Safer sex for same-sex partners

Sexual health advice has often been written for straight couples, leaving gaps for everyone else. Risk depends on practices and bodies — not orientation — so here's what's relevant for same-sex and queer partners.

Testing

• For men who have sex with men, the CDC suggests HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia testing at least yearly, and every 3–6 months with multiple or anonymous partners.
• Test the sites you use — throat and rectal swabs pick up infections a urine test misses.
• Women who have sex with women can pass on herpes, HPV, trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis; testing is still worth it.

HIV prevention

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is medication that dramatically lowers the risk of getting HIV from sex when taken as prescribed. PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) can prevent HIV after a possible exposure if started within 72 hours. Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U): people living with HIV who maintain an undetectable viral load don't transmit HIV sexually.

Vaccines

• HPV — protects against genital warts and several cancers.
• Hepatitis A and B — recommended for many gay and bisexual men.
• Mpox — recommended for people at higher risk; ask locally.

Barriers and toys

• Condoms reduce risk for many STIs during anal and oral sex.
• Dental dams reduce risk for oral–vulval and oral–anal contact.
• Use a fresh condom on shared toys or clean them between partners.

Screening

Anyone with a cervix needs cervical screening regardless of their partners' genders. Some people may benefit from anal cancer screening — ask a clinician.