How much do condoms/dental dams actually protect against the different types (viral vs bacterial vs parasitic)—like what’s still possible to catch even if we’re being careful?
Condoms and dental dams are excellent at blocking fluid‑borne STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, and hepatitis B, but they can’t fully prevent skin‑to‑skin infections like herpes, HPV, syphilis on uncovered skin, or pubic lice and scabies.
If I’m not having obvious symptoms (or they’re super mild), which types of STIs are most likely to fly under the radar, and how often should I realistically be getting tested?
Many STIs cause few or no symptoms—especially chlamydia, gonorrhea, HPV, early HIV, and trich—so you can’t wait for obvious signs. Most sexually active people under 25 should test at least yearly, and every 3–6 months with new or multiple partners.
What’s the practical difference between viral vs bacterial vs parasitic STIs—like, which ones are actually curable and which are more of a “manage it long-term” situation?
Most STIs fall into three groups: bacterial, viral, and parasitic. Bacterial and parasitic infections are usually curable with medication, while viral STIs tend to be lifelong but highly manageable with modern treatment.