Preventing STIs

Prevent STIs

Condoms reduce the chance of – contracting or passing on an STI. You can get vaccinated in advance against some STIs. You can take medication that prevents you from getting HIV. That is called PrEP.

Why prevent an STI? 

Do you have an STI? This can have unpleasant consequences:

  • An STI can cause symptoms. These can have major consequences after a long period of time.
  • You can pass an STI to someone else. They can get symptoms. 
  • Treatment sometimes costs you money. These costs might need to be paid from your deductible for healthcare costs (in Dutch: eigen risico). And your health insurance company does not reimburse all treatments. 
  • Some STIs cannot be cured. For HIV you need to stay on medication for the rest of your life.

How can you prevent an STI?

You can prevent an STI by:

  • Using condoms
  • Getting vaccinated against HPV and hepatitis B
  • Taking HIV inhibitors (PrEP) to prevent getting HIV

Some things you do during sex are not safe or less safe than others.

Condoms

The best way to prevent an STI is to use a condom during sex. So when your penis enters the vagina or anus. You can also use a condom when giving a blowjob, going down on a person or licking the anus. You can cut the condom open and put it between your mouth and the vagina or anus.

Condoms do not always help 100%. Some STIs are mainly transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. They do however reduce the chance of contracting or passing on an STI. Condoms exist in all sizes, materials, thicknesses and flavours.

HPV vaccine

HPV is an STI that can cause genital warts and various types of cancers. Nearly everyone who has sex has this virus in their body. In the Netherlands, anyone aged 9 to 27 can get vaccinated. It's free for everyone. Once you start having sex, the HPV vaccination provides protection against a number of types of cancer that can be caused by HPV.

Hepatitis B vaccine

Hepatitis B is an STI that can cause severe symptoms. You can get vaccinated against hepatitis B. Then you can no longer get the virus. For some people the vaccination is free.

Prevent HIV: PrEP

PrEP are medicines that help protect you from getting HIV. You take PrEP daily or around the times that you have sex. And when you are at risk of contracting HIV.

Avoid passing on HIV: take HIV medication

Do you have HIV? Then it is important that you start taking antiretroviral medicines as soon as possible. This is medication that ensures that you do not get sick. This prevents you from getting AIDS. 

HIV medication ensures that you can no longer pass on HIV to people you have sex with. Even if you have sex without a condom.

It takes 3 to 6 months before you cannot pass HIV anymore. For some people this can be sooner. It is important that you take HIV medication every day. And to have your blood checked regularly.

Are you having sex with someone who has HIV? Then it is important that you know whether they are taking HIV medication every day. Then someone can no longer pass on HIV. Discuss this with each other.

Information and tailor-made advice

Are you having sex, but don’t want to get pregnant? Then you can:

  • Take birth control pills
    This is a reliable way to avoid getting pregnant if you take the pill properly.
  • Have a coil fitted
    This can be a copper coil or the Mirena® coil. The doctor fits the coil into your womb.
  • Use other birth control methods
    Such as a contraceptive patch, contraceptive ring, contraceptive rods or a pessary.
  • Use a condom
    This is the only method that also helps against STIs. It is advisable to use a condom in combination with 1 of the above methods. 
  • Have yourself sterilised
    The doctor does this procedure. You can't have a child anymore after that.

On Sense you will information on:

Take care your penis of vagina 

Are you not taking good care of your penis or vagina? Then you can get complaints. This might make you more prone to contracting an STI. It is therefore important to wash yourself properly.

How do you take care of your penis? 

It is important that you keep your penis clean. This way you prevent it from getting smelly. For example, because secretion from your penis (smegma) stays on the edge of your glans. Do not wash your penis with soap. This makes your mucous membranes vulnerable and might make you more prone to contracting an STI.

Check out sense.info to see how to wash your penis.

How do you take care of your vagina? 

It is important that you take good care of your vagina. Wash your vagina with water and only on the outside. Do you wash your labia and vagina with soap? Then you could get a vaginal infection. For example, candida or bacterial vaginosis. Do you have such an infection? This might make you more prone to contracting an STI.

Check out sense.info to see how to wash your vagina.
 

How do you prevent STIs if you use drugs or alcohol? 

Your chances for getting an STI are higher if:

  • You share drug needles with someone
  • You take more risks during sex due to alcohol or drugs

Do you find that you use a lot of alcohol or drugs? Are you prone to addiction or have you previously been addicted? Look for help or discuss it with your doctor.

Be careful with drug needles

Do you share drug needles? Then you can contract an STI or pass it on. For example HIV or hepatitis B or C. You can contract these STIs by coming into contact with someone else’s blood. This requires the person to be infected with HIV or hepatitis B or C. 
Avoid getting or passing on an STI: do not share drug needles with others.

Be aware of the risks of drugs or alcohol

Do you use alcohol or drugs? Then you might sometimes take more risks. Also when having sex with someone. You can contract an STI more easily, because you might:

  • Not use a condom
  • Have sex with several people without knowing whether they have an STI
  • Be less likely and able to communicate and respect your boundaries

Before using drugs or alcohol, remember that such situations may occur. And how you can best protect yourself.
 

This page was updated on 29 June 2023. The medical information on this page is checked by Hanna Bos, infectious disease specialist.

Soa Aids Nederland helps the public and professionals to prevent, detect and treat HIV and other STIs. We offer reliable information that is tailored to each audience. Soa Aids Nederland receives funding from the RIVM.