Sex, Etc. -- If my partner and I are both virgins, is there...

If my partner and I are both virgins, is there any way we could have an STD?

If neither of you has had any kind of sex, then it's unlikely. But the tricky part is defining "virgin."

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can spread through oral, vaginal, and anal sex. They can also be passed through certain types of sexual skin-to-skin touching like when you rub bodies with no clothes on. So, when you and your partner use the word "virgin," make sure you both mean the same thing. There is very little risk for STDs if neither has had any sexual experience at all.

But sex isn't the only factor. STDs can spread when people share needles. They can be passed from mother to newborn baby. So even if a person has had no sexual experiences they could have an STD from using needles or from their mother if she was infected and passed it on through her breast milk.

Even if neither of you has had any kind of sex play or any other risk factor, you should still use condoms if you decide to have sex. If you are in a heterosexual relationship, then condoms are doing "double duty!" Condoms protect against both pregnancy and infection.

Another factor is that no matter how much you two trust each other, people sometimes cheat. Sad, but true. Condoms protect against that chance.

You should also use condoms if you decide to have oral sex. Flavored condoms are available in most drugstores. Females should use the Sheer Glyde Dam or cut open flavored condoms to cover their vulva.

For more information on STDs check out these Sex, Etc. stories.

Got a question about STDs? Call the CDC's national hotline at 1-800-227-8922, open 24/7.

Your Comments

Can you tell?

Posted by: LucindaH on Jun 6th, 2008 3:05pm

You can't tell if someone has oral herpes, just by looking
at them. While some people with oral herpes may have
occasional outbreaks of cold sores around their mouths,
others can be infected with herpes and not have any
symptoms. So there's no way to know for sure. Use condoms
and dental dams (http://www.sexetc.org/faq/std/1056) to
reduce the risk of getting oral herpes during oral sex.

after oral or any other type of sex

Posted by: LucindaH on Jun 6th, 2008 2:53pm

Some STDs have no symptoms. So if you've had unprotected
vaginal, oral or anal sex, get tested. Click here for more
info on where to get tested:
http://www.sexetc.org/page/get_tested/.

Can you tell?

Posted by: girly92 on Jun 4th, 2008 11:54am

can you tell if someone has oral herpes?

after oral or any other type os sex...

Posted by: girly92 on Jun 3rd, 2008 11:50pm

after oral anal or vaginal sex how long after being sexualy
active do you begin to see symptoms..especially for oral?

if he gave me oral...: Response

Posted by: StacieS on Aug 7th, 2007 12:19pm

If your boyfriend has never been sexual with anyone else
before (even kissing) then there's little risk. But,
unfortunately, if your boyfriend has oral herpes from
drinking after someone, getting kissed as baby or kissing
other partners as a teen, then he could pass oral herpes to
you, on your vulva. Herpes is the main risk; the others are
pretty slim risk for "receiving." To read more about oral
sex and STDs check out the STD FAQs. Hope that helps!

if he gave me oral...

Posted by: bblez on Aug 6th, 2007 4:49pm

my boyfriend gave me oral...i still don't understand if i
can get infected...any help here?

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