Vaccines, PrEP, condoms and smarter ways to lower your risk.
75 articles
Apretude (cabotegravir) is an injectable form of HIV PrEP — pre-exposure prophylaxis — given as a shot every two months instead of a daily pill. It's for HIV-negative adults and adolescents at risk th
Yes, but only modestly and only for certain people. Large trials show male circumcision lowers a man's risk of getting HIV from vaginal sex and reduces some other STIs, but the effect is partial, does
Doxy-PEP and PrEP aren't the same thing. Doxy-PEP is an antibiotic (doxycycline) taken after sex to lower the risk of certain bacterial STIs like syphilis and chlamydia. PrEP is medication taken to pr
Yes — Doxy-PEP and HIV PrEP can be taken together, and they're often used by the same people for the same reason: condomless sex. They work on completely separate threats. PrEP prevents HIV, while Dox
Doxy-PEP (doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis) is a single dose of the antibiotic doxycycline taken after sex to lower the risk of certain bacterial STIs. Because antibiotic use can drive resistance
Doxy-PEP—a single dose of doxycycline taken after sex—has strong evidence for preventing bacterial STIs in gay and bisexual men and transgender women, but the one major trial in cisgender women did no
Yes — you can sexually transmit hepatitis A, mainly through oral-anal contact, which is why it shows up in outbreaks among men who have sex with men. Hepatitis B is the more classic blood-borne and se
The hepatitis A vaccine is a safe, highly effective shot that prevents hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection of the liver. The CDC recommends it for all children, for adults at higher risk — international
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is unusually hardy outside the body. On dry surfaces — a shared razor, a toothbrush, a countertop with dried blood — it can stay infectious for days, even after the blood looks
Gay and bisexual men should get vaccinated against both hepatitis A and hepatitis B, ideally before any exposure. The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all adults aged 19–59 and for older adults
PrEP doesn't protect you the moment you swallow the first pill. Daily oral PrEP reaches its maximum protection in about 7 days for receptive anal sex, and about 21 days for receptive vaginal sex and i
To prevent mpox, avoid close skin-to-skin contact with anyone who has a rash, get the two-dose JYNNEOS vaccine if you're at increased risk, and limit anonymous or multiple partners during outbreaks. C
Yes, you can start and stop PrEP around periods when your risk goes up — like a vacation, a new relationship, or a stretch of casual dating — as long as you time it right and check in with a clinician
The JYNNEOS vaccine is a two-dose mpox vaccine recommended for people at increased risk of exposure, with the second dose given 28 days after the first CDC vaccines. It can also be used after a known
To clean sex toys and lower STD risk, wash nonporous toys (silicone, glass, stainless steel) with warm water and mild soap after every use, dry them fully, and store them separately. Cover any shared
Safer sex while trying to conceive comes down to one honest conversation before you stop using condoms: get tested together, share your real results, and decide together what protection to use until y
For lesbian and bisexual women, the single most effective STI prevention step is an open conversation with each partner about barriers, testing, and status — done before sex, framed as mutual care, an
U=U means Undetectable equals Untransmittable: a person living with HIV who takes antiretroviral therapy and keeps the virus at an undetectable level cannot pass HIV to a sexual partner. It's a preven
Yes — but only a couple of infections realistically spread through kissing, and the main ones are oral herpes (HSV) and, far less often, syphilis when a sore is present on the lips or mouth. Most STIs
Yes — you can still get an STI even when you use a condom correctly. Condoms cover the penis well, so they protect strongly against fluid-borne infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV. But they
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is HIV medicine that people without HIV take to stay HIV-negative. Taken as prescribed, it cuts the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% and from injection drug us
Yes. You can lower your HIV risk a lot without PrEP by stacking proven tools: condoms used correctly, regular HIV testing, treatment-as-prevention (U=U — a partner with an undetectable viral load won'
If you're on PrEP, plan on regular STD testing — an HIV test before you start and recurring check-ins while you stay on it. PrEP guards against HIV but not chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis, so clinic
If you stop taking PrEP, the medicine clears from your body over days and your protection against HIV fades — you're no longer shielded once levels drop. Because PrEP works only while it's in your sys
Transgender women face higher HIV risk than the general population, but the same proven tools protect them: PrEP, condoms, regular testing, and treatment-as-prevention. The most common worry — that es
If a condom breaks during sex, stop, withdraw, and clean up gently with water — don't douche or scrub. If HIV exposure is possible, call a clinic or ER about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) right away
The best condom size is the one that fits snugly without pinching and stays put without rolling off — length covers from base to tip, and width matches your girth so the condom neither chokes nor slid
DoxyPEP is a single dose of the antibiotic doxycycline — 200 mg taken within 72 hours after condomless sex — used to lower the risk of certain bacterial STIs, mainly syphilis and chlamydia CDC. It tar
The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all adults aged 19–59, and for adults 60 and older who have risk factors. The newer two-dose series (Heplisav-B) can be completed in about a month, while old
The hepatitis B vaccine is a safe, highly effective shot series that teaches your immune system to block the hepatitis B virus (HBV) before it can infect your liver. ACIP recommends it for all adults
Spermicidal condoms don't prevent STDs any better than plain condoms — and the spermicide they use, nonoxynol-9 (N-9), can actually raise your HIV risk by irritating delicate genital tissue. A regular
Condoms break for a handful of preventable reasons: trapped air in the tip, oil-based lubricant breaking down the latex, the wrong fit, heat or age weakening the material, and putting one on after sex
The main difference between condom types is the material: latex and polyurethane both block the genital fluids that carry HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis, while lambskin (natural-membran
Condoms and PrEP solve different problems. Condoms are a physical barrier that blocks many STDs — chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV — plus pregnancy. PrEP is a daily pill or shot that stops HIV only
Yes — vaginal dryness after menopause can make catching an STI easier, not harder. As estrogen falls, the vaginal lining thins, dries, and tears more easily during sex, and any tiny break in the tissu
PrEP and PEP both prevent HIV, but timing is everything: PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is medicine HIV-negative people take before possible exposure on an ongoing basis, while PEP is the emergency o
Receptive anal sex carries the highest per-act HIV risk of any sexual activity — about 138 infections per 10,000 exposures, roughly 1 in 70, from a partner with untreated HIV CDC HIV estimates. The re
STD risk varies sharply by activity. Receptive anal sex carries the highest per-act HIV risk — about 138 per 10,000 exposures — followed by insertive anal, receptive vaginal, then insertive vaginal se
To get PEP fast within 72 hours, go straight to an emergency room, urgent care, or any health care provider the same day — every hour matters and the clock starts at the moment of exposure, not when y
PrEP is for any HIV-negative person who has an ongoing chance of HIV exposure — through sex with partners whose status they don't know, with a partner living with HIV, or through sharing injection equ
Truvada and Descovy are both daily PrEP pills that prevent HIV, but the key difference is who they're approved for: Truvada covers anyone at risk through sex or injection drug use, while Descovy is ap
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is medicine that HIV-negative people take before possible exposure to prevent infection. It comes as a daily pill or an injection given by a clinician, and when taken a
Used correctly and every single time, condoms are highly effective at preventing STDs spread through genital fluids — HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis. They offer less protection against
Gardasil and Gardasil 9 are both HPV vaccines, but they cover different numbers of strains. The original Gardasil protected against four HPV types (6, 11, 16, 18). Gardasil 9 adds five more cancer-cau
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) can cost you nothing out of pocket. Most insurance plans cover it with no copay, and for the uninsured, manufacturer programs, federal initiatives, and clinic-based ass
PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is emergency HIV medicine you take after a possible exposure to stop the virus from establishing itself. You must start it within 72 hours of the exposure — and the soo
You can get PrEP from a primary care doctor, an STI or sexual-health clinic, a community health center, or an online telehealth service — many of which can prescribe within days. Every route starts wi
If you've just had unprotected sex and you're worried about HIV, the single most time-sensitive step is to ask a clinician about PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) — HIV medicine that can stop the virus
PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV when taken as prescribed. Taken consistently, it cuts the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% CDC, Talk PrEP Together and from injection drug use by at
On-demand PrEP (2-1-1) is a way of taking oral PrEP pills around specific sex events instead of every day: two pills two to twenty-four hours before sex, one pill the next day, and one pill the day af
Truvada and Descovy are both once-daily PrEP pills that prevent HIV before exposure, and both are highly effective. The big practical difference: Truvada covers risk from sex or injection drug use, wh
The Twinrix vaccine protects against both hepatitis A and hepatitis B in one series of shots. It combines the standard hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines, given over a course of injections, so you b
Internal condoms — the kind worn inside the vagina or anus, sometimes called "female" condoms — give women a barrier method they control, without needing a partner to put anything on. Used every time
The HPV vaccine for boys is Gardasil 9, a safe shot that prevents future infection with the HPV types behind most genital warts and several cancers — including throat cancer, which now outranks cervic
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is medicine that HIV-negative people take before possible exposure to keep HIV from taking hold. It comes as a daily pill or a long-acting shot. Taken as prescribed, it
Doxy-PEP (doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis) is a single dose of the antibiotic doxycycline taken after condomless sex to lower the risk of certain bacterial STIs. The standard dose is 200 mg take
The best lube for condoms is water-based or silicone-based — both are safe with latex and won't weaken it. Skip anything oil-based, like baby oil, lotion, petroleum jelly, or cooking oil, because oils
Most people on PrEP feel fine. The classic side effects are mild and short-lived: nausea, headache, stomach upset, or fatigue in the first few weeks as your body adjusts — usually fading on their own.
You can sharply lower the odds of passing herpes to a partner — though not to zero — by combining daily suppressive antiviral medication, consistent condom use, avoiding sex during outbreaks, and hone
PrEP is daily (or scheduled) medicine HIV-negative people take before possible exposure to prevent infection; PEP is an emergency course started after a single possible exposure. PrEP is ongoing preve
DoxyPEP is a single dose of the antibiotic doxycycline taken after sex to lower the risk of getting certain bacterial STIs. Standing for doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, it targets bacterial inf
PrEP is daily or on-demand medicine that HIV-negative people take to prevent infection before exposure. You have two main forms: oral pills (Truvada or Descovy) and an injectable, cabotegravir (Apretu
Truvada is a daily prescription pill (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) taken by HIV-negative people to prevent HIV — a strategy called PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis. Taken as prescribe
Yes — Gardasil 9 is safe and is one of the best-studied vaccines in use. It's monitored continuously, and the main reactions are mild and short-lived, like a sore arm. The bigger story is what it does
The HPV vaccine's most common side effects are mild and short-lived: soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection spot, plus headache, low-grade fever, or fatigue for a day or two. The most notable
The HPV vaccine is not federally mandatory in the United States. No national law requires it; a handful of states and the District of Columbia tie it to school entry, usually with opt-outs. The CDC ro
Yes, the HPV vaccine can be worth it after 26. Gardasil 9 is approved through age 45, and adults aged 27 to 45 can get it after a shared-decision conversation with a clinician. It works best before ex
Yes, the HPV vaccine is approved and often worth it for adults through age 45 — but after age 26 it's a shared-decision call with your clinician, not a routine recommendation. Gardasil 9 prevents futu
Yes — you can get an STD from oral sex. The most common are gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2), HPV, and, less often, HIV. Throat and mouth infections are frequently silent, so s
A female condom (also called an internal condom) is a soft pouch you insert into the vagina or anus before sex. It lines the canal so semen and genital fluids never touch your skin directly. Used corr
A dental dam is a thin square of latex you place over the vulva or anus during oral sex so your mouth never touches genital fluids or skin directly. To use one, smooth it over the area before any cont
To use a condom correctly every time, put a new one on the erect penis before any genital, oral, or anal contact, pinch the air from the tip as you unroll it all the way down, use only water- or silic
Used every time and the right way, condoms are a highly effective barrier method for preventing the sexual spread of HIV, and they cut the risk of gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and pregnancy C
The hepatitis B vaccine is the single best way to prevent hepatitis B, a blood-borne and sexually transmitted liver infection. ACIP recommends it for all adults aged 19–59, and for adults 60 and older
Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are caused by a variety of microorganisms. These agents cause genital tract infections that are often overlooked due to the absence of specific symptoms.