Sexually Transmitted Infection Risk Awareness Chart

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This chart assesses the risk for the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when condoms or barriers are not used. Using condoms for anal and vaginal sex and condoms and dental dams for oral sex reduce but do not completely eliminate the risk of contracting an STI.

Chart Key:

High Risk = HR
Some Risk = SR
Theoretical Risk* = TR
No Risk = NR

*Note: Theoretical risk means that in theory a person could contract a given STI through a particular activity but no one has been reported as contracting the STI through that activity. Theoretical risk activities are considered low risk.

STI	Anal Sex	Vaginal Sex	Giving Oral Sex	Getting Oral Sex	Deep (French) Kissing	Mutual Masturbation (without exchanging body fluids)	Hugging, dry kissing, massage, self masturbation
HIV/AIDS	HR	HR	SR (but low)	TR	TR	NR	NR
Chlamydia	SR	HR	SR	NR	NR	NR	NR
Genital warts	HR	HR	SR (but low)	SR (but low)		SR	NR
Herpes	HR	HR	HR	HR	SR	SR	NR (except for kissing if you come into contact with infected area)
Gonorrhea	HR	HR	HR	SR	SR	NR	NR
Syphilis	HR	HR	HR	SR	SR	NR	NR
Hepatitis B	HR	HR	HR	HR	SR	NR	NR
Vaginitis (yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis	N/A	HR	N/A	NR	N/A	NR	NR
Mucopurulent cervicitis (refers to women only)	N/A	HR	N/A	NR	N/A	NR	NR
Non-Gonococcal Urethritis (refers to men only)	HR	HR	N/A	NR	N/A	NR	NR
Lice and Scabies	HR	HR	SR	SR	NR	SR	NR (Except for massage)

The information contained in this chart was adapted from the Public Health Agency of Canada's "STI- Sexually Transmitted Infections" pamphlet;, the Canadian AIDS Society website, and the City of Ottawa "STI Risk Awareness Chart"

Updated June 4, 2010