There is a lot of misinformation about whether or not you can get STDs from anal sex. First, there are many people who don’t consider anal sex to be a form of sexual intercourse, and they may not think it puts them at risk of contracting or transmitting STDs the way vaginal sex does. Second, anal sex has been specifically linked to the transmission of HIV, leading some people to mistakenly believe that HIV is the only STD you can get from anal sex.
However, both assumptions are myths. Anal sex is a sexual act and can transmit STDs.
HIV
Although it is possible to contract or transmit several STDs through anal sex, HIV is perhaps the most well-known. This is likely due to the infection’s original association with gay men. Furthermore, of the sexual acts that can transmit HIV, anal sex is considered to have the greatest risk. The CDC therefore recommends regular testing for HIV for people who engage in anal sex.
HIV can also be transmitted through vaginal sex, but the risk of transmission is 18 times greater with anal sex. Oral sex can also transmit HIV, but the risk of this happening is even smaller.
The risk associated with contracting HIV through anal sex varies depending on which partner is infected with HIV. Insertive partners (the partner who inserts the penis) have a lower risk of contracting HIV through anal sex than receptive partners (the partner who receives the penis). If you are an receptive partner and have sex with an insertive partner who is HIV-positive, you are up to 13 times more likely to transmit the virus than sex involving an HIV-positive partner and an HIV-negative insertive partner. The reason the risk to the receptive partner is so much greater is that the lining of the anus is thin and prone to micro-tears, which allow the virus to enter the body.
However, it is important to note that HIV can be transmitted through any sexual act in which bodily fluids such as blood, semen, precum, or vaginal discharge from an infected partner come into contact with bodily fluids from an uninfected partner. Both men and women are at risk.
Other STDs
HIV is not the only STD that can be transmitted through anal sex. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and hepatitis B and C can be transmitted during anal sex with someone who is infected.
Any STD or STD that can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, such as herpes or HPV, can also be transmitted to the inside or outside of the anus and rectum, and in some cases even spread to the buttocks. An infected person does not need to have sores to spread the infections to their partners.
Symptoms associated with an infection in this area include rectal pain, bleeding, burning sensation, or unusual discharge. You may also experience complaints elsewhere, such as blisters or discomfort in the groin.
Reducing the risk of STDs through anal sex
As with other sexual practices, using condoms reduces the chance of spreading an STD from one partner to another.
Antiviral medications called PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) can reduce a person’s chance of contracting HIV. PrEP is for people who are HIV negative and at high risk of contracting HIV. If taken regularly, it helps prevent new HIV infection. PEP is for people who are HIV negative but have been exposed to HIV. PEP should be taken as soon as possible after exposure to reduce the chance of the uninfected person becoming infected.