Can STDs Be Transmitted by Hands?

Q: Hi, I’m a 21-year-old guy. Would I get any kind of STD if I gave a handjob and touched my penis with the same hand right away, without washing my hand? Thanks in advance.
-By Jamie

Reply:

Yes , you may get an STD this way too.

Mode of Spread

It is not necessary that STD would spread only during the sexual activity.

The bugs causing them reside in the body fluids, including semen, vaginal fluid and even blood. Also, lesions caused by them also harbor these bugs.

So, after the hand job, since you didn’t wash your hands before touching your own parts, there are chances that the infected fluid touched you.

Apart from infected fluids, a few STDs may spread via skin contact too. These include herpes and even syphilis.

So, if in doubt, it would be good to get yourself investigated.

Take Care,

Buddy M.D.

Medical Advice (Q&As) on “Can You Get STD From Hand Contact?

  1. Jamie

    What are the chances of catching an STD if there wasn’t an ejaculation and there weren’t any lesions? What happened was, I “touched” him then I immediately touched myself. That’s it, no ejaculation and there weren’t any lesions or bumps or cuts or anything. Should I be worried?

    Thank you anyway, I really appreciate it.

    Reply
    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Although chances are always there, but as per your description, in your case the probability of being infected is quite low.

      Reply
  2. Matt

    I’m sorry for asking this but I’m such a hypochondriac. I was at a std health clinic and I had touched one of the tables and without thinking touched my mouth. Do I have anything to worry about?

    Reply
    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      In likelihood, you are not infected. You may just be watchful for any suspicious lesion, like a rash, bump or any thing else that looks abnormal. If you find anything of that sort, you may get yourself tested.

      Reply
  3. Monica

    I have a super anal question: I went to an std clinic and wanted to know if I can “catch” anything from my jacket and bag that I had with me in the clinic that had touched chairs where other patients had sat? I would imagine the germs would be dead and was planning on spraying them with lysol. Thanks.

    Reply
    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Though STDs spread very rarely from touch with inanimate objects, it is recommended that you sanitize all stuff you took to the STD clinic, including your bag and jacket.

      This is just precautionary.

      Reply
  4. Cindy

    Can herpes spread through the hand/fingers? I gave a guy a hand job and then washed my hands afterwards. I don’t think he had any sores. I’ve read that the hand has tougher skin so it’s rare to transmit unless you have cuts on your hand. I have a tiny dried cut on the tip of my finger where the skin isn’t really open. Should I be worried?

    Reply
    1. Buddy M.D. Post author

      Herpes may spread via hand contact also. As you said, tiny cuts/abrasions over the skin surface may get exposed to the herpes germ.

      Reply
      1. Cindy

        So, what should I do then? I don’t see anything on my hand and I don’t want to spread it around my body if I did pick it up. I’m getting really anxious about this, I feel like I’m fine but nervous about the “what if” scenario. I don’t think the guy had any sores – is that needed to spread it?

        Reply
        1. Buddy M.D. Post author

          Just relax but be observant. If you see any lesion over your body, you may go for an STD screening.

          Since the guy had no sores, it is likely that you are not infected.

          Reply

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