Get tested regularly
Regular STI testing is important to maintain good sexual health, prevent the spread of STIs and ensure infections are treated as soon as possible. Sometimes STIs, like syphilis, can have no symptoms and if left untreated can lead to serious health complications.
Make sure that you and your sexual partner (or partners) are checked for STIs regularly and before you start having sex.
For more information on the testing process go to the testing page. Go to the resources page for tailored information on STIs and STI testing.
Practise safe sex
Safe sex includes making sure that all partners consent to sexual activity, and everyone feels respected and not pressured. It’s okay to say no if you are not in the mood.
- Talk openly with your sexual partner (or partners) about sexual health.
- Always use protection like a condom (internal or external) or other barrier methods if you have any sexual contact, including vaginal, oral or anal sex.
- Don’t have sex if your partner has STI symptoms including around their mouth, genitals or anal area.
- Avoid sharing sex toys. and wash them thoroughly each time you use them.
- If you think you might be at risk of HIV, talk to your health professional about using HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). For more information visit healthdirect.
- If you think you’ve been exposed to an STI, for example a condom breaks or you didn’t use a condom, visit a health professional for an STI test and treatment as soon as you can.
- If you are a gay or bi+ cisgender man or trans woman, talk to a health professional to find out whether you are eligible for doxy-PEP – doxy-PEP can reduce the risk of some STIs if taken soon after sexual contact.
- Talk to a health professional to discuss whether you should be vaccinated against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus infection (HPV), mpox.
Always use protection
Use protection every time as part of safe sex behaviours, to reduce your risk of catching and passing on STIs.
- A condom can protect you from catching or spreading an STI and from unintended pregnancy. Even if you’re using a different method of contraception to prevent pregnancy, you still need to use a condom to protect you from STIs.
- Using condom-safe lubricants that are water or silicone based can help reduce the chance of the condom tearing.
- A dental dam is a thin piece of latex that should be used during oral sex to prevent the spread of STIs. It can be placed over the genitals or anus (back passage) before giving oral sex.
Doing these things reduce your risk of getting an STI, but there is still a chance of infection. Hormonal contraception such as the birth control pill does not protect you from STIs.
Single use only
Condoms and dental dams should never be re-used. Always use a new one and make sure to use it correctly.
Condoms don’t protect against all STIs
Condoms offer protection from many STIs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HIV.
However, condoms can't protect you from infections that can be spread through skin-to-skin contact, such as herpes, genital warts, mpox, pubic lice, or syphilis.
Get vaccinated
Vaccinations are available for hepatitis B, hepatitis A, HPV and mpox. For more information on high-risk groups, eligibility and vaccination:
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