Archives for October 2022

Does Showering After Sex Reduce Chances of STD Infection?

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Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) affect tens of millions of Americans every year, and people have many different ideas about how to prevent infections. The lack of adequate sex education leads to misinformation that can have life-altering consequences, such as the myth that “pulling out” is enough to stop pregnancy. 

A common question about STD prevention is, “Does showering after sex reduce chances of STD infection?” In this article, we answer this question and provide helpful hygiene tips to keep yourself healthy while sexually active.  

Does Washing Help Prevent STDs?

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) spread through bodily fluids during sexual contact, so it would possibly make sense to think that taking a quick shower after sex could help prevent catching an STD. Bacteria, viruses, and other microbes can get into your body through mucous membranes, such as:

  • Mouth
  • Lips
  • Nostrils
  • Eyelids
  • Ears
  • Anus
  • Genital areas

However, no scientific evidence supports the theory that washing with soap and water after sex can significantly reduce STD infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.

One of the most relevant studies comes from Uganda, where a team observed almost 3,000 uncircumcised men to determine whether washing after sex affected HIV transmission as much as circumcision. 

Their findings were the opposite of what they expected. Participants who washed their genitals almost every time after sex had a higher risk of HIV infection than those that didn’t wash their genitals after sex. 

The presenter of the study, Dr. Frederick Makumbi, speculated that the wetness after washing could cause cell inflammation, making them more vulnerable to HIV infection. Dr. Makumbi also guessed that washing with soap and water removes vaginal fluids containing enzymes that might help negate HIV. 

Without more evidence, it’s safest to assume that showering after sexual contact is not enough to prevent infection of STDs. 

Does Soap Kill STDs?

STIs mostly come from disease-causing viruses or bacteria, also known as pathogens. Soap contains molecules with a hydrophobic “tail” that seeks out fats, and bacteria and (some) viruses have a fatty membrane. The soap molecules destroy pathogens by isolating them and breaking through the fat membrane. 

Common bacterial infections include chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Common viral STDs include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B, and genital herpes, which are all viruses that soap can annihilate. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is resistant to soap and typical disinfectants, and the best way to prevent it is by getting the vaccine.

Good Hygiene Practices After Sex 

Showering isn’t the best protection against STDs, but maintaining good overall hygiene might help you avoid infections. The following are tips for cleaning up after sexual intercourse, including things to avoid:

  • Just use water. You can simply rinse your genital area with water to clean up after sex. If you use soap, it should be mild and unscented, and you should avoid using it on areas like the inner parts of the vagina and the head of the penis. 
  • Wash your hands. Washing your hands with antibacterial soap and water after sex can prevent you from spreading pathogens to other areas of your body. 
  • Don’t douche. Douching can throw off the natural balance inside the vagina, increasing the risk of STIs and vaginal infections. 
  • Clean your sex toys. You should sanitize your sex toys after every use to eliminate harmful bacteria and viruses and avoid yeast infections. 
  • Urinate shortly after sex. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common among women, so peeing after sex can help flush the bacteria out of your system. 

Starting your new hygienic routine with a clean slate by getting a 10-Panel STD test at a Rapid STD Testing location near you. 

Can Poor Hygiene Cause STDs?

One study found that adolescents with sufficient knowledge of personal hygiene were significantly less likely to catch an STD than those with insufficient knowledge. Since many STDs spread through bacteria and viruses, practicing good hygiene is essential to keeping pathogens away.

Sometimes, poor hygiene can mask STD symptoms. Find out what could be the problem if your penis smells fishy. 

Best Ways To Prevent STDs and STIs

The only way to totally prevent STDs is to abstain from sexual activity, including vaginal, oral, or anal sex. However, the following are what experts recommend to prevent STDs if you’re sexually active:

  • Use a polyurethane or latex condom correctly every time you have sex. 
  • Refrain from having multiple sex partners with unknown sexual history. 
  • Get the HPV vaccine
  • Get STD tests regularly and urge your partner to also get a rapid STD test

How To Prevent STDs After Exposure

Some of the most common STDs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, and hepatitis B, often show no symptoms. Untreated STDs can lead to severe health complications, and many are highly contagious through sexual or skin contact. Getting periodic STD tests is the best way to help prevent serious health issues and keep you from infecting your partner. 

How To Tell Your Partner You Have an STD

Many people struggle with revealing their STD status to their partners, especially if they are in a long-term relationship. The misconceptions surrounding STDs lead to shame and judgment. Before telling your partner, conduct plenty of research on the STD you have, and go into the conversation armed with accurate information. 

Despite the difficulty of doing so, informing your sexual partners that you have an STD is crucial for preventing the further spread of the disease. 

How To Avoid STIs Before You Have Sex

Since the answer to “Does showering after sex reduce chances of STD infection?” is “No,” it’s best to find a more reliable prevention method. Before you decide to have sex, test yourself for STDs and find out your partner’s STD status.

At Rapid STD Testing, we offer same-day STD testing that’s fast and private so you can protect yourself and your partners. Order rapid STD tests online today.

Why Do Athletes Get Condoms at the Olympics?

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Every time the Summer or Winter Olympics roll around, there’s a certain topic that people inevitably talk about: the shocking amount of sex going on in the Olympic Village. It’s common knowledge that the Olympics organizers distribute thousands of free condoms to the athletes during their stay, but why and how did this start?

In short, it started with a campaign to promote public health. Keep reading as our Rapid STD Testing team spills the tea on details about the history of free condoms at the Olympics and the notorious promiscuity of some Olympians during the games. 

At Rapid STD Testing, we offer easily accessible resources like the 10-Panel STD test to stay on top of your sexual health.

Why Do They Give Out Condoms at the Olympics?

Although the Olympic Games date to 776 B.C., the modern Olympics traditions began in 1896 in Athens, Greece.

However, the notorious allocation of condoms didn’t start until 1988 during the Calgary Winter Olympics in Canada. At this time, the HIV/AIDS epidemic had been devastating the world since 1981. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections were on the rise, and world governments reported 59,229 AIDS cases to the World Health Organization in 1988 alone.

Most were sexually transmitted. HIV spreads through bodily fluids, such as blood or semen, during sexual activity. The barrier that condoms provide between sexual partners makes them highly effective in preventing HIV infections.  

The Reasoning Behind the Condoms at the Olympics 

Perhaps knowing of the likely levels of sexual activity among Olympic athletes, public health professionals urged the International Olympics Committee to distribute free condoms at the Olympic Village in Calgary. The idea was to promote safe sex and reduce the risk of HIV infections in the face of the epidemic. 

The organizers stocked the Village’s pharmacy with condoms, giving them out to any of the elite sports people that asked for them. The HIV/AIDS prevention initiative continued later that year at the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics in Korea. Initially, the organizers wanted to test all athletes for HIV but settled on giving out 6,000 condoms within the Village. 

Every Olympics event since then has continued distribution of complimentary condoms. The 1992 Winter Olympics organizers in France gave athletes condoms matching the colors of the Olympic rings, while the Barcelona Summer Olympics Village had a condom dispenser. 

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is still going, though not at the levels seen in the 1980s and 1990s. The distribution of free condoms to promote safe sex continues.

It’s important to use condoms correctly for the best protection, so our team at Rapid STD Testing created a condom guide for safe sex.

Why and How Athletes Hook Up 

With so many young, fit individuals crowded together in one place, it’s not hard to believe the rumors about athletes hooking up. American swimmer Ryan Lochte estimated in an interview that 70 to 75% of Olympians have sex during their stay in the Olympic Village. Another athlete, a male javelin thrower, admitted to hooking up with three different women every day.

It’s undeniable that tensions are high during the Olympics. When they’re not vying for gold medals, the Olympians take advantage of the giant melting pot that is the Olympic Village, looking for like-minded partners with whom to burn off the adrenaline rush of competing. With the rise of dating apps, athletes are able to widen their search even further. 

During the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a spokesperson for the dating app Tinder said that matches increased by 129% in the Olympic Village. At the time, competitors were swiping through profiles of their fellow top athletes with descriptions like “Looking for fun in Rio!”

Why Do Olympians Get Condoms During COVID-19?

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about some head-scratching rule changes for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in Japan. The organizers still gave the athletes 160,000 free condoms, but they also warned them to avoid physical interactions, like handshakes and high-fives, to avoid spreading COVID-19. 

They told the athletes to take the condoms home as souvenirs instead of using them during the games. Breaking these rules could mean fines, disqualification, or revoked medals. Each room in the Tokyo Olympic Village only had a single cardboard bed, presumably to discourage hookups and encourage “social distancing.” 

At the 2022 Beijing Olympics in China, organizers continued to advise athletes to avoid physical contact with others but, again, still provided free condoms to those staying within the Village. 

How Many Condoms Are Used at the Olympics? 

While the 1988 Winter Olympics started with a humble 6,000 condoms, the standard now seems to be a minimum of 100,000 condoms for every Olympics event. The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics holds an all-time high at 450,000 condoms, including 100,000 female condoms. With thousands of athletes (11,238, to be exact) competing that year, that would be enough to supply 40 condoms per athlete!

In past Olympics, the organizers underestimated the athletes’ stamina. The organizers of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, ordered 50,000 condoms but had to order 20,000 more because they ran out too quickly. Having learned their lesson, the 2004 Athens Olympics had manufacturers like Durex provide 130,000 condoms at the Olympics with 30,000 packets of lubricant. 

Condoms protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Rapid STD Testing offers same-day STD testing whether you’re a world-renowned Olympic athlete or not. 

Before You Let the Games Begin, Get Tested

Rapid STD Testing offers private STD tests that you can order online or take in a test center in a nearby city. You can get your results within one to two days, making sure that you know your status as quickly as possible. To protect yourself and your partners before having sex, find a lab near you to take a rapid STD test.

STD Rates Spiking and “Out of Control”

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As the world gradually settles into a post-pandemic state, a substantial increase in STD rates has taken many people by surprise. What factors have gone into this “out of control” surge in sexually transmitted diseases, and what can you do to help prevent their spread? What role did the COVID-19 pandemic play in the current flood of cases?

STDs with the Highest Spikes

Nearly all sexually transmitted diseases in the United States have seen a resurgence in recent years. Here are just a few of the STDs that have been making comebacks recently.

Syphilis has made a massive comeback. After antibiotic treatments became available to Americans in the 1940s, infection rates fell rapidly. In 1998, fewer than 7,000 new cases of syphilis were diagnosed across the whole nation, leading the CDC to launch a plan to eliminate the disease completely. In 2021, syphilis rates went up by 21% from the previous year.

Primary and secondary syphilis aren’t the only concerns when it comes to this deadly illness: if someone with syphilis carries a baby, the baby may contract congenital syphilis, which can lead to blindness, deafness, or even stillbirth. In the 2010s, there were only a few hundred cases of congenital syphilis in the country. In 2021, there were nearly 2,700 cases, more than 200 of which led to stillbirth or infant death.

Doctors have seen a recent surge in HIV cases, especially as condom use has decreased. Unlike gonorrhea and syphilis, doctors cannot treat this virus with antibiotics. There is currently no cure or vaccine for HIV, so your best option is to prevent yourself from getting the virus in the first place. Schedule routine STD tests at a Rapid STD Testing clinic near you for fast, accurate, confidential results.

One of the most prominent STDs is relatively new to the United States. Monkeypox was almost completely unknown to Americans until 2022, and while it isn’t only transmitted through sex, its spread has been largely between men who have sex with men.

What Caused the Spike in STD Cases?

Why are STD rates so high in 2022? There’s no one answer to that question. A lot of factors—from the COVID-19 pandemic to limited resources to educate Americans and prevent STD transmission—have combined to cause this spike.

The correlation between STD and COVID-19 trends is particularly dramatic. Many people left their homes after the stay-at-home orders were lifted and immediately engaged in risky behaviors to celebrate, feeling liberated.

According to Dr. Mike Saag, an infectious disease specialist with the University of Alabama at Birmingham, there has been a persistent decline in the rate of condom use in recent years, contributing to this spike in STDs. More sexually transmitted infections occur when people are having more unprotected sex.

Finally, even as STD rates have steadily increased over the years, limited resources for prevention and treatment have hobbled the disease elimination effort. The government defunded the CDC effort to eliminate syphilis in 2013 due to budget cuts and the social stigma surrounding STD testing and treatment.

STD Rates: By the Numbers

Given the skyrocketing disease rates, what are the odds of getting an STD? Young adults face the greatest risk, with nearly half of all new infections occurring in people between ages 15 and 24. To break down some statistics of STDs: the CDC estimates that 16 out of every 100,000 people in the United States are infected with syphilis. This is the highest infection rate in more than 30 years.

How many people have STDs? If you expand that search to include all sexually transmitted diseases, you’ll find that one in five Americans—or about 68 million people—have an STD. Men who have sex with men are at particularly high risk, as are members of racial minorities. The STD rates among women may be lower, but they are on the rise: syphilis infections among women increased by about 50% in 2021.

The statistics about STDs in the United States may be shocking, but there are many ways to reduce your risk of getting or spreading a sexually transmitted disease. Use a barrier method like condoms when having sex, and be aware of your STD status, especially if you engage in high-risk behaviors. Consider getting a rapid STD test at one of our Rapid STD Testing clinics across the country with every new sexual partner you have.

Projected Solutions to Spiking STD Rates

When you’re up against a problem as complex as rising STD rates nationwide, there’s never any single solution. Any health control intervention to fight the rate of STD transmission needs to work on more than one front. Some solutions that the CDC recommends include:

  • Improving access to STD testing and effective treatment
  • Increasing federal funding for STD clinics and prevention programs
  • Improving awareness of the proper use of condoms
  • Reducing the stigma surrounding STDs
  • Making one-on-one HIV/STD information intervention easily accessible

The National Coalition of STD Directors is one of many groups calling for these proposed solutions. In particular, the coalition is seeking a $500 million increase in STD health clinic funding.

The CDC continues to emphasize the need for accessible, affordable rapid STD testing. If you are sexually active, stay responsible by scheduling a 10 panel STD test at a Rapid STD Testing clinic. Regular testing is an essential step in reducing STD rates, even if you don’t have symptoms.

What You Can Do to Reduce Your Risk of STDs

If you’re sexually active, the single best thing you can do to reduce STD rates is to schedule regular STD screenings. With our same-day STD testing, Rapid STD Testing makes it easy and convenient to get tested for anything from human papillomavirus to viral hepatitis. Schedule your test today, and do your part to stay safe and responsible.

Is it Safe to Have Sex in Water? Possibility of Contracting an STD

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You’ve watched the movie scene: Two characters flirting in a pool, the tension growing stronger every moment. Light glistening off the water creates the perfect romantic atmosphere as they make sweet aquatic love. It’s common for people inspired by movies to create their fantasies through sex underwater.

Movies make sex in water seem erotic and thrilling. You may wonder, is it safe to have sex in water? Unfortunately, it’s as easy to get an STD in water as on dry land—possibly even easier!

Is it Bad to Have Sex in Water? Risk Factors to Consider

While sex in water may spark your fancy, it can also have unforeseen consequences. If you can’t resist the siren song of sex in the water, you should know the risks. Sex in water may mean complications that lead to a urinary tract infection or STD.

Water Can and Will Strip Away Natural Lubrication

Is having sex in water comfortable? Not always. Although you might think of water as lubricating, it’s different from the natural lubrication our bodies produce.

Vaginas produce natural lubrication during arousal. Water is not a proper substitute for vaginal lubricant because it can and will strip away the natural lubricant the body produces through foreplay.

When penetration (even penetration with fingers) occurs during sex in water, the water has a chance to enter the vaginal canal and wash away lubrication. When the natural lubricant washes away, sexual friction can create painful vaginal tears. Keep this in mind when tempted to get freaky with your fingers in the water!

Microabrasions 

Microabrasions are small tears in the vaginal canal created by increased friction and lack of lubrication. If you have vaginal sex in the water, you could be at an increased risk for micro-tearing during sex in a body of water. These tears can be painful and ruin a sexual experience. When chlorinated water or salty seawater enters these micro-tears, it increases the chance of contracting an infection.

Exposing yourself to tearing and STDs isn’t fun for anyone. You know your body best. If you think you’ve contracted an STD, schedule a rapid STD test at a Rapid STD Testing clinic. We provide fast and accurate results in a private environment.

Possibility of Getting a UTI

Many different people share pools and hot tubs, and not everyone is careful about what they leave in the pool. Pool or hot tub water contains lots of bacteria, and these bacteria can enter the urethra during sex in water. This leads to painful bacterial infections.

You probably know how important it is to pee after sex to avoid UTIs—it’s also important to be mindful of your environment. If you’re someone who is prone to UTIs, having sex in water may not be a good idea. Consider the cleanliness of the water you’re in, and remember the possibility of UTIs.

Unsure if you have a UTI or STD? Find a local Rapid STD Testing clinic near you and schedule same-day STD testing.

Water Can Wear Down Condoms

Can you wear a condom in the pool? Yes, but water sex is not easier or safer due to increased worry about condom breakage. The lack of natural lubrication means more friction during sex, which can lead to your condom breaking. A broken condom can mean an increased chance of pregnancy or contracting STDs.

In water, your condom may not be as reliable as usual. The combination of microtears, bacteria-infested water, and broken condoms leaves a less-than-sexy memory for some people.

At Rapid STD Testing, we offer comprehensive options like our 10-panel STD test to keep you safe and informed about your sexual health.  

Tips for Having Sex in Water

Can you have sex in water? Of course, it can be fun to spice up shower time with intimate activities, but is it safe to have sex in water? In short, the answer is yes if you take a few precautions. The allure of having sex in or around water is hard to deny, and it can lead to a richer sex life. Remember that unprotected sex comes with a risk of STDs, and use protection whenever you have sex. 

In Open Water

Is having sex in the ocean possible? Yes! Sex in open water, like the ocean or a lake, can be exhilarating and sensual, but it can also be dangerous.

Strong underwater currents can lead to drowning, and open-water parasites can make you sick. Instead of pursuing sex in dangerous places like the ocean, try enjoying sex in a boat on the water or on a secluded beach, or try new sexual positions to the romantic sounds of the ocean. Safety is sexy!

Avoiding danger and discomfort is easy if you plan out a safe location before initiating sexual contact. Never enter a body of water that has predators or currents in it, and avoid sex in water during thunderstorms. 

Pool Sex

Can you have sex in the pool? TV and film have solidified the idea of the pool as a fun retreat for fooling around. Pools that contain chlorine usually kill STDs and other diseases, but they can still lead to UTIs and micro-tearing. In order to enjoy pool sex more comfortably, try using silicone-based lubricant to replace the natural vaginal lubricant that water will wash away.

Hot tubs are not usually as clean or well-maintained as pools, and the warm water can be a breeding ground for STDs. If you are concerned about contracting an STD, you probably want to avoid the hot tub as a setting for sexual liaisons. While there are many myths and misconceptions about STDs, it is true that you can contract them from having hot tub sex.

Shower Sex

Want to get down and dirty while getting clean? Shower sex is a fun way to experience water sex without the risk of drowning.

Here are a few things to try:

  • Make sure to hold onto a shower grip bar to help keep your balance.
  • Remove oil or soap from the shower so that you don’t create slippery surfaces.
  • Try experimenting with a detachable showerhead.

Discussions about safety can lead to a more enjoyable sexual encounter. Consider asking your partner about their sexual preferences. Conversations about sexual history and STDs can be awkward, but discussing preferences can lead to a discussion about STDs. 

Sex in the Bath

You can add oil and silicone lubes to spice up sexual activity in the bath. The water’s buoyancy comes in handy when having sex in the tub. Use the lack of gravity to try some new positions.

Bath sex can be warm, relaxing, and intimate. It is a great way to experiment with having sex in water in the privacy of your home. Use the bath to discover what you like, how to use silicone lube as a replacement for vaginal lubricant, and how comfortable you are with water. 

Water Sex? Not Just for Mermaids!

If water sex appeals to you, keep in mind that it is possible to contract an STD through sex in water.

Is it safe to have sex in water? It’s as safe as you make it. Our tips and tricks will help you practice safe sex in water, and our testing services will secure your peace of mind. If you are experiencing STD symptoms like feeling nauseated after sex, our rapid STD test can help. Visit a Rapid STD Testing center near you to get tested now.

The Most Common STD in College Students

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College should be one of the best times in a young person’s life. However, dating apps, hookup culture, and the carefree lifestyle of youth have all contributed to higher college and university STD rates. So, what is the most common STD in college students? In this post, the experts from Rapid STD Testing discuss the prevalence of STDs in college, including the common STDs, risk factors, and prevention tips for college students.

What Are the Most Common STDs in College Students?

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, people aged 15 to 24 account for half of all new STD infections. 2018 saw 26 million new sexually transmitted infections, which means 13 million of those cases were young, college-aged people. You can learn more about the most common STD for teens here on the Rapid STD Testing blog, including statistics and important prevention information.

HPV

According to recent data, human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common STD among university students worldwide. HPV has more than 40 unique strains that can infect both men and women. Furthermore, approximately 75% of the young population has been exposed to HPV by sexual partners. Untreated infections can lead to genital warts or even cancer.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is another one of the most common STDs in college students. The same Microbiology and Infectious Diseases data found chlamydia as the second most common college STD, and these bacterial infections are increasing yearly. A screening on ten college campuses found a chlamydia prevalence rate of 9.7% and also discovered that freshmen and sophomores were 66% more at risk of becoming infected than juniors and seniors. Plus, chlamydia often doesn’t present noticeable symptoms, making it even more dangerous.

Herpes

Herpes can cause both oral sores (HSV-1) and genital sores (HSV-2). It’s easy for the spread of STDs like herpes to occur at universities because it transfers by close physical contact, like kissing or oral sex. Plus, herpes is often asymptomatic, making it easy for students to spread it to their partners unknowingly.

If you believe you may have herpes, order a rapid STD test from one of our 2,500 nationwide locations and stay current regarding your status.  

Gonorrhea

Another of the most common STDs in college and university, gonorrhea spreads from having sexual contact with the mouth, vagina, penis, or anus of an infected person. While it’s easy to cure gonorrhea with a round of medication, it spreads quickly because it often doesn’t present symptoms. From 2014 to 2018, the number of gonorrhea cases spiked dramatically by 27.5%, from 59,329 to 75,683.

Risk Factors That Increase the Likelihood of Getting STDs in College

Particular high-risk sexual behavior and other factors for college students can increase the chances of getting an STD. About one in four college students has an STD, and most don’t show any noticeable symptoms, contributing further to the spread of STDs across campuses nationwide. Below are the most common risk factors that can increase the transmission and infection rate for college students:

  • Lack of Education: According to a 2017 study of 256 males and 94 females at a college, 90% of students knew about STIs, but only 64% had heard of STIs besides HIV. Less than 50% were aware of STI symptoms and complications.
  • Substance Use: Did you know that 45% of college students in 2018 used an illicit substance? Substance use lowers inhibitions and can cause a person to make poor decisions they might not have made if they were sober. Students under the influence of drugs or alcohol are often more likely to have unprotected sex, forget protection in the heat of the moment, or use it incorrectly.
  • Having Unprotected Sex: All it takes is once to get an STD: you can get a one-night stand STD from close sexual contact or having unprotected anal, oral, or vaginal sex with an infected person.
  • Failing to Get Tested: If you’re sexually active, you need to get regular STD tests. Visit one of our 2,500 locations for same-day STD testing right now, and you’ll have confidential results within 72 hours. It’s important for college students to get STD testing regularly (every few months) and every time they have a new sexual partner.

STD Prevention Tips for College Students

We didn’t mean to scare you if you’re heading to a university next semester or already enrolled. But here’s the hard truth: College students are at a higher risk for STIs. Here are prevention tips to protect yourself against becoming infected with an STD in college:

  • Practice Abstinence: The only way to 100% protect yourself against STDs is by practicing abstinence. If you are sexually active, engage in safe sexual practices to lower your risk factors.
  • Get Tested Regularly: Many STDs – like chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, and syphilis – often don’t show noticeable symptoms. So lower your risk and take control of your sexual health by getting regular STD tests. You can order a 10-panel STD test right now from our website. Then, visit one of our 2,500 nationwide locations to provide a non-invasive specimen, and you’ll have accurate, confidential results within 72 hours.
  • Use Protection: When having sex, use protection, such as the barrier method (condoms, dental dams, etc.), correctly and consistently. What’s more awkward: asking a partner to use protection or telling them you have an STD?
  • Get Re-Tested: Remember, certain STDs are asymptomatic and can take a few days or even weeks to take hold in your body after exposure. So even if you take an STD test and it’s negative, you should get re-tested in a few weeks to be completely sure.
  • Limit Your Sexual Partners: One-night stands and hookup culture go hand-in-hand with the carefree college lifestyle. However, limiting your sexual partners or practicing monogamy with one person can lower your chances of getting an STD.
  • Know Your Body: Pay attention to your body. Get tested immediately if you notice genital rashes or redness, pain while urinating, abnormal discharge, blisters or sores, etc., and then seek treatment from a medical professional or the sexual health services department at your university.

Protect Your Sexual Health with Rapid STD Testing

The most common STD in college students is HPV, followed by chlamydia, gonorrhea, and herpes. However, you can protect yourself: practice abstinence, use protection, get regular STD tests, and know your risk factors. Visit the Rapid STD Testing website to order your same-day STD test and protect your sexual health and well-being.

Dating Apps and STDs: Is There a Connection?

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Swipe left, swipe right. In a world where finding new sexual encounters is as simple as tapping your smartphone, is there a connection between dating apps and STDs?

All signs point to yes. The rise of hookup culture has corresponded to an increase in national STD rates.

With STDs on the rise, you can protect yourself by getting tested regularly. You can order same-day STD testing from the Rapid STD Testing website, and you’ll have confidential results in one to three days. Don’t worry; it’s easier than you think.

Please keep reading for more information about dating apps, how they’ve changed the way people hook up, and whether there really is a connection between the spread of STDs and online dating sites.

What Are Dating Apps, and How Do They Work?

If you’ve never used a dating app, most apps generally work the same way: You sign up, create a profile and bio, and then connect with potential partners online.

In 1959, two Stanford students used an IBM 650 mainframe computer and punch-card questionnaire to match 49 women and 49 men. A few decades later, in 1995, Match.com became the world’s first online dating site.

While sites like Match.com and eHarmony usually focus more on connecting people for long-term relationships, dating apps like Tinder and Grindr are more hookup-oriented. Of course, some people are looking for long-term relationships, but most are looking for a casual partner and nothing more.

Tinder

Tinder is the most popular dating app among Millennials and Gen Z. For example, 60% of Tinder users are less than 34 years old, with 35% of users aged 18-24 and 25% aged 25-34.

A whopping 75% of Tinder users are male. Plus, it’s the most popular dating app in the world, with over 75 million active users every month, equal to about one-third of dating app users worldwide.

Of course, Tinder has the famous “swipe left, swipe right” method, where users swipe right based on how they feel about a prospect’s looks almost exclusively (as the app only allows users 500 characters for profile bios). The app also works in real-time and is location-based, so it’s easy for users to find sexual partners who live close to them.

Bumble

If you’re a woman who’s tired of the hookup culture that comes along with dating apps like Tinder, then Bumble is the way to go. It’s a woman-centric app that began in 2014 after one of Tinder’s co-founders, Whitney Wolfe Herd, had a very public rift with Tinder.

Bumble markets itself as a 100% woman-centric app, which is true. For heterosexual matches, women must be the first to make contact or send a message. Essentially, that feature prevents women from receiving harassing messages or unsolicited pictures from men. While Bumble started as a dating app, it has gradually shifted into a broader, holistic community, with its primary users between 18 and 34 years of age.

Grindr

In March of 2009, Joel Simkhai revolutionized the world of gay online dating with Grindr, another real-time, location-based dating app for gay, bisexual, and transgender men. When Grindr went live on the App Store, it was the first of its kind. Flash forward to 2022, and Grindr has over 11 million active monthly users, with around 80% of its user base under the age of 35. The app emphasizes privacy and has features that allow users to “unsend” photographs and messages and block other users from screenshotting images in their messaging system.

Hinge

Hinge is the dating app that wants you to delete it – after you make a match, that is. In 2012, Justin McLeod created Hinge and launched the app in early 2013 on an iOS-only platform for residents of Washington, D.C. In 2017, it spread to all of the U.S. and Canada. Initially, it was a Facebook plug-in, but it now focuses on long-term dating. As of 2020, the app has over six million monthly active users. Its user base is Millennial-heavy, with 90% between ages 23 and 36. Furthermore, 50.2% are female, with 49.8% are male.  

Match.com

In 1995, Match.com became the first online dating site. Since then, the company has owned and operated many well-known dating sites, including PlentyOfFish, OkCupid, and Tinder. Match.com focuses primarily on connecting people for long-term relationships. About 25% of its user base is under age 30, and 48.6% is between 30 and 49. Around 26.5% are over the age of 50, which is the fastest-growing demographic on Match.com. Most of its users are higher-educated and childless.

How Dating Apps Have Changed the Way People Hook Up

In the past, people met at a bar or club, through friends and family, schools, or activities involving their personal interests. Many people met because they had common interests. However, online dating apps have revolutionized the world of sexual behavior and the process of finding willing sexual partners. So have dating apps and STDs risen hand-in-hand?

No longer do people have to, well – to be blunt – put in the effort. Instead of going out and trying new hobbies to meet people or even heading to the local bar, finding a new hookup is as simple as swiping right on your smartphone. It’s become frighteningly easy to find potential partners and no-strings-attached hookups, even anonymous sex.

Plus, people can now hide behind the “wall of technology.” Superficiality and visual appeal significantly impact how dating app users evaluate their potential partners. Again, this contributes to the anonymous, no-strings-attached hookup culture that has evolved thanks partly to dating apps like Tinder and Grindr.

Yes, some people are perusing dating apps looking for a monogamous or long-term relationship. However, many people who use dating apps (particularly younger people) are doing so to find a casual hookup. If it turns into something more, maybe they’re okay with that. If it doesn’t, that’s okay too.

However, while this proliferation of geo-location dating apps and websites has made it easier for people to forge a connection in a lonely world, it’s had some other unintended consequences. Research has shown that users who remain active on dating apps have a higher number of sexual partners, more unprotected sex, more frequent sexual encounters, and more partners who have STIs or HIV. Ultimately, this increases their risk of acquiring STDs and spreading them to others.

So, are dating apps and STDs connected? Well, experts think so. For one, CDC data show that numbers for syphilis and gonorrhea have increased since 2016: 52% and 45%, respectively. Another huge problem is congenital syphilis. This STI (sexually transmitted infection) causes severe problems for pregnant mothers, increasing the rate of stillbirths and deaths among babies. The numbers are up 235% since 2016, highlighting a significant problem.

Another issue that contributes to the rising numbers of STDs is a lack of sex education and people who don’t take care of their sexual health. You can catch STDs from oral, anal, or vaginal sex; some transfer by just close skin-to-skin contact or kissing.

Getting regular testing is much easier than you think. You can order a 10-panel STD test right now from the Rapid STD Testing website and have your confidential results regarding your STI status in one to three days. It’s fast, easy, private, and keeps you “in the know.”

How Dating Apps Can Help Curb the Numbers

While the companies that own and operate the most popular dating apps (like Tinder, Bumble, Grindr, etc.) don’t want to admit it, they have a platform that can help curb the spread of STDs among their sexually active users. First, one crucial factor is talking to your partner about sex. It may feel awkward, but it could be worse. For example, many STDs don’t show symptoms. By getting regular STD tests and talking with your partners, you can prevent spreading STDs unknowingly.

Dating apps may be actively contributing to the problem, but they can be part of the solution and bring awareness to STDs, safe sex, and healthy dating practices. For example, they can curb the rapidly growing numbers by advertising safe sex and free treatment resources to users who perpetuate the hookup culture that often leads to higher STD rates. Many (but not all) of these apps already have information, resources, links, and health features that can provide more awareness to users and their partners.

For example, in April 2019, Monongalia County in West Virginia saw rates of syphilis infections rise sharply, in addition to HIV co-infections. You can quickly cure syphilis with medication, but the disease often doesn’t show symptoms, and latent stages can lead to infertility, insanity, and death.

Health officials in WV determined the primary cause of the increase in syphilis infections was men having sex with men. After hearing from many patients who met their partners through dating apps and became infected, officials reached out to these apps, including Tinder and Grindr.

While Tinder didn’t agree to free advertising, Grindr considered the health and safety of its users a priority and decided to let officials advertise for free. So, in late April 2019, any user within 50 miles of the outbreak’s epicenter who opened Grindr would see an ad offering free STD testing and treatment options.

More than 70,000 users saw that ad over the next six months, with 3,500 clicking through to the resource page. The tactic worked, and the region saw a positive impact and results from the ads.

In fact, since 2015, Grindr has allowed many officials to run free ads based on locations, states, and regions that warn users against the dangers of unprotected sex and risks of becoming infected with diseases like Hepatitis A, meningitis, syphilis, etc. It’s had a positive impact and is a model that every dating app should follow.

The Emergence of STD Dating Apps

Now, technology and the world of dating apps have moved forward even further. For STD-positive people, there are now plenty of STD dating apps that offer a safe, non-judgmental way to date and find love. Consider these statistics from the Centers for Disease Control:

  • 984,000 people have HIV
  • 42.5 million people have human papillomavirus (HPV)
  • 18.6 million Americans have genital herpes (HSV-2)

Dating is hard enough in the 21st century without the extra pressure of telling potential partners you’re STD-positive. However, using an STD dating app can provide an easier solution.

The best dating app for STD-positive individuals depends on various factors, like your personal preference and intentions regarding dating. Here are the most popular dating apps for people with STDs:

PositiveSingles: With over one million members, PositiveSingles has a large, confidential community for people with herpes and other chronic STDs. The app has many resources and over 60,000 success stories of members who have found love with this STD dating app.

Meet Positives: This STD dating app is free to use and features a wide range of user demographics and sexual orientations. Plus, it has lots of support, information, and resources for STD-positive people.

POZ Personals: POZ Personals is a section of the magazine POZ. It has a large community of users and provides information and resources about living with HIV and AIDS. For example, members can ask questions about HIV treatments, signs of a cheating partner, how having HIV affects dating and hookups, etc.

Additional STD dating apps include:

  • H-Werks
  • Herpes People Meet
  • HIV Dating Online
  • HSV Date
  • Pos Date
  • HSV Singles

Protect Your Sexual Health with Regular STD Testing

So is there a connection between dating apps and STDs? Well, research is limited. However, apps that facilitate an anonymous hookup culture can lead to unprotected sex and, therefore, higher STD rates. However, you can protect yourself by getting a rapid STD test today. Call us now at (800) 872-1888 or visit the Rapid STD Testing website to order your testing panel today and stay current regarding your status.