Is it bad to have sex with a partner who has small cuts in or on their genitals?

By Kendall @ Planned Parenthood | April 9, 2013, 12:24 p.m.

is it bad to have sex with a partner who has small cuts in or on their sex organs?

If your partner has open cuts or sores on their genitals, it’s a good idea to wait until they heal before having sex. Having unprotected sex with a partner who has small cuts in or on their genitals can increase the risk of spreading certain STDs. For example, HIV is transmitted in blood, semen, and vaginal fluids. Getting HIV-infected blood, semen, or vaginal secretions into open cuts or sores can spread HIV. Herpes, another STD, is most contagious when the sores it causes are open or leaking fluid.

It’s important to use condoms every time you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex. When used correctly, condoms can significantly decrease the risk of giving or getting an STD. But condoms don’t offer 100% protection against all STDs. That’s why getting tested regularly is also really important.

Tags: STDs, herpes, open cuts, open sores