Swipe Right, Stay Safe: STD Risks in the Dating App Era

Since 2010, dating apps have made it easier for people to connect, form relationships, and be more socially active. However, their ease of use often leads to casual sexual encounters and an increased number of partners.

Sexual health awareness is vital for users of these apps. Users often remain anonymous, may not share their sexual and disease history, and expose partners to sexually transmissible diseases (STDs). Frequent STD testing is an important tool for keeping yourself safe and preventing the spread of these infections.

Dating Apps and Sexual Behavior

People using dating apps are more likely to have a greater number of sexual partners, more unprotected sex, more frequent sexual encounters, and more sexual partners with STDs and HIV infection. These apps themselves do not increase the likelihood of STD, but people using dating apps are likely to engage in unsafe sexual behaviors, such as:

• Oral, vaginal, or anal sex without a condom
• Having multiple partners or a partner who has multiple partners
• Having a partner who is an intravenous drug user
• Sexual debut at an early age, especially before 18 years
• “Friends with benefits” arrangements without any commitment
• Casual sexual encounters

Risks of Unsafe Sex

More than half (51%) of young people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are unaware of their condition. The incidence of new HIV infections is increasing, and 20% of these diagnoses are because of unsafe sexual activities. Such activities also put you at risk of unplanned pregnancy as well as other STDs.

Sexually active people should have regular STD testing, including for HIV, but this recommendation is rarely followed. There can be several reasons — costs, confidentiality, social factors, shame, and fear of revealing their activity on parents’ insurance. Without regular STD testing, people with STDs may unknowingly pass on their infections to their sexual contacts. 

Chlamydia

This STD is passed between humans by unprotected sex (sex without using a condom). Untreated chlamydia can cause severe health problems. Symptoms may start a week after infection or be delayed for several months.

Women may have:

• Bleeding after sex
• Vaginal discharge
• Pain when passing urine
• Pain in the lower abdomen

Men may have:

• Cloudy discharge from the tip of the penis
• Pain, burning, and itching around the penis and scrotum
• A burning sensation when passing urine

Chlamydia can be passed through vaginal fluid and semen. Chlamydia infection during pregnancy can pass to the unborn baby, causing eye infection (conjunctivitis) or pneumonia. 

Chlamydia can be diagnosed at a clinic and treated with a short course of antibiotics. Untreated chlamydia can cause joint pains, infections of the testicles in men, and infertility in women. Early treatment prevents these complications.

Genital Herpes

This STD is a viral infection and can be passed on by oral, vaginal, or anal sex. Herpes viruses cannot be eliminated from the body, but treatment helps with symptoms. The symptoms may come back from time to time. The common symptoms of genital herpes: 

• Tingling or burning around the genitals
• Small blisters and ulcers around the genitals, anus, and thighs
• Pain when passing urine
• Unusual discharge

Your healthcare provider can diagnose genital herpes by taking a swab from one of the blisters or ulcers. Antiviral medicines and creams for the pain help.

Genital Warts

This STD is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and causes small, rough lumps around the vagina, penis, or anus. The warts may not show up for several months after having unprotected sex with an uninfected person. The warts can be single or appear in clumps and may be itchy, painful, or prone to bleeding. Genital warts can also cause pain while passing urine and having sex. 

Treatment is not always effective, and the warts may come back even after initially effective treatment. The treatment options are: 

• Ointments and creams
• Surgical removal of the warts
• Cryotherapy (freezing the warts)
• Laser treatment

The HPV vaccine can prevent genital warts.

Gonorrhea

This is a bacterial STD passed on by unprotected sex. Symptoms most often start two weeks after infection but may be delayed for months. Gonorrhea is dangerous and causes severe complications, so you should seek testing if you think you may be infected, even without symptoms.

Symptoms in women are a yellow or greenish discharge from the vagina, pain on passing urine, pain in the lower abdomen, and rarely, bleeding in between periods. Men may have sore testicles, some fluid coming from the penis, and burning when passing urine. Gonorrhea can affect the eyes (conjunctivitis), joints, and the skin.

Women may suffer from pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause infertility. Men may get infections in the testicles or the prostate.

Gonorrhea can be treated with antibiotics, and getting treatment early is best. 

Syphilis

Syphilis is an STD with the potential to cause serious and life-threatening complications if not treated. It is transmitted by unprotected sex and the early symptoms are hard to notice. Some frequent symptoms are: 

• Small sores on the penis, vagina, or around the anus
• Sores on the lips, hands, or bottom
• White, gray, or wart-like growths
• A red rash on the palms and soles that can spread
• Fever and flu-like symptoms
• Hair loss

Symptoms may disappear on their own, but the infection persists in your body if you’re not treated. The infection can cause complications affecting the heart, aorta, brain, nervous system, bones, joints, skin, liver, testicles, and other organs. Antibiotic treatment can completely cure syphilis in the early stages.

HIV

HIV infection is spread through unprotected sex and causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This disorder weakens your immune system and makes you vulnerable to infections. HIV infection cannot be cured, but current medicines can prevent or slow the progression to AIDS. HIV is also spread by sharing needles, unsafe blood transfusions, and from mother to baby during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding.

How To Keep Yourself Safe When Using Dating Apps

The aim, always, should be safe sexual behavior:

• Avoid casual hookups and vet your partners
• Use condoms when having vaginal or anal sex
• Use a condom or latex or plastic dam to cover genitals during oral sex
• Arrange STD testing once a year and whenever you have a new sexual partner
• Complete the full course of treatment prescribed
• Don’t share sex toys

Next Level Urgent Care’s mission is to provide accessible, high-quality medical care to Texas communities. Our 45 clinics across the state offer affordable and discreet STD tests that deliver results quickly. Click here to find one of our clinics near you.