Can You Get an STI From Fingering? - Verywell Health

While the overall risk is low, you can get an STI from fingering. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are commonly passed through vaginal, oral, or anal sex, but there are several that have the potential—both theoretical and real—of being transmitted by hand-to-genital contact if there is infected semen or vaginal fluids on your fingers.

This article explores what the risks of STIs are from fingering and what you can do to avoid them.

Verywell / Laura Porter

STI vs. STD

An STI is the same thing as a sexually transmitted disease (STD). The term STI has largely replaced STD in recent years because the word "disease" has negative connotations, suggesting that a person is "diseased." On the other hand, STI connotes the spread of an infection not unlike any other infection, albeit by a sexual route.

What STIs Can You Get From Fingering?

Fingering is when you use your fingers and hands to stimulate your partner's vagina or anus. Also known as digital vaginal penetration, manual penetration, or heavy petting, fingering can be an enjoyable sexual activity on its own. It can also be part of foreplay.

Many people assume that fingering is a very safe form of sex, and they're mostly right.

There is very little research looking at whether fingering is an actual risk factor for transmitting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This is because few people limit themselves to only fingering during sex.

Even so, certain STIs like human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes, gonorrhea, and chlamydia have the potential to be passed through fingering.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Among the STIs often linked to fingering is human papillomavirus. HPV is extremely common and can be passed through skin-to-skin contact. In fact, most sexually active people will acquire HPV at some point in their lives.

Several studies have confirmed that the virus can be found under the fingernails of people living with genital HPV. This suggests that people can, in fact, transmit or acquire HPV from fingering.

The current research suggests that it is relatively low. A 2019 study from McGill University, which focused solely on the risk of HPV from fingering, recruited over 250 heterosexual couples who agreed to have their hands and genitals swabbed every few months.

The HPV samples from the swabs were then genetically "typed," allowing the researchers to determine the route of transmission from one partner to the next.

Based on the findings, the McGill researchers concluded that the risk of acquiring HPV from fingering was possible but "unlikely." In the end, the amount of HPV on the fingers was only a fraction of what was found in the genitals and generally not enough to establish an infection.

Fingering and Warts

HPV is the predominant cause of warts, both on the genitals and other parts of the body. However, the HPV types that cause hand warts are different than those that cause genital warts.

There are over 200 HPV types, each designated by a number. The types that cause warts include:

  • Common warts: HPV2, HPV7, and HPV22
  • Flat warts: HPV3, HPV10, and HPV28
  • Plantar warts: HPV1, HPV2, HPV4, and HPV63
  • Genital warts: HPV6, HPV11, HPV42, HPV44, and others

There are also 14 types (including HPV16, HPV18, HPV31, and HPV45) that are considered "high-risk" because they can lead to cancers, like cervical cancer. These HPV types do not cause warts.

Herpes

The one STI that can most likely be passed by the hands is herpes. This is the case not only with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), the type most commonly linked to genital herpes, but also possibly with herpes simplex virus type (HSV-1), the type commonly linked to cold sores.

Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be spread through skin-to-skin contact and can even be passed when the virus is active and no open sores are present. With that said, transmission is more likely when you touch an open sore and then finger the genitals or anus.

Fingering can also possibly lead to a condition called herpetic whitlow in which a lesion with tiny blisters will develop on a finger due to the transmission of the herpes virus. There may also be swelling, reddening, tenderness, and fever. In adults, HSV-2 is the most common cause.

Gonorrhea and Chlamydia

Other studies suggest that it may be possible to transmit gonorrhea and chlamydia through fingering. These bacterial STIs are transmitted mainly through sexual contact and can occur with or without ejaculation.

Studies involving men who have sex with men (MSM) suggest that gonorrhea and chlamydia can be passed to the anus and rectum through fingering. This is evidenced in part by studies among MSM couples in which was no difference in the rate of anal gonorrhea between couples who practices receptive penile-anal sex and those who did not.

It is been suggested that infected saliva may be the source of the infection, and while rimming (oral-anal sex) may be a prime route of infection, using saliva for fingering has also been implicated.

Studies have also shown that group sex among MSM increases the odds of STIs due to the lack of barrier protection and high rates of illicit drug use. A 2020 study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health reported that group sex in MSM independently increases the odds of risky fingering (defined as the lack of protective gloves and multiple fingering partners) by 60%.

It is also important to note that gonorrhea and chlamydia can both be passed to the eye if infected fluids (such as semen) are passed, commonly through touch. Known as gonococcal conjunctivitis and chlamydial conjunctivitis, these conditions cause symptoms of pink eye and, in severe cases, can damage the cornea of the eye.

Symptoms and Testing

If you think you may have been exposed to an STI, whether through fingering or intercourse, it's important to watch for symptoms and get tested. Some common symptoms of STIs include:

  • Discharge from the penis or vagina that is unusual in color, consistency, or quantity
  • Sores on the genitals or around the anus
  • Pain, swelling, or itching of the genitals or anus
  • A burning sensation when you urinate
  • Increased urination

Not all STIs produce symptoms, so if you had unprotected sex with a new partner or you've been told your partner has an STI, it's important to get tested even if you feel fine.

Reducing the Risk of STIs

People of all sexual orientations may engage in fingering. If you intend to practice vaginal or anal fingering, there are ways to make it safer. You can wear gloves or finger cots, making sure to change them when needed to avoid spreading body fluids.

You should also wash your hands between touching your own genitals and your partner's. It also reduces the risk of self-inoculation, such as passing herpes from your own mouth to your own genitals or vice versa.

If you have long nails, you can pad them with cotton before putting on gloves to provide support and prevent punctures. Or you may want to keep your nails trimmed and filed to prevent scratching your partner's genitals.

Summary

It is possible to pass certain STIs like HPV, gonorrhea, and herpes through fingering. Even so, most studies suggest that the risk is low to unlikely.

With that said, the risk is not zero. To be safe, you can use gloves or finger cots and wash your hands between touching yourself and touching your partner.

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