How do you check for STIs? If they can be transmitted through kissing or cunnilingus, it feels like you can’t do anything at all. I can only manage penetrative sex with a condom, and even then there’s still a chance of catching something, right?

You mean checking whether your partner might have an STI before having H, right? Basically, all you can really do is look for things like: - small red spots or lumps - wart-like growths resembling a cockscomb or cauliflower If you notice anything like that, you’d have no choice but to decline and leave. (Even if it isn’t actually an STI, I think it’s perfectly reasonable to say no if something seems suspicious—although I know it can be difficult to find the right way to say it.) In reality, many infections don’t cause any visible symptoms, so there’s only so much you can prevent through visual checks. Another possible precaution would be to find out after meeting whether the person is a player who enjoys H with lots of different people, or someone who prefers to be with the same woman, and avoid H with the former. That said, it ultimately becomes a matter of probability, and luck is also involved. In the end, I think the best approach is to get tested regularly and receive treatment if the results are positive. As I mentioned above, visual checks and screening based on the other person’s personality may only help a little, but they could still reduce the risk somewhat.

> How can you check for STIs? I think getting tested at a hospital or public health center is the most reliable way. Also, I interpreted this question as asking, “How can I check whether the man I’m seeing has an STI?” So, assuming that’s what you mean, the surest way is to have him get tested and show you the results. However, he needs to wait a certain number of days after his last sexual contact before getting tested, since some infections won’t show up if tested too soon. And unless you can also confirm that he hasn’t had sexual contact with anyone else since then, I don’t think there’s any way to guarantee that he won’t have an STI when you’re intimate with him. It may be difficult to ask men involved in papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) to meet these conditions, but even just seeing test results from right before becoming intimate with you should greatly reduce the risk compared with seeing someone who hasn’t been tested at all. > If things can be transmitted through kissing or oral sex, I feel like there’s nothing I can do. I used to visit adult entertainment establishments too, so I’ve discussed this kind of thing with the women working there. Apparently, even among sex workers, some go years without contracting anything. Most of them seemed to say that washing their hands, gargling, and washing their bodies before and after intimacy—and, above all, taking care of their health—were important. In other words, it comes down to your immune system. I actually felt that the women who regularly went to the gym, worked full-time professional shifts, and ranked highly were less likely to have STIs. Naturally, establishments offering condomless intercourse seem to have a dramatically higher infection rate. I don’t go to those places, though. > I can only agree to intercourse with a condom, but there’s still a possibility of transmission, right? Yes. However, the risk is considerably lower. Reducing mucous-membrane contact should lower the risk substantially, but it won’t eliminate it completely.

> How do you check for STIs? Blood tests → HIV and syphilis Mouthwash tests → chlamydia and gonorrhea in the throat (For women) A speculum is used to collect a vaginal/cervical swab → vaginal chlamydia, gonorrhea, mycoplasma, and trichomoniasis (For men) Urine tests → chlamydia, gonorrhea, and mycoplasma > I can only do intercourse with a condom, but there’s still a chance of transmission, right? STIs condoms can help prevent during vaginal intercourse → HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, mycoplasma, and vaginal trichomoniasis STIs condoms can help prevent during oral sex → syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia of the throat STIs that can still be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact even with a condom → herpes and genital warts However, herpes and genital warts are usually visible, so it might be a good idea to check carefully before getting intimate. I’m not sure how you’re supposed to stop things once you become suspicious, though. It’s easier for the man to call things off, so that’s what I do. Something like that, maybe? Home tests where you collect your own vaginal discharge and send it in for testing often produce false negatives, so assuming you’re in the clear just because the result is negative can actually backfire. Also, apparently, when testing under public health insurance, you can’t test both the vagina and throat at the same time. You could test negative for chlamydia vaginally but positive in your throat, so be careful.

You can only confirm whether someone has an illness by getting tested. If even doctors can’t confirm it without testing, there’s no way a layperson could verify it by other means. Even if you use a condom and limit things to penetration, there’s still a chance of transmission.