This article explores what the risks of STIs are from fingering and what you might do to avoid them.
What STIs Can You Get From Fingering?
Fingering is when you use your fingers and hands to stimulate your partner’s vagina or anus.
Verywell / Laura Porter
It can also be part of foreplay.
Many people assume that fingering is a very safe form of sex, and they’re mostly right.
This is because few people limit themselves toonlyfingering during sex.
For example, certain STIs, like HPV and herpes, can be passed by skin-to-skin contact.
Additionally, fingering tends to be part of foreplay that ultimately leads to or involves penetrative sex.
Bodily fluid could already be on the fingers and spread other STIs.
It’s important to consider the risks of STI transmission in all forms of sexual activity.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Among the STIs often linked to fingering ishuman papillomavirus.
BeforeHPV vaccinationwas widely implemented, HPV was extremely common and contracted by most sexually active people.
It can be passed through skin-to-skin contact.
Several studies have confirmed that the virus can be found under the fingernails of people living with genital HPV.
This suggests that people can, in fact, transmit or acquire HPV from fingering.
The current research suggests that it is relatively low.
However, the HPV types that cause hand warts are different than those that cause genital warts.
There are over 200 HPV types, each designated by a number.
These HPV types do not cause warts.
Herpes
The one STI that can most likely be passed by the hands is herpes.
There may also be swelling, reddening, tenderness, and fever.
In adults, HSV-2 is the most common cause.
Gonorrhea and Chlamydia
Other studies suggest that it may be possible to transmitgonorrheaandchlamydiathrough fingering.
These bacterial STIs are transmitted mainly through sexual contact and can occur with or withoutejaculation.
Reducing the Risk of STIs
People of all sexual orientations may engage in fingering.
If you intend to practice vaginal or anal fingering, there are ways to make it safer.
you might wear gloves orfinger cots, making sure to change them when needed to avoid spreading body fluids.
You should also wash your hands between touching your own genitals and your partner’s.
Or you may want to keep your nails trimmed and filed to prevent scratching your partner’s genitals.
Summary
It is possible to pass certain STIs like HPV, gonorrhea, and herpes through fingering.
Even so, most studies suggest that the risk is low to unlikely.
With that said, the risk is not zero.
2019;22 Suppl 6(Suppl Suppl 6):e25354.
