Chances of Getting an STD: Real Transmission Risks (India Guide)

• There is no single "chance of getting an STD." Risk depends on the specific infection, the sex act, condom use, the partner's infectiousness, vaccination/PrEP status, and local prevalence.
• Per act, bacterial STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhoea transmit far more easily (roughly 4–50%) than HIV (about 0.04–1.4% depending on the act). Low per-act numbers still add up over repeated exposures.
• Consistent, correct condom use cuts HIV risk by 80–95% and chlamydia/gonorrhoea by 50–90%, but offers less protection against skin-to-skin infections like herpes, HPV and pubic lice.
• Biomedical prevention is powerful: HPV vaccination, hepatitis B vaccination, HIV PrEP (about 99% effective), and U=U (an HIV-positive partner with an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV).
• After a possible high-risk HIV exposure, PEP started within 72 hours can prevent infection — sooner is better. Most STIs need a window period before tests become reliable.
• In India, NACO Suvidha clinics and ICTCs offer free, confidential STI and HIV testing. STIs affect every demographic — stigma, not realistic information, is the real barrier to care.

The most useful way to think about STI risk is per-act transmission probability — the chance that one act of unprotected sex with an infected partner passes the infection to the uninfected partner. These figures come from cohort studies, serodiscordant-couple studies (where one partner is infected and the other is followed over time), and mathematical modelling. Real life is messier than any study, but they give a reasonable order of magnitude.

For HIV, unprotected receptive vaginal sex (the woman receiving) carries a risk of about 0.08% per act, roughly 1 in 1,250. Unprotected insertive vaginal sex (the man penetrating) is about 0.04%, roughly 1 in 2,500. Receptive anal sex carries the highest per-act risk of any common act — about 1.4%, or 1 in 70 — because the rectal lining is thin and easily injured. Insertive anal sex is around 0.11%. Oral sex is much lower: receptive oral sex on a penis is estimated at 0–0.04%, and lower still on a vulva.

These HIV numbers fall dramatically when the positive partner is on treatment. With effective antiretroviral therapy and a sustained undetectable viral load — the basis of U=U, undetectable equals untransmittable — the per-act risk of sexual transmission is effectively zero. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) taken by the HIV-negative partner reduces risk by about 99% when taken consistently.

For chlamydia, per-act transmission is roughly 4–10% man-to-woman and 4–7% woman-to-man. Across an established partnership with repeated unprotected sex, the cumulative chance of transmission reaches about 60–75%. Gonorrhoea is among the most transmissible STIs: man-to-woman transmission has been estimated at 20–50% per act in some studies, with woman-to-man somewhat lower at around 20%.

For genital herpes (HSV-2), per-act risk is roughly 0.05–0.2% male-to-female and 0.02–0.05% female-to-male, with no antiviral therapy and only asymptomatic shedding. Risk is much higher during an active outbreak (perhaps 1–3% per act) and much lower when the infected partner takes daily suppressive antivirals. In heterosexual serodiscordant couples taking no precautions, the annual transmission risk averages about 5–10%, falling to 1–2% per year with consistent condoms plus suppressive therapy.

For HPV, per-act estimates are unreliable because the virus is so common and usually silent, but the lifetime picture is clear: about 80% of sexually active people acquire one or more HPV types over their lifetime. Most clear on their own within 1–2 years; persistent infection with high-risk types (16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58) drives cervical, anal and oropharyngeal cancer risk. Vaccination sharply reduces acquisition of vaccine-covered types.

For syphilis, per-act risk in primary or secondary stages is about 30–60% — highly transmissible when the partner has an active chancre or rash. Trichomoniasis is not well quantified per act but is very transmissible: female partners of infected men show prevalence rates of 70–80%. Pubic lice spread in 95%+ of episodes of intimate close contact.

These numbers can sound either reassuring or alarming depending on framing. A 0.08% risk per act sounds tiny — but 100 unprotected acts with an untreated HIV-positive partner push the cumulative risk towards 8%. Equally, a 4% per-act chlamydia risk means a few months of unprotected sex with an infected partner will likely transmit it. The lesson: per-act numbers must be combined with how often you are exposed to estimate real-world risk.

Your risk also depends on background prevalence — the chance that a random partner already has a given infection. India has surveillance gaps for many STIs because case reporting is incomplete, many infections are silent, and stigma keeps people from testing. But NACO sentinel surveillance, ICMR studies and large population research give reasonable estimates. NACO estimates that roughly 6% of Indian adults have at least one STI or reproductive tract infection (RTI) episode each year — about 30–35 million episodes annually.

HIV: India's adult prevalence (ages 15–49) is about 0.2%, with roughly 2.4 million people living with HIV. Prevalence varies sharply by group — around 1.6% among men who have sex with men, 1.4% among female sex workers, 3–4% among transgender women, and 6–9% among people who inject drugs. States such as Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra report higher rates. Heterosexual transmission accounts for most new infections in women.

Chlamydia: Indian data are limited, but studies in family-planning, antenatal and STI-clinic populations show prevalence of about 3–15% in women. Among symptomatic women in gynaecology clinics it runs 5–10%. Chlamydia is the most common bacterial STI globally and is easily missed because it is asymptomatic in 70–80% of women.

Gonorrhoea: Prevalence in Indian women in antenatal and STI-clinic populations ranges from about 1–5%. It is increasingly worrying because of rising antimicrobial resistance, including ceftriaxone-resistant strains documented internationally and rising azithromycin and ciprofloxacin resistance in India. WHO lists gonorrhoea as a priority drug-resistant pathogen.

Syphilis: Antenatal prevalence in NACO surveillance is about 0.5–2%, higher in some high-risk groups. India has made real progress towards eliminating mother-to-child transmission through universal antenatal screening, though re-emergence has been noted, particularly among men who have sex with men.

HSV-2: Indian seroprevalence studies show about 5–15% in general populations and 20–50% in high-risk groups. Most people with HSV-2 have never been diagnosed, because the majority of infections are silent or unrecognised.

HPV: About 80% of sexually active women worldwide acquire HPV in their lifetime. India carries a heavy cervical cancer burden — it is the second-most-common cancer in Indian women, with roughly 1,25,000 new cases and 75,000 deaths a year — reflecting both high HPV prevalence and limited cervical cancer screening. India launched its indigenous Cervavac HPV vaccine in 2022, with national rollout in progress.

Trichomoniasis: Indian studies show 5–25% prevalence in women attending STI and family-planning clinics. Pubic lice and scabies are common but poorly tracked.

Condoms remain the single most effective behavioural protection against STIs. How well they work varies by infection: some STIs spread only through fluid exchange (which condoms block well), while others spread through skin-to-skin contact in areas a condom does not cover (where condoms reduce but do not eliminate risk).

For HIV, consistent and correct condom use cuts transmission by about 80–95% — among the largest protective effects for any infection, because HIV spreads mainly through fluids. "Consistent and correct" means using one for every act, putting it on before any genital contact, using enough lubricant, and removing it without spillage.

For gonorrhoea and chlamydia, consistent use reduces transmission by about 50–90%. The figure is a little lower than for HIV because both can transmit through small fluid exposures and condoms are rarely used perfectly — but across a partnership, consistent use still slashes cumulative risk.

For trichomoniasis, condoms reduce risk by about 70–80%. For syphilis, protection is substantial but incomplete, because chancres or rash can sit on skin a condom does not cover (perineum, scrotum, mons pubis).

For HSV-2, condoms reduce risk by about 30–50% — more modest, because the virus can shed from genital skin outside the covered area. Paired with daily suppressive antivirals in the infected partner, risk reduction reaches about 70–80%.

For HPV, condoms reduce transmission by about 30–70%; the wide range reflects how hard HPV is to study and that it spreads skin-to-skin. Vaccination is the most effective HPV intervention, with condoms adding protection on top.

For pubic lice and scabies, condoms offer little protection, because transmission is skin-to-skin across the pubic area rather than through fluids.

Female (internal) condoms protect about as well as external ones when used correctly, with the advantage of being woman-initiated and not needing an erection. In India they are available from select pharmacies and some public programmes, though uptake stays low.

Real-world failure rates are higher than perfect-use rates. Breakage runs about 1–3% per act with correct use and higher with mistakes (too little lubricant, wrong size, expired or damaged condoms); slippage runs 1–5%. Choosing the right size, using water- or silicone-based lubricant (never oil-based with latex), storing condoms away from heat, and checking expiry dates all cut failures. See our condom size and fit guide for sizing.

The crucial point is that consistent use matters far more than the brand. A cheap, correctly sized condom used every time protects far better than a premium one used occasionally. In India, government-supplied Nirodh, branded options (Manforce, Durex, Skore, Kohinoor) and premium ranges all meet Indian standards — choose the one you will actually use.

Over the past two decades, biomedical prevention — vaccines, PrEP, PEP and treatment-as-prevention — has transformed STI prevention. The two biggest examples are HPV vaccination and HIV PrEP, both of which dramatically lower your chance of acquiring infection.

HPV vaccination: Three vaccines are available in India. Cervavac is the indigenous quadrivalent vaccine (HPV 6, 11, 16, 18) from Serum Institute of India, launched in 2022. Gardasil 4 and Gardasil 9 (covering nine types, including 31, 33, 45, 52, 58) are available from MSD. It works best given before sexual debut (ideally ages 9–14, two doses), but is approved and effective as catch-up up to 26 and, in some settings, to 45. Cervavac costs around ₹2,000 per dose; Gardasil 9 around ₹7,000–10,500 per dose privately. Vaccination cuts cervical, anal and oropharyngeal cancer and genital warts caused by covered types. See our full HPV vaccine in India guide.

Hepatitis B vaccination: Hepatitis B is sexually transmissible and can cause chronic liver disease and liver cancer. India has had universal infant vaccination since 2002, but many adults remain unvaccinated. A three-dose adult series is widely available and effective — around ₹200–500 per dose privately, free or subsidised at government facilities.

HIV PrEP: Pre-exposure prophylaxis is a once-daily pill (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate plus emtricitabine; brands include Truvada, Trustiva, Tenof-EM in India) that reduces HIV acquisition by about 99% with consistent use. It is recommended for people at substantial ongoing risk — HIV-negative partners in serodiscordant relationships, men who have sex with men with multiple partners, transgender women, people who inject drugs, and others with significant exposure. NACO launched PrEP services in 2022, expanding through select sites; private access is available through major HIV clinics. Generic PrEP costs about ₹800–2,500 a month. See our PrEP for HIV prevention guide.

HIV PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis): A 28-day course of antiretrovirals that, started within 72 hours of a possible exposure (ideally within 24), substantially reduces the chance of HIV taking hold. It is appropriate after high-risk events — condomless sex with someone of unknown HIV status, sexual assault, needlestick injuries, or a broken condom with a high-risk partner. PEP is free at NACO ART centres and available at major hospitals. It is not a substitute for routine prevention, but it is essential after specific exposures.

Treatment-as-prevention (U=U): If an HIV-positive person is on effective therapy with a sustained undetectable viral load, they cannot transmit HIV sexually. This is one of the most important findings in HIV science and the basis of the U=U campaign. For serodiscordant couples where the positive partner stays virally suppressed, sexual transmission risk is effectively zero.

Hepatitis A vaccination matters for some sexually active groups, particularly men who have sex with men, since oral-anal contact can transmit it. The two-dose series costs about ₹1,000–2,500 per dose privately.

Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxy-PEP) is an emerging strategy in which doxycycline 200 mg is taken within 72 hours after condomless sex to reduce bacterial STIs (chlamydia, syphilis, and to a lesser extent gonorrhoea). The CDC issued provisional guidance in 2024 supporting it for men who have sex with men and transgender women with prior STIs. Indian guidance is still pending and it is not yet routine practice.

Beyond condoms and vaccines, several biological and behavioural factors shift per-act and lifetime risk. Understanding them helps you assess your own situation realistically.

Other STIs and genital inflammation: Having any STI raises the chance of acquiring another, especially HIV. An active herpes outbreak or a chlamydia infection at the time of HIV exposure can increase HIV transmission risk two- to five-fold, because inflammation draws the immune cells HIV targets into the genital tract. Treating one STI is therefore also HIV prevention.

Bacterial vaginosis: BV is not strictly an STI, but it is linked to higher risk of acquiring HIV, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and others, because the altered vaginal environment makes the lining more vulnerable. If you are unsure whether your symptoms point to BV, thrush or something else, our guide to telling yeast infection, UTI and BV apart and to vaginal discharge can help. Treating BV is part of STI risk reduction.

Circumcision: Male circumcision lowers a man's risk of acquiring HIV from a female partner by about 60% in randomised African trials, and reduces male acquisition of HPV, HSV-2 and chancroid; the benefit to female partners is less clear. India does not practise universal circumcision, and given lower background HIV prevalence it has not been a major prevention strategy here, though the biological effect is established.

Hormonal contraception: WHO concludes that the benefits of hormonal contraception outweigh any small possible HIV-acquisition risk for most women, and recommends it as safe across HIV risk levels. Earlier concern about DMPA (Depo-Provera) was largely settled by the ECHO trial, which found no significant difference between DMPA and other methods.

Genital trauma: Rough sex, vaginal dryness, sexual assault or practices like fisting create breaks in the mucosal barrier and raise transmission risk. Adequate lubrication, gradual penetration and avoiding rough practices all reduce it.

Receptive versus insertive sex: For most STIs, the receptive partner (the person being penetrated) faces higher acquisition risk than the insertive partner. This is why receptive partners may particularly benefit from condoms, PrEP and other prevention.

Partners and networks: A higher number of lifetime partners means more chances for exposure — though a single act with an infected partner can transmit infection regardless of count. Concurrent (overlapping) partnerships create efficient transmission networks, whereas serial monogamy with full testing between partners is much lower risk.

Alcohol and drugs: Substance use during sex is linked to less condom use, less negotiation about safer sex and riskier partner choices — a major real-world modifier of STI risk.

Turning per-act probabilities into your own situation means gathering a few facts about yourself, your partner and the circumstances. The framework below helps you reason it through without false precision.

Step 1 — Define the exposure. What act happened (vaginal, anal, oral)? Was a condom used consistently, sometimes or never? Were there visible lesions, rashes or unusual discharge? Was either partner menstruating or recently injured? Was any of it without consent?

Step 2 — Estimate partner risk. What do you know of their sexual history and recent partners? Are any known to have an STI? Have they been tested in the last 6 months? Do they belong to a higher-prevalence group? Do they have current symptoms?

Step 3 — Estimate your own susceptibility. Are you up to date on HPV and hepatitis B vaccination? On PrEP? Do you have current genital symptoms (suggesting another STI that raises vulnerability)? Are you pregnant? Do you have BV or recurrent thrush?

Step 4 — Consider the base rates. If the exposure happened in a higher-prevalence context (high-burden state, higher-risk network), per-act risk weighs more heavily.

Step 5 — Decide on testing and prophylaxis. Based on the above, decide whether emergency action is needed (HIV PEP, emergency contraception if pregnancy is also a risk), what testing timeline applies, and whether to see a clinician.

Some real scenarios. A) Unprotected sex with an established partner who tested STI-negative 3 months ago and has had no other partners since: very low risk — routine annual screening is fine unless symptoms appear. B) Condomless sex with a new partner of unknown status: meaningful risk for several STIs — test at the right windows and consider prevention going forward.

C) Condom broke with a partner who has untreated chlamydia or gonorrhoea: high chance of exposure — see a clinician about empiric treatment or rapid testing. D) Unprotected receptive sex after sexual assault: significant risk — seek immediate care, including HIV PEP within 72 hours, hepatitis B vaccination, emergency contraception and forensic evaluation. One Stop (Sakhi) Centres in many districts provide integrated care; see I was touched without consent — now what?.

E) Unprotected oral sex (insertive on a vulva, or receptive on a penis without ejaculation): low HIV risk, modest risk for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HSV, and syphilis if the partner has an oral lesion — routine screening, including throat swabs, is appropriate. F) A long-term partner you have learned was unfaithful: a full STI panel (HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B/C, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis) plus an honest conversation about ongoing risk and partner testing.

Finally, anxiety about a possible exposure is itself real and serious. Even when objective risk is very low, the worry can be heavy. Appropriate testing provides information that reduces that anxiety. Sexual health is best met with realistic understanding rather than denial or panic. NACO Suvidha clinics in major cities offer free, confidential testing and counselling, and TARSHI (1800-258-9999) provides anonymous sexual-health counselling, including for risk anxiety.

After a possible exposure, timing matters: tests detect different infections at different times. Test too early and you may get a false negative, because the body has not yet produced detectable infection or antibodies. This gap is the window period, and it varies by infection and test. Our guide to STI testing in India — cost and anonymous options covers where to go in detail.

HIV: Modern 4th-generation tests (antigen–antibody combination, detecting both HIV antibodies and the p24 antigen) pick up most infections by 6 weeks and essentially all by 12 weeks. CDC and WHO advise testing at 6 weeks and again at 3 months after a significant exposure. RNA PCR detects HIV from about 10 days but is costly and not routine. ICTCs provide free HIV testing; private 4th-gen tests cost about ₹600–1,500. If you take PEP, you'll be retested at completion and at later windows.

Chlamydia and gonorrhoea: NAAT (nucleic acid amplification) is the gold standard, reliable from about 1–2 weeks post-exposure. Sample the relevant sites — genital, throat (if oral sex) and rectum (if receptive anal sex). Cost runs about ₹500–2,500 depending on platform and number of sites.

Syphilis: Serological tests (RPR/VDRL confirmed by treponemal tests such as TPHA or FTA-ABS) become reactive at about 3–6 weeks, with most cases detectable by 12 weeks. Cost about ₹300–1,200.

Hepatitis B: HBsAg becomes detectable at about 4–10 weeks; anti-HBs indicates immunity from past infection or vaccination. Cost ₹300–1,000. Hepatitis C: HCV antibody becomes detectable at 4–12 weeks. Cost ₹500–1,500.

HSV-2: Type-specific HSV-2 IgG becomes detectable at about 12–16 weeks. Antibody testing is not routinely advised for screening because silent seropositivity is so common; PCR or culture of a lesion during an outbreak is more useful for symptomatic disease.

Trichomoniasis: NAAT or wet-mount microscopy of vaginal swabs detects active infection (about ₹300–1,000). HPV: testing is done as part of cervical cancer screening (high-risk HPV on a cervical sample) rather than as exposure assessment, since most infections clear. Co-testing with a Pap smear is standard from around age 25–30; see our walk-through of your first Pap smear.

A comprehensive STI panel at private labs (Apollo, Metropolis, Thyrocare, SRL) typically costs ₹2,500–6,000 depending on what is included. Government Suvidha clinics and ICTCs offer free testing for HIV and (in some sites) syphilis, hepatitis B and other STIs, and anonymous testing is available at NACO-supported centres in most major cities.

A positive result can be hard to take. The first thing to know is that every common STI is treatable or manageable, and a diagnosis does not define you — even chronic viral infections can be managed so you live a full, healthy life.

Bacterial STIs are cured with antibiotics. Chlamydia is treated with doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 7 days (now preferred) or azithromycin 1 g once. Gonorrhoea is treated with ceftriaxone 500 mg intramuscular once, often with doxycycline added for likely chlamydia co-infection; resistant gonorrhoea can need specialist input. Syphilis is treated with benzathine penicillin G 2.4 million units intramuscular for early disease, with longer courses for later stages. Trichomoniasis is treated with metronidazole, either 2 g once or 500 mg twice daily for 7 days. All are available at NACO STI clinics, government hospitals and private settings, and the medicines themselves are inexpensive in India.

Viral STIs are managed differently. HIV is treated with daily combination antiretroviral therapy, usually a single pill, and life expectancy on treatment now approaches that of HIV-negative people; India provides free ART through NACO ART centres in every district. HSV is managed with episodic or daily suppressive antivirals, which cut outbreaks and transmission but do not cure it. HPV has no specific antiviral — care focuses on screening for and treating HPV-related disease such as cervical changes or genital warts. Chronic hepatitis B is managed with antivirals; hepatitis C is now curable with direct-acting antivirals (cure rates above 95%), and generic Indian regimens cost roughly ₹5,000–15,000.

Partner notification is a public-health and ethical priority. If you have a treatable STI, recent partners need to know so they can be tested and treated — without that, reinfection is likely. Notification can be direct, provider-assisted (a clinician contacts them while protecting your identity), or through anonymous services. NACO and many private clinics support this, and some Indian settings use expedited partner therapy (providing partner antibiotics for chlamydia or gonorrhoea without an in-person visit).

Repeat testing matters. A test of cure (about 3–4 weeks after treatment) confirms success for gonorrhoea given resistance concerns, and a test for reinfection (about 3 months later) catches reinfection from untreated or new partners, which is common.

Emotional support matters too. Guilt, shame, fear and anxiety about future relationships are normal reactions — but they should not stop you getting effective treatment and moving on with your life. For chronic viral STIs like HIV and HSV-2, disclosure before sexual contact is ethically important and supported by counselling at NACO ART centres and sexual-health services. iCall (9152987821), Vandrevala (1860-2662-345) and TARSHI (1800-258-9999) all offer free, confidential support.

STI risk and care differ across groups. Knowing these differences helps direct prevention and testing.

Pregnant women: Untreated STIs in pregnancy can cause premature birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, neonatal infection, congenital syphilis and newborn eye infection from gonorrhoea or chlamydia. India has universal antenatal testing for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, and the NACO PPTCT programme has sharply reduced perinatal HIV transmission. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing is not yet universal but is advised for women under 25 and those at higher risk. See our guide to HIV and pregnancy in India. Untreated infection can also progress to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a major cause of infertility.

Men who have sex with men (MSM): MSM in India face higher STI prevalence than the general population — HIV around 1.6%, plus elevated syphilis, gonorrhoea (including throat and rectal), chlamydia and HPV-related anal disease. Services run through NACO Targeted Interventions and organisations such as Humsafar Trust (Mumbai) and Naz Foundation (Delhi). Testing should include pharyngeal and rectal swabs, and PrEP is increasingly accessible.

Transgender women: Transgender women, particularly hijra and trans women in sex work, have HIV prevalence around 3–4% in India. Trans-affirming STI care, hormone therapy and gender-affirming services are available through NACO targeted interventions and community organisations (such as Sahodari Foundation in Tamil Nadu and Mitr Trust in Delhi). The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019 mandates non-discrimination in healthcare.

Female sex workers: STI prevalence is higher than in the general female population (HIV around 1.4%; chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis reaching 5–15% in various settings). NACO Targeted Interventions provide regular testing, condoms and treatment through community-led organisations including DMSC (Kolkata) and SANGRAM (Sangli).

People who inject drugs: HIV prevalence runs 6–9% and hepatitis C often above 30%. Harm reduction through NACO — needle-syringe programmes and opioid substitution therapy — is central, with integrated STI and HIV services.

People living with HIV (PLHIV): On effective therapy with viral suppression, PLHIV cannot transmit HIV sexually (U=U). Other STIs can still be acquired and passed on, so routine screening (at least annually, more often with multiple partners) remains important. Regular cervical cancer screening is particularly important for women living with HIV.

Adolescents and survivors of violence: Indian adolescents face real STI risk with limited sex education; the RKSK programme and Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics provide confidential counselling and basic care. Survivors of sexual violence should access immediate care — HIV PEP, hepatitis B prophylaxis, emergency contraception, empiric STI treatment, forensic evaluation and mental-health support — through One Stop (Sakhi) Centres in every district. If your situation involves a spouse, our piece on marital rape, consent and silence may help you find words and support.

Lasting STI prevention is not about fear or perfection. It is a set of habits and skills that let you enjoy your sex life with reasonable safety over years: vaccination, regular testing, condoms when appropriate, honest partner communication, knowing your own status, and knowing where to get help.

Vaccination is the most reliable single step — HPV ideally before sexual debut or as catch-up into your 20s and 40s, plus hepatitis B if you missed it in infancy, and hepatitis A for some groups.

Test according to your activity. An annual STI panel is reasonable for sexually active adults with new or multiple partners; every 3–6 months for higher-risk activity or while on PrEP; less often in a mutually monogamous, tested relationship. Testing is not a sign of distrust — it is a sign of taking your health and your partner's seriously.

Use condoms situationally. They remain valuable for new or casual partners, partners of unknown status, partners with known STIs, and anyone with active symptoms. They matter less in a long-term, mutually tested, monogamous relationship, though they still prevent pregnancy. Stopping condoms within a relationship should follow honest discussion, mutual testing and a clear agreement about exclusivity.

Honest partner communication is a learnable skill. Talking about history, testing, condoms and boundaries gets easier with practice, and starting early sets a tone of mutual respect. The Indian cultural environment can make this harder; resources such as TARSHI's materials provide useful language. If your symptoms or worries are vague — say, persistent vaginal itching — a clinician can help you sort an STI from a non-sexual cause.

Know where to go before you need it. In India, options include NACO Suvidha clinics (free, confidential), ICTCs (free HIV testing), government hospital STI clinics, private hospitals and OB-GYNs, telehealth platforms, and home sample collection from major labs. Knowing your local options reduces friction in a stressful moment.

Finally, your body is your own — you have the right to say yes, to say no, to change your mind, to get tested whenever you choose, and to refuse anything you are not comfortable with. Mental and sexual health are connected: anxiety, depression, trauma and substance use all shape sexual decisions and risk. Caring for your mental health, with support such as Vandrevala (1860-2662-345) or iCall (9152987821), is part of caring for your sexual health.

See a clinician or visit a Suvidha/STI clinic promptly if any of the following apply:

Seek same-day or emergency care (within 72 hours) after a possible high-risk HIV exposure — condomless sex with someone of unknown or positive status, a broken condom with a high-risk partner, sexual assault, or a needlestick injury — so HIV PEP can be started while it can still work. Survivors of assault should reach a hospital or One Stop (Sakhi) Centre, which also provide emergency contraception, hepatitis B prophylaxis and forensic care.

• WHO – Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) fact sheet)
• CDC – Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines
• CDC – HIV Risk Behaviors (per-act transmission estimates)
• National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India
• BASHH – British Association for Sexual Health and HIV Guidelines
• WHO – Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention
• WHO – Human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer