# Chances of acquiring STDs **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 7, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291 "2010-04-07T16:41:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291/21 "2010-04-07T20:29:54Z")
> [@curious\_mind](#): > > Now my wife and I don’t have sex often. Actually rarely due to a condition of hers. > But she doesn’t know I fool around. > So I find out the one time we do have sex that she is pregnant. Are you sure that the kid is yours? ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Corey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Carl\_Corey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Corey)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291/22 "2010-04-07T20:31:07Z")
> [@otternell](#): > > Oh you’ll be fine! I just did that last week - no probs. I think we should chip in and get this guy a pair of Bad Idea Jeans. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291/23 "2010-04-07T21:22:39Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > as long as there is a one in a billion chance that’s one too many. I know you’re speaking hyperbolically; but if you take this statement at face value, I disagree: a one in a billion chance really is too small to be worth worrying about. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291/24 "2010-04-07T23:00:05Z")
1. Stop having unprotected sex with hookers. 2. Get tested. 3. Tell you wife that she needs to get tested and why. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Stilettos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Red\_Stilettos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Stilettos)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291/25 "2010-04-07T23:04:36Z")
> [@Cat\_Fight](#): > > As **DiosaBellissima** pointed out, many STDs (including chlamydia, herpes, HPV, gonorrhea) that can wreak havoc on women, render them infertile and be passed along to their children don’t produce symptoms in some men (or some women). And, these diseases can be much more severe in babies and they are much more common than HIV. So, if your worry is for your child, get tested for all STDs, not just HIV. The risk of severe damage to your child is quite high given the circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291/26 "2010-04-08T00:49:49Z")
Here’s a cliche for you: Whenever you have unprotected sex with someone, you’re also having unprotected sex with everyone they’ve had unprotected sex with, and everyone they’ve had . . . . Think about this the next time you have unprotected sex with a prostitute. Get tested. And weigh the consequences of being honest with your wife with the consequences of her giving birth to a really sick kid. ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291/27 "2010-04-08T01:14:49Z")
> [@Red\_Stilettos](#): > > And, these diseases can be much more severe in babies and they are much more common than HIV. So, if your worry is for your child, get tested for all STDs, not just HIV. The risk of severe damage to your child is quite high given the circumstances. Herpes is certainly bad for pregnant women and babies, but AFAIK HPV isn’t really anything to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291/28 "2010-04-08T05:32:18Z")
> [@kidneyfailure](#): > > \AFAIK HPV isn’t really anything to worry about. Just cervical cancer later on for his wife (I know what you’re saying, that it’s not a threat to the fetus; I think it’s important that this selfish person understands the risks he’s taking with someone else’s life). ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291/29 "2010-04-08T07:29:02Z")
Dude, just get yourself a girlfriend and you won’t have to worry as much. Mind, I said _as_ much. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291/30 "2010-04-08T20:46:03Z")
> [@kidneyfailure](#): > > Herpes is certainly bad for pregnant women and babies, but AFAIK HPV isn’t really anything to worry about. Not to get too graphic, but if she has internal warts they can be irritated by pregnancy (and start bleeding), and even make delivery difficult. ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291/31 "2010-04-08T23:10:05Z")
> [@Cat\_Fight](#): > > Not to get too graphic, but if she has internal warts they can be irritated by pregnancy (and start bleeding), and even make delivery difficult. I was talking about damage to the fetus itself from the virus, or infecting your baby with it via childbirth, both of which are very rare. Main point: considering that something like 75% of people have HPV and that the vast vast vast majority of cases, including high-risk strains, just go away by themselves, I think there are better things for him to worry about (HIV, HSV). His wife probably had HPV already anyway unless she was a virgin when she was married. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291/32 "2010-04-08T23:21:59Z")
Seatbelts, Motorcycle Helmets, Life Jackets, Parachutes and Condoms. The most enjoyable activities have safety gear and are most enjoyable after you’ve lived through them. 1. Get tested 2. Divorce the wife 3. Get tested again 4. Wear a condom. 5. Don’t have sex with hookers that don’t demand you wear a condom. 6. (optional) don’t have sex with hookers. ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291/33 "2010-04-09T05:38:19Z")
Yeah. I’m going to judge the everloving…hell out of you. I don’t care if you go to hookers. I am judging you for being a potential murderer and then being so cavalier about it. The rest of my thoughts belong in the pit, and I’m not in the mood to start a whole thread, so you get the gist. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291/34 "2010-04-09T05:46:56Z")
I’m not sure he’s not trolling us, anyway - he’s pretty much hitting all the hot buttons. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291/35 "2010-04-09T14:10:23Z")
> [@curious\_mind](#): > > Over the past 4 years, I’ve seen maybe 15 escorts. > Just random sex flings to satisfy my urge. > [@curious\_mind](#): > > I’ve used condoms on all but 2 occasions (1 being back in 2007 and the last one being in mar 2009 for **1 min of unprotected sex** ). Use your hand. Especially if it only takes a minute. Jeez. The chances of you having an STD are astronomically greater than the chances of your wife staying with you if she were to find out. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291/37 "2013-05-13T08:20:36Z")
I just want to reemphasize that not only is it quite possible that you have an STD that’s asymptomatic for you but dangerous to your baby, but that many of these dangers can be lessened if the doctors know about it. There are things that can be done to prevent the baby from getting herpes or HIV or whatever (or at least to greatly reduce the chances of them getting it). So it would be incredibly irresponsible not to get tested, knowing it’s not too late to use that information to help protect your child. If you’re hoping that the odds of you having an STD are low enough to excuse inaction, then stop thinking that way, man up, and get tested. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291/38 "2013-05-13T08:30:03Z")
STDs can lay low for years, and show up when you least expect them, just like this thread. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291/39 "2013-05-13T12:08:47Z")
This thread was bumped by a spammer, who has been dealt with. Since hopefully the OP has resolved his dilemma one way or the other, I’m going to close this; if someone wants to start a new thread on a similar theme, feel free. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-of-acquiring-stds/535291.md?page=1)