Hey Dr Sue — Are Women Biologically More Vulnerable To Catch STDs?

I don’t know what you mean by the second part of the question. But for the first part, yes, physiologically speaking, women are more likely to get an STI from unprotected vaginal intercourse.

Before I explain why, keep in mind that I specifically said unprotected vaginal intercourse. If a condom is used during vaginal intercourse, it’s going to cut down the risk of getting an STI.

The main reason is the tissue involved. Vaginal tissue is much thinner than that of the penis. This makes it easier for viruses and bacteria to get in.

Let’s look at more than just vaginal intercourse. For anal sex there’s a similar tissue concern. The tissue in the anus is thin, and because it doesn’t self-lubricate like the vagina, there’s more of a risk of tiny tears. These tears make it easier for viruses and bacteria to get into the body.

This means that it doesn’t matter if you’re male, female, or intersexed. What matters is whether or not you’re on the receiving end of anal sex. If you are, then you’re at higher risk of STIs than the other person.

Speaking of giving and receiving, let’s talk about oral sex. If someone is performing oral sex on you, and they have herpes, then they can spread that to your genitals.