genital herpes and pubic lice have more discernible symptoms”, he said. 

STAY SAFE

Navin warned: “If you are unaware that you are living with an untreated STI or STD, you could experience infertility.”

Even worse, if symptoms are left untreated or a diagnosis takes too long, there could be rare but life-threatening consequences.

“Some STIs such as HIV and syphilis can even be fatal, while certain strains of HPV can cause cancer.”

Navin stressed the importance of keeping on top of your sexual health with check-ups.

He recommended that “every sexually active person should get tested at least once a year if they are monogamous and those with multiple sexual partners should get tested every time they have sex with a different partner”. 

“Be open about your sexual health history with any new partners,” he said.

If you have symptoms “don’t be scared or ashamed to approach your healthcare provider for a test”.

If you notice any of the following, see your GP:

• strange and smelly discharge
• unusual pain or bleeding after sex
• pain in your abdomen or testicles
• pain while urinating
• itching or burning sensations around your genital area
• growths such as blisters, sores, or warts 
• black powder or little whitish dots inside your underwear