Any woman or man participating in sexual activity is at risk of becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD). However, there are certain factors that increase this risk including:

• Participating in unprotected vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse or oral sex (mouth-to-genital contact).
  
  
• Having multiple sexual partners. The more sexual partners a person has, the greater their risk of being exposed to an STD. Having multiple partners also makes it less likely to know about each partner’s sexual history and drug habits.
  
  
• Having a sexual partner with a history of many sexual partners.
  
  
• Not knowing the sexual history of all sexual partners. 
  
  
• Illegal intravenous drug use. HIV/AIDS and some other STDs can be transmitted by sharing I.V. needles.