American Sexual
Health Association

Can I Get an STI from Kissing?

A couple kissing

You can get STIs from kissing, but most experts would tell you that kissing—even passionate kissing with tongue—is a pretty safe sexual behavior.

STIs Are Not Just for the Young

An older couple kissing

STIs aren’t about age, they’re about sexual behavior. Older people are having sex, and they need to be thinking about sexually transmitted infections.

Genital Warts

Human papillomavirus or HPV

Genital warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). The types of HPV that cause genital warts are usually spread by direct skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal, or possibly oral sex with someone who has this infection.

Oklahoma Bill Would Criminalize STIs

Oklahoma legislature

The Oklahoma House recently passed a bill making it a crime to intentionally or recklessly spread several STIs. Those found guilty would be convicted of a felony and punished with between two and five years in prison.