Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSkin-to-Skin ContactBacterial STIsHIV and HepatitisBV and Yeast InfectionsSafer Masturbation

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Skin-to-Skin Contact

Bacterial STIs

HIV and Hepatitis

BV and Yeast Infections

Safer Masturbation

Masturbation is the safest form of sexual activity, according to Planned Parenthood.If you don’t have a sexually transmitted disease (STD), also referred to as asexually transmitted infection (STI), you can’t get one from masturbating yourself.

However, if you masturbate someone or someone masturbates you, certain STIs can be passed, particularly throughskin-to-skin contact. You can also pass certain STIs from one part of your body to another, such as from your genitals to your mouth or eyes. There are even certain non-sexually transmitted infections that can theoretically be passed during masturbation.

Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee

The article explores the risks of getting or passing sexually transmitted diseases (and certain non-sexually transmitted ones) during masturbation. It also looks that ways to reduce the risk both to yourself and your sexual partners.

Masturbation DefinedMasturbation is the act of touching or rubbing your own genitals for sexual pleasure. Mutual masturbation involves touching or rubbing someone else’s sexual organs to give them sexual pleasure. Hands, fingers, sex toys, or other objects may be used when masturbating.

Masturbation Defined

Masturbation is the act of touching or rubbing your own genitals for sexual pleasure. Mutual masturbation involves touching or rubbing someone else’s sexual organs to give them sexual pleasure. Hands, fingers, sex toys, or other objects may be used when masturbating.

Examples of AutoinoculationAutoinoculation of syphilis or herpes in the eyes can lead toocular syphilisorocular herpes, respectively.Autoinoculation oforal herpes(cold sores) to the genitals, such as touching a cold sore on your lip and then your penis, is another example of autoinoculation.

Examples of Autoinoculation

Autoinoculation of syphilis or herpes in the eyes can lead toocular syphilisorocular herpes, respectively.Autoinoculation oforal herpes(cold sores) to the genitals, such as touching a cold sore on your lip and then your penis, is another example of autoinoculation.

Autoinoculation of syphilis or herpes in the eyes can lead toocular syphilisorocular herpes, respectively.

Autoinoculation oforal herpes(cold sores) to the genitals, such as touching a cold sore on your lip and then your penis, is another example of autoinoculation.

Best Ways to Avoid STI

Except for syphilis, bacterial STIs are far less likely to be passed through masturbation than viral ones like HPV and herpes.

Transmission of these STIs requires infected bodily fluids to reach mucus-secreting tissues deep within the vagina, anus, mouth, throat, orurethra(a tube through which urine exits the body). Moreover, there must be ample exposure to the bacteria, such as through ejaculation of semen or exposure to vaginal or anal secretions.

Is Masturbation Addiction Possible?

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)andhepatitis Bare viral diseases that can be passed through sexual contact. With that said, the risk of passing HIV or hepatitis B through masturbation is unlikely.

HIV is primarily transmitted throughanalorvaginal sex, shared injecting needles, and occupational blood exposure. It can also be passed from a mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. The risk of HIV from masturbation and even shared sex toys is considered to be “negligible.”

Hepatitis B, a virus found in blood, semen, and other bodily fluids, is transmitted in much the same way as HIV.

Hepatitis A, on the other hand, can also be passed during masturbation if you touch your partner’s anus and put your fingers into your mouth.Hepatitis A virus is found in feces (stool) and is readily passed throughoral sex involving mouth-to-anus contact.

Bacterial Vaginosis and Yeast Infections

Several non-sexually transmitted genital infections can be passed through masturbation, but the risk is considered low. These includebacterial vaginosis (BV)andyeast infections.

Masturbation is less likely to cause BV given that the condition arises from a decline in protective lactobacillus bacteria.Douchingpresents a clear risk as it can strip away lactobacilli, but masturbation, even with saliva, is less likely to cause the imbalance that gives rise to BV. Still, some experts consider mutual masturbation to be a risk factor in younger females.

Making Masturbation Safer

People don’t always know when they have an STI. Therefore, you need to take precautions if engaging in mutual masturbation, especially if you have multiple sex partners.

Do’sWash your hands before and after masturbation.Keep your nails trimmed to avoid cuts or abrasions that can promote infection.Use gloves for extra protection, stripping them off and using a new pair when switching from one partner to the next.Share your sexual history with sexual partners, including STIs screenings and vaccinations.Don’tsDo not touch yourself after masturbating your partner.Do not touch your or your partner’s eyes while masturbating.Do not put your fingers in your mouth while masturbating yourself or your partner.Do not douche before engaging in mutual masturbation.

Do’sWash your hands before and after masturbation.Keep your nails trimmed to avoid cuts or abrasions that can promote infection.Use gloves for extra protection, stripping them off and using a new pair when switching from one partner to the next.Share your sexual history with sexual partners, including STIs screenings and vaccinations.

Wash your hands before and after masturbation.

Keep your nails trimmed to avoid cuts or abrasions that can promote infection.

Use gloves for extra protection, stripping them off and using a new pair when switching from one partner to the next.

Share your sexual history with sexual partners, including STIs screenings and vaccinations.

Don’tsDo not touch yourself after masturbating your partner.Do not touch your or your partner’s eyes while masturbating.Do not put your fingers in your mouth while masturbating yourself or your partner.Do not douche before engaging in mutual masturbation.

Do not touch yourself after masturbating your partner.

Do not touch your or your partner’s eyes while masturbating.

Do not put your fingers in your mouth while masturbating yourself or your partner.

Do not douche before engaging in mutual masturbation.

If you think you might have an STI, see your healthcare provider or visit a clinic for screening.

How to Get an STI Test Without Insurance

Summary

Masturbation generally poses a lower risk of sexually transmitted diseases compared to anal or vaginal sex, but there are still risks. This is especially true with herpes, HPV, and syphilis, which can be passed through skin-to-skin contact.

Gonorrhea and chlamydia pose lesser risks but can cause eye infections if you touch genital secretions and then the eyes.

While HIV and hepatitis B are unlikely to be passed during masturbation, hepatitis A can be passed through hand-to-mouth contact if stool from one partner is accidentally transferred to the mouth of the other partner.

9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1American Academy of Ophthalmology.How sexual activity can affect your vision.Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1Linton E, Hardman L, Welburn L, Rahman I, Chidambaram JD.Adult conjunctivitis secondary to dual infection with Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae - a case report.Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep.2019;13:6–8. doi:10.1016/j.ajoc.2018.11.009Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HIV risk and prevention estimates.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B.New York State Department of Health.The A, B, Cs of viral hepatitis.Verstraelen H, Verhelst R, Vaneechoutte M, Temmerman M.The epidemiology of bacterial vaginosis in relation to sexual behaviour.BMC Infect Dis.2010;10:81. doi:10.1186/1471-2334-10-81Mitchell CM, Fredricks DN, Winer RL, Koutsky L.Effect of sexual debut on vaginal microbiota in a cohort of young women.Obstet Gynecol. 2012;120(6):1306-1313. doi:10.1097/aog.0b013e31827075ac

9 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1American Academy of Ophthalmology.How sexual activity can affect your vision.Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1Linton E, Hardman L, Welburn L, Rahman I, Chidambaram JD.Adult conjunctivitis secondary to dual infection with Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae - a case report.Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep.2019;13:6–8. doi:10.1016/j.ajoc.2018.11.009Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HIV risk and prevention estimates.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B.New York State Department of Health.The A, B, Cs of viral hepatitis.Verstraelen H, Verhelst R, Vaneechoutte M, Temmerman M.The epidemiology of bacterial vaginosis in relation to sexual behaviour.BMC Infect Dis.2010;10:81. doi:10.1186/1471-2334-10-81Mitchell CM, Fredricks DN, Winer RL, Koutsky L.Effect of sexual debut on vaginal microbiota in a cohort of young women.Obstet Gynecol. 2012;120(6):1306-1313. doi:10.1097/aog.0b013e31827075ac

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1American Academy of Ophthalmology.How sexual activity can affect your vision.Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1Linton E, Hardman L, Welburn L, Rahman I, Chidambaram JD.Adult conjunctivitis secondary to dual infection with Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae - a case report.Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep.2019;13:6–8. doi:10.1016/j.ajoc.2018.11.009Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HIV risk and prevention estimates.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B.New York State Department of Health.The A, B, Cs of viral hepatitis.Verstraelen H, Verhelst R, Vaneechoutte M, Temmerman M.The epidemiology of bacterial vaginosis in relation to sexual behaviour.BMC Infect Dis.2010;10:81. doi:10.1186/1471-2334-10-81Mitchell CM, Fredricks DN, Winer RL, Koutsky L.Effect of sexual debut on vaginal microbiota in a cohort of young women.Obstet Gynecol. 2012;120(6):1306-1313. doi:10.1097/aog.0b013e31827075ac

Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1

American Academy of Ophthalmology.How sexual activity can affect your vision.

Linton E, Hardman L, Welburn L, Rahman I, Chidambaram JD.Adult conjunctivitis secondary to dual infection with Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae - a case report.Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep.2019;13:6–8. doi:10.1016/j.ajoc.2018.11.009

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HIV risk and prevention estimates.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B.

New York State Department of Health.The A, B, Cs of viral hepatitis.

Verstraelen H, Verhelst R, Vaneechoutte M, Temmerman M.The epidemiology of bacterial vaginosis in relation to sexual behaviour.BMC Infect Dis.2010;10:81. doi:10.1186/1471-2334-10-81

Mitchell CM, Fredricks DN, Winer RL, Koutsky L.Effect of sexual debut on vaginal microbiota in a cohort of young women.Obstet Gynecol. 2012;120(6):1306-1313. doi:10.1097/aog.0b013e31827075ac

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