Hi and thank you for your question.

Using condoms for vaginal and anal sex are a great way to lower your chances of getting a STD. The trick with condoms is that they have to be used from start to finish of the sexual encounter, and they have to be put on correctly. Also, condoms only protect the parts that are covered. That means, infections that are transmitted skin to skin are still possible even if using condoms – like herpes or genital warts. 

Ideally, you would also use some kind of barrier or condom when having oral sex, as some STDs can be passed orally – for example gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis.

Though uncommon, some STDs can be passed through deep kissing. Herpes is one example.

Here are some resources that you may find helpful:

Chances with Oral Sex: https://smartsexresource.com/sites/default/files/Oral-Sex-Table-v3.png

Chances with Anal or Vaginal Sex: https://smartsexresource.com/sites/default/files/Anal-Vaginal-Sex-Table-v3.png

Chances with Other Kinds of Sex: https://smartsexresource.com/sites/default/files/Other-Sex-Table-v3.png

Assessing Risk: https://www.srhweek.ca/caring-for-yourself/sexually-transmissible-and-blood-borne-infections-stbbis/assessing-risk/

If you are sexually active, and have new or different partners, or your partners have new or different partners, it’s always a good idea to get tested regularly. Ideally this would happen any time you experience symptoms, or if you don’t have symptoms, test a couple of months after a new partner or risk – this would cover off any window periods (the time from infection to the time it can be picked up on a test).

Hope this helps.

Health Nurse