How STIs Are Transmitted (and Common Misconceptions)

STIs are transmitted through specific types of sexual contact. The primary routes are: • Bodily Fluids: Semen, vaginal fluids, and blood (transfers HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Hepatitis B). • Skin-to-Skin Contact: Direct contact with infected genital skin or mucous membranes (transfers HSV/Herpes, HPV/Warts, Syphilis).

STIs are fragile pathogens that cannot survive long outside the human body. You CANNOT contract an STI from: toilet seats, swimming pools, sharing cutlery, hugging, or holding hands. Understanding how transmission actually works reduces unnecessary fear and focuses prevention on what works.