Disclaimer: This site contains HIV prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences.
Harm reduction for STIs involves practical, non-judgmental strategies to minimize infection risk, recognizing that abstinence is not always desired or feasible. Key approaches include:
- consistent, correct condom and lube use
- regular testing
- Doxy PEP
- vaccination (HPV, Hep B/Hep A, mpox)
- using PrEP
- open communication with partners
There’s no such thing as “safe sex,” but there are proven methods to decrease the risks of STIs. These methods allow individuals to manage risks while remaining sexually active.
Steps to reduce your STI exposure:
- Abstain from vaginal, anal, or oral sex. This is the only way to completely avoid STIs.
- Get vaccinated. Vaccines are recommended for some people to prevent hepatitis B, hepatitis A, mpox, and HPV.
- Reduce your number of sex partners.
- Get tested regularly. You and your partner should get tested and share your results.
- Use condoms and lube the right way every time you have sex.
- Use PrEP if you are at higher risk for acquiring HIV.
- Use Doxy PEP if you are a man who is gay, bi, or another man who has sex with men (MSM), or if you are a trans women who has had an STI in the past year.
- Abstain or decrease substance misuse, including injecting drugs.
- Be in a mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and does not have an STI.
