STDTest.online · Health education
Prevention
Evidence-based prevention: condoms, vaccination, PrEP, PEP, screening and partner communication.
24 published educational guides in this hub.
Condoms and barriers
External and internal condoms, dams, and lubricants. 7 guides.
Dental Dams and Safer Oral Sex Dental dams block STI transmission during oral-vulval and oral-anal contact. Learn proper use, DIY alternatives, and uptake tips. How Effective Are Condoms Against STIs? Condoms sharply cut HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea risk but only partially block skin-to-skin STIs. Learn effectiveness data and correct use. How to Use External Condoms Correctly Correct external condom use means checking, opening, fitting, lubricating, and withdrawing right. A step-by-step technique guide. Internal Condoms and STI Prevention Internal condoms offer user-controlled protection for vaginal and anal sex. Learn insertion, effectiveness, and practical tips. Safer Sex and Shared Sex Toys Shared sex toys transmit STIs without barriers and cleaning. Learn condom-per-partner rules, material-safe cleaning, and toy hygiene. Using Lubricants with Condoms: Safety Basics Water- and silicone-based lubricants protect latex; oil-based ones destroy it. Learn compatibility, anal-sex needs, and allergy options. What Condoms Do Not Fully Protect Against Condoms can't cover all skin-to-skin transmission or user errors. Learn the coverage gaps for HPV, herpes, syphilis. And how to close them.
Vaccines and PrEP
HPV and hepatitis B vaccines, PrEP, and U=U. 5 guides.
HIV PrEP: Who It May Help PrEP suits anyone with ongoing HIV risk. Daily pills or periodic injections. Learn eligibility, assessments, monitoring, and access. HPV Vaccination: Schedule, Safety, and Benefits Gardasil 9 prevents the HPV types behind most cancers and warts. Learn the schedule, catch-up ages, safety record, and limits. Reducing HIV Transmission Risk with Treatment Suppressed HIV doesn't transmit sexually. Learn how ART adherence, viral-load monitoring, and U=U make treatment prevention. Undetectable Equals Untransmittable (U=U) Explained U=U means durably suppressed HIV doesn't transmit sexually. Learn the study evidence, the criteria, and what U=U doesn't cover. What STI Vaccines Exist in the United States? HPV and hepatitis B vaccines prevent STIs; hepatitis A and mpox cover related risks. Learn the US vaccine landscape and schedules.
Habits and planning
Abstinence, risk reduction, and prevention plans. 12 guides.
Abstinence and STI Risk: What the Evidence Says Abstinence eliminates STI risk by definition. But outcomes depend on definition, duration, and return planning. An honest evidence review. How to Lower STI Risk During Anal Sex Condoms, generous compatible lubricant, PrEP, and rectal screening make anal sex safer. Learn the complete protection stack. How to Lower STI Risk During Oral Sex Barriers, lesion avoidance, and throat testing cut oral-sex STI risk. Learn condoms, dams, and post-exposure steps that work. How to Reduce Your Risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections Lower STI risk with condoms, vaccines, PrEP, screening, and communication. A practical layered-prevention guide with honest limits. Making an STI Prevention Plan with a Clinician A clinician-built prevention plan personalizes condoms, vaccines, PrEP, screening, and communication. Learn what the planning visit covers. Preventing STI Reinfection After Treatment Reinfection, not failure, causes most repeat STIs. Learn simultaneous partner therapy, abstinence windows, and 3-month retesting. Sexual Health Planning Before a New Relationship Start relationships with baseline testing, vaccine checks, protection agreements, and conversation norms. A pre-relationship health checklist. STI Prevention After a Recent Diagnosis A recent diagnosis is a prevention pivot point. Learn treatment completion, partner loops, retesting, and habit upgrades preventing repeats. STI Prevention for People with Multiple Partners Multiple partners raise STI risk. Managed with quarterly screening, consistent condoms, PrEP evaluation, and partner communication routines. STI Prevention for Young Adults Half of new STIs affect ages 15–24. Learn campus resources, confidential care rights, condom habits, vaccines, and screening schedules. Talking About STI Testing Before Sex Pre-sex testing talks work when early, mutual, and concrete. Learn timing, scripts, and handling refusals without-pressure decisions. Why Withdrawal Does Not Prevent STIs Pre-ejaculate carries STIs and sperm before withdrawal. Learn the fluid biology, failure data, and what actually prevents transmission.
