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Risk Behavior Chart

Look up what STDs can get transmitted by different types of sexual behavior.

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STD Behavior Chart

Risk of transmission of most STDs can be significantly reduced by correct and consistent use of a male condom, female condom, dental dam, or other barrier. For more information on these and other prevention options, see our Protect Page. For more information on transmission and protection against STDs, see our Fact Sheets. The activities listed on this chart do not include all possible ways of transmitting STDs, and extremely rare modes of transmission may not be included for certain STDs. This chart was last updated January 28, 2013.

* In theory, this could happen, but nobody has been reported getting this STD this way
** Only at risk if the hand was just in contact with infected fluid
*** Only at risk if the recipient had just topped someone else in anal sex

Activity High Risk Some Risk Theoretical Risk*
Kissing Herpes
Touching or being touched somewhere other than the genital area, shared bedding Scabies
Molluscum Contagiosum
Crabs/Pubic Lice
Masturbation
Touching the genital area or anus of another person with your hands (fingering, fisting, or giving a hand job)
Having your vagina touched by someone else's hands (being fingered)** Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
Herpes
HPV
Having your penis touched by someone else's hands (getting a hand job) HPV
Having your anus touched by someone else's hands (being anally fingered/fisted)** Gonorrhea
Hepatitis A
Herpes
HPV
Sharing insertive sex toys (anally or vaginally) Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
Herpes
HPV
Trichomoniasis
Performing oral sex on a penis (giving head) Herpes
Gonorrhea
Hepatitis B
Shigella, giardia, amebiasis, cryptosporidium***
Syphilis 		Chlamydia
HPV
HIV		 Hepatitis A
Hepatitis C***
Performing oral sex on a vulva/vagina (eating out) Herpes
Performing oral-anal sex (rimming) Amebiasis, cryptosporidium, giardia
Hepatitis A
Shigella
Receiving oral sex on a penis (getting head) Herpes
Hepatitis B		 Gonorrhea
Syphilis
Chlamydia		 HIV
Receiving oral sex on a vulva/vagina (being eaten out) Herpes Syphilis Gonorrhea
Receiving oral-anal sex Herpes
Syphilis
Female genital-genital rubbing (tribadism) HPV
Herpes
Syphilis
Crabs/Pubic Lice
Scabies
Male/female genital-genital rubbing (outercourse) HPV
Herpes
Crabs/Pubic Lice
Scabies
Vaginal sex as a man Chlamydia
Crabs/Pubic Lice
Gonorrhea
Hepatitis B
Herpes
HIV
HPV
Scabies
Syphilis
Trichomoniasis		 Hepatitis C
Vaginal sex as a woman Chlamydia
Crabs
Scabies
Gonorrhea
Hepatitis B
Herpes
HIV
HPV
Syphilis
Trichomoniasis		 Hepatitis C
Herpes (Type 1)
Anal sex as a top Chlamydia
Crabs
Scabies
Gonorrhea
Hepatitis B
Herpes
HIV
HPV
Syphilis		 Hepatitis C
Anal sex as a bottom Chlamydia
Crabs
Scabies
Gonorrhea
Hepatitis B
Herpes
HIV
HPV
Syphilis		 Hepatitis C
BDSM (if blood shared) Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
HIV

STD Symptom Chart

Look up what STDs can cause different symptoms, including which ones have no symptoms at all.

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STD Symptom Chart

This chart was last updated on August 16, 2009. This is not meant to be a complete list of possible diseases that can cause certain symptoms or all the symptoms that can come from the listed diseases. If you have any of the symptoms described below, you should consult your doctor, find a testing site near you, or order a self-collection kit.

Symptom Possible STD How long before symptoms appear (after you get infected) What percent of people with this STD have this symptom
None (or not noticed) Chlamydia N/A 80% of women, and about 50% of men
Crabs/Pubic Lice N/A (?)
Gonorrhea N/A 80% of women if infected in the vagina, 10-40% of men if infected in the penis, >50% of people infected in the throat or rectum
Hepatitis B N/A 50%-70%
Hepatitis C N/A 70%-80%
Herpes N/A 20% of infected people don't have symptoms and additional 40% of infected people have symptoms but don't notice them
HIV/AIDS N/A (?)
HPV (warts) N/A 35% of women, unknown for men
Molluscum Contagiosum N/A (?)
Scabies N/A (?)
Syphilis N/A (?)
Trichomoniasis N/A (?)
Genital Discharge or Burning Chlamydia 2-3 weeks (up to 6 weeks) 20% (?)
Gonorrhea For women, 7-10 days; for men, 2-5 days (?)
Trichomoniasis (?) (?)
Vaginal or Anal Bleeding Chlamydia 2-3 weeks (up to 6 weeks) (?)
Gonorrhea For women, 7-10 days; for men, 2-5 days (?)
Genital or Anal Itching Chlamydia 2-3 weeks (up to 6 weeks) (?)
Crabs/Pubic Lice One source: 2 days-3 weeks. Another source: Nits can take 5-10 days to hatch, after which they will start biting the host. For people who have not been exposed previously, an allergic reaction takes at least 5 days after being bitten to develop. (?)
Gonorrhea For women, 7-10 days; for men, 2-5 days (?)
Herpes One source: 2-20 days (average 6 days)
Other source: First symptoms 8 days, peak 3-4 days later, and recede over next 3-4 days, commonly a new sore will appear on day 14 after infection 		(?)
Scabies 3-6 weeks for people infested for the first time. Within hours [or days] in cases of reinfestation (?)
Trichomoniasis 5-28 days or more (?)
Genital Bumps Molluscum Contagiosum Average 2-3 months, range 1 week-6 months (?)
HPV Usually 1-8 months, 85% within 1 year, almost all within 3 years. Usually undetectable again 1-2 years after symptoms (less true of non-wart HPV types) (?)
Sores Syphilis (primary) 10 days - 3 months (?)
Herpes One source: 2-20 days (average 6 days)
Other source: First symptoms 8 days, peak 3-4 days later, and recede over next 3-4 days, commonly a new lesion will appear on day 14 after infection 		(?)

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