It's a complex question, whether you can have an STD if you're still a virgin. The answer to this question is unfortunately not unambiguous. In order to come to an understandable answer, we will therefore go through what an STD is and how it is transferred.

What is an STD and how is it transferred?

STD stands for sexually transmitted disease or sexually transmitted disease, as the name suggests, it takes sex to transmit this condition. Of course, sex is a broad concept, depending on which actions you do/do not do, you can get an STD. An STD is transmitted by bacteria or viruses. They are found in the mucous membrane (of the head of the penis, urethra, vagina, anus, rectum and throat), (menstrual) blood, sperm, pre-seminal fluid (fluid that comes from the penis before ejaculation), vaginal fluid or fluid from vesicles or ulcers in the mucous membrane of someone infected with an STD.

So, can you have an STI as a virgin?

If you're both virgins and haven't had sex at all, you don't have an STD. However, if, for example, you have already had unprotected oral sex, it is possible that you will get an STD. You can also get an STD if you use someone else's sex toy that has not been cleaned properly in between. Of course there are always exceptions: the virus that causes genital warts (HPV; Human Papilloma Virus) can also be transmitted via fingers or towels and pubic lice can be transmitted via towel or bedding or directly from person to person. So you can have an STI if you are still a virgin.

How do you get herpes?

You don't have to have sex to get herpes. The virus that causes a cold sore also causes herpes. How do you get a cold sore or herpes? By coming into contact with someone who has a cold sore, you get the virus. If you kiss someone who has a cold sore or have oral sex with someone who has a cold sore, chances are you will also get a cold sore or herpes.

Note: the virus must have been in contact with that particular part of the body in order for it to develop further.

STD by blood contact

Sommige SOA’s (hepatitis B, hepatitis C en HIV) zijn ook overdraagbaar via bloed, deze kan je dus oplopen zonder seks te hebben. Je krijgt deze SOA als jij in contact komt met het bloed van iemand die een SOA heeft, dit komt niet vaak voor.
Voorbeelden van overdracht zijn:

• in case of an unhygienic tattoo or piercing;
• when someone uses the razor blade of an infected person;
• when someone uses needles or syringes from an infected person (when using drugs).

Andere SOA’s kunnen tijdens zwangerschap en geboorte van moeder op kind worden overgedragen (hepatitis B, syfilis, HIV, chlamydia, gonorroe en herpes).

Conclusion

So if you are both virgins and both have not yet had any kind of sexual contact (including toys) then in principle you do not have an STD. However, if you are a virgin and have not yet had any sexual contact, in theory you can contract a disease during pregnancy, at birth or through blood contact. However, this is very rare and you will always be treated for it right away.

If you are unsure and or have symptoms of an STI, make an appointment at one of our Onedayclinic STI clinics. You can do this at the following locations:

Amsterdam Utrecht, Rotterdam, The Hague, Eindhoven, Nijmegen