When you engage in frottage while wearing clothing, it is very safe sex. If you take off your clothing, dry humping is still relatively safe, but it is possible to pass on certain diseases that are transmitted throughskin-to-skin contact.
Although frottage is a relatively safe form of sex, it is possible to get a sexually transmitted infection (STI) when you are dry humping someone if their infected skin rubs against yours.
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Frottage is the act of sexual rubbing. There’s nothing unusual or unhealthy about it as a sexual activity. Many couples engage in it on a regular basis. In contrast, the term “frotteurism” refers to either having unhealthy fantasies about dry humping and similar activities or engaging in nonconsensual frottage.
How STIs Are Transmitted
To understand the risks of dry humping, it helps to know that STIs can be broken down into two groups:
Skin-to-Skin STI Transmission
These types of diseases can be transmitted with various levels of ease during frottage where someone’s infected skin is rubbing on yours. However, such diseases require skin-to-skin contact for transmission. That is why frottage while wearing clothing is generally considered to be safe.
Transmission Through Clothing
Theoretically, it is possible for secretions from an open sore to seep through fabric and transmit diseases. It’s not likely, but it’s still a good idea to avoid aggressive contact with sores.
Even if the infected person doesn’t transmit the disease to their partner, they might make their own situation worse. Clothing rubbing on a lesion can become contaminated, risking either asecondary infectionor the disease spreading throughautoinoculation, transferring the infection from one part of the body to another.
A Word From Verywell
If you are worried that you might have contracted an STI or any type of infection, it is good to get tested. Some infections can lead to complications if they are not treated. You can find afree STI clinicor see your healthcare provider. Be sure to ask any questions you have about safer sex practices and what your risks might be.
A visit to a clinic or your practitioner can also be an opportunity to discussbirth control optionsif you or your partner are at risk of pregnancy. Being educated and prepared can prevent future stress.
The Best At-Home STD Tests
3 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.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted diseases: gay men & STDs fact sheet.Hebert AA, Bhatia N, Del Rosso JQ.Molluscum contagiosum: epidemiology, considerations, treatment options, and therapeutic gaps.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2023;16(8 Suppl 1):S4-S11.Nguyen HP, Franz E, Stiegel KR, Hsu S, Tyring SK.Treatment of molluscum contagiosum in adult, pediatric, and immunodeficient populations.J Cutan Med Surg. 2014;18(5):299-306. doi:10.2310/7750.2013.13133
3 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.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted diseases: gay men & STDs fact sheet.Hebert AA, Bhatia N, Del Rosso JQ.Molluscum contagiosum: epidemiology, considerations, treatment options, and therapeutic gaps.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2023;16(8 Suppl 1):S4-S11.Nguyen HP, Franz E, Stiegel KR, Hsu S, Tyring SK.Treatment of molluscum contagiosum in adult, pediatric, and immunodeficient populations.J Cutan Med Surg. 2014;18(5):299-306. doi:10.2310/7750.2013.13133
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.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted diseases: gay men & STDs fact sheet.Hebert AA, Bhatia N, Del Rosso JQ.Molluscum contagiosum: epidemiology, considerations, treatment options, and therapeutic gaps.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2023;16(8 Suppl 1):S4-S11.Nguyen HP, Franz E, Stiegel KR, Hsu S, Tyring SK.Treatment of molluscum contagiosum in adult, pediatric, and immunodeficient populations.J Cutan Med Surg. 2014;18(5):299-306. doi:10.2310/7750.2013.13133
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted diseases: gay men & STDs fact sheet.
Hebert AA, Bhatia N, Del Rosso JQ.Molluscum contagiosum: epidemiology, considerations, treatment options, and therapeutic gaps.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2023;16(8 Suppl 1):S4-S11.
Nguyen HP, Franz E, Stiegel KR, Hsu S, Tyring SK.Treatment of molluscum contagiosum in adult, pediatric, and immunodeficient populations.J Cutan Med Surg. 2014;18(5):299-306. doi:10.2310/7750.2013.13133
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