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You weren't lied to: Masturbating really is the safest sexual activity.

"In that location is virtually NO gamble of contracting an STD or any other infection from touching your genitals," says Planned Parenthood.

However, at that place are three — admittedly rare(!) — instances in which it *is* possible for an STI to be transmitted while masturbating. Read on to learn more than.

STI vs. STD

STIs are sexually transmitted infections. STDs are sexually transmitted diseases.

An STI is only considered a affliction when it causes symptoms.

At present onto how transmission might happen during solo sexual activity.

By transmitting an STI from ane area to some other on your body

The following STIs are considered site-specific:

  • HSV
  • gonorrhea
  • chlamydia
  • trichomoniasis
  • public lice
  • molluscum contagiosum

Site-specific means that they can be transmitted from one site to another.

"If you lot have vaginal herpes and you lot have a vaginal canker outbreak, and yous touch your butt with the aforementioned manus yous touched your vagina with, you could pass the infection onto your butt also," says Lisa Finn, sex educator at pleasance product emporium Babeland.

Similarly, if y'all have oral gonorrhea, apply your spit as lube while you anally finger yourself, yous tin "requite" yourself anal gonorrhea.

By using a sex toy after it was used past a person with an STI

"Y'all can't contract an STI from a sexual practice toy itself," says Finn.

"But if you apply a sex toy after information technology was used by someone who has an STI, in certain instances an infection tin exist transmitted," she says.

Instance #1: The sex toy was made of a porous textile

"Porous materials contain tiny microscopic holes in them that can trap bacteria, grit, and infectious pathogens in them… even after the toy is cleaned," Finn explains.

That means that regardless of whether the toy was cleaned, STI manual is possible if yous're sharing a porous toy with a person who has an STI.

"If yous're going to be sharing your sex toys, it's best to share toys fabricated of out of nonporous materials like stainless steel, medical-grade silicone, glass, or ABS plastic," says Finn.

Case #2: The sex toy was made of a nonporous material… simply wasn't clean

If you apply a sexual practice toy that has bodily fluids on it from a person who has an STI, transmission is possible.

"All y'all need to continue a nonporous sex toy clean is warm h2o and fragrance-free soap or a bottle of toy cleaner," says Finn.

As a effect of fluid mixing during mutual masturbation

Common masturbation involves masturbating beside someone(s) who's also masturbating. Fun!

"If y'all're in shut enough proximity that trunk fluid tin be exchanged, if someone has an STI, an STI can exist transmitted," says Finn.

The actual fluids in question include:

  • anal mucus
  • blood
  • chest milk
  • ejaculate
  • precum
  • spit
  • vaginal secretion

Ehh…yeah and no.

Despite common hope, STIs don't e'er make themselves known with burny, bumpy symptoms.

In fact, according to the World Wellness Organization (WHO), the majority of STIs are completely asymptomatic. That means you shouldn't wait to experience symptoms to get tested.

When an STI *does* bring about symptoms, they can vary depending on where the STI is located.

Kecia Gaither, MD, who'due south double board certified in OB-GYN and maternal fetal medicine, and the managing director of perinatal services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, says common symptoms include:

  • sores, bumps, or blisters at the area of infection
  • pain or called-for while urinating or pooping
  • unusual, different smelling, or differently colored discharge
  • swollen tonsils, sore throat, or difficulty swallowing
  • bleeding

Rashmi Kudesia, Doctor, a medical advisor for SimpleHealth, an online prescriber of nascence command for folks of all genders, says yous should get tested:

  • whenever you're experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms
  • after having sex activity with someone whose electric current STI condition is unknown
  • later on having sex with someone who has an STI
  • later sharing a sex toy with someone who has an STI or whose STI status is unknown
  • if you have concerns about adultery within your relationship
  • at your almanac gynecologist examination or checkup

"Too often is ameliorate than likewise infrequent, as untreated STIs tin can leave permanent effects," says Kudesia.

This can include:

  • pelvic inflammatory illness
  • blindness
  • infertility
  • increased chance of contracting HIV
  • increased chance of developing certain cancers, including anal, cervical, penile, and throat cancer

A few things!

First, notice your current STI condition, making sure to go tested in all areas of possible infection.

If yous have an STI, you tin avoid transmitting it to other areas of your body by:

  • washing your hands earlier play and before touching a new location
  • using store-bought lubricant, not spit
  • waiting to touch on the part of your body that currently has an infection until the outbreak is over, or you receive a negative test result
  • switching the external safety, finger condom, or glove on your hand when yous switch from touching your front genitals to your dorsum hole
  • putting a new condom on your sexual activity toy earlier using it on a new role of your body
  • properly cleaning your nonporous sex toy before using it on a new role of your torso

If you lot're sharing sex toys with someone, make certain the toy is made of a nonporous material and clean it before and later on use every (!) single (!) time (!).

Oh, and be sure to clean it t-h-o-r-o-u-thousand-h-l-y.

"If you clean a toy with sex toy cleaning spray, there's always the possibility of human error and not accurately cleaning the whole toy," says Finn.

Finally, if y'all're going to be mutually masturbating with someone IRL, Finn recommends talking about STIs.

"It's always best to share your current STI status and final testing date before asking someone what their current STI condition is," she says.

You might say:

  • "I was tested for STIs terminal week, tested negative across the lath, and oasis't had in-person sex with anyone since. When were yous last STI tested?"
  • "Just wanted to permit you know that I'm HSV-positive. I haven't had an outbreak since October, but I wanted to permit you know so that yous don't utilize my sex toy on yourself without washing it outset."
  • "Before we mutually masturbate I desire to get STI tested just in case there'due south fluid transfer. Practice you lot want to become to Planned Parenthood together this weekend?"

If you and your partner receive a positive result — or don't know your current STI status — it's best to avoid sharing toys, maintain distance between your bodies, and come up up with a game plan for collecting fluid.

For case: Will yous ejaculate into a T-shirt? Volition y'all put a towel over your legs before yous squirt? Will you have a quick bathroom before cuddling subsequently?

Ask your doctor any questions y'all take virtually the STI(s) you tested positive for.

For example, tin this STI cure? Is there medication you tin can take to manage this STI?

"You should also contact any partners you've been in contact with since your last negative test, so they can receive proper treatment," says Gaither.

Every bit for what this positive result means for your masturbation do, the answer is not much!

"Being STI-positive doesn't take masturbation or common masturbation off the table," says Finn.

"It merely ways you desire to be careful not to spread it to other parts of your body, if possible," explains Finn.

"And that you want to take proper precautions with anyone you're mutually masturbating or sharing sexual practice toys with." Makes sense!

Masturbating (and mutually masturbating!) are notwithstanding two of the safest sex activity acts out there. Simply STI transmission *is* possible in a few situations.

Keeping the in a higher place tips in mind can assistance reduce the risk of transmission!

Gabrielle Kassel is a New York-based sex and wellness writer and CrossFit Level 1 Trainer. She'due south get a morning person, tested over 200 vibrators, and eaten, drunk, and brushed with charcoal — all in the proper name of journalism. In her free time, she can be found reading cocky-assist books and romance novels, demote-pressing, or pole dancing. Follow her on Instagram.