What’s Your STI Risk Level?

In recognition of April being National STI Awareness month, Let’s Talk STI risk levels.  

If you are sexually active, it’s important to know how often to get tested and what your risk level is.  

The first step is to identify if you have a high or low risk for an STI. If you engage in one or more high risk behaviors, you have a high risk of STI contraction. If you engage in only low-risk behaviors and no high risk behaviors (see below), you have a low risk of STI contraction. See below to see what the risk levels for sexual behaviors are:  

 (One or more behaviors= high risk of STI contraction) 

High Risk Behaviors for an STI:  

• You have had an STI within the last 2 years 

• You use condoms inconsistently 

• You are from a community with higher STI rates (ex: intravenous drug users, homeless, etc.) 

• You have had more than 1 sexual partner in the last 12 months 

• You have sex with more than 1 partner right now 

• You and/ or your partner have sexual activity with others.  

• You and/ or your partner misuse drugs, transactional sex or have been in jail.

(Three or more behaviors= low risk of STI contraction) 

Low Risk Behaviors for an STI: 

• You have tested negative for STI’s in the past 12 months 

• You and your partner have only been with each other for at least 1 year. 

• You have 1 sexual partner currently (and have not had other sexual partners in the past 12 months). 

• You and your partner use condoms consistently and correctly. 

• You engage in heteronormative (penile/vaginal) sex 

• You are not part of a community with higher STI rates (ex: intravenous drug users, homeless, etc.). 

• You get tested regularly (every 3-6 months or based on risk level-see charts below) 

 
Now that you know your current risk level, check out these tables from Campus Health and Wellbeing Website to see when to get tested based on you and your partner(s)’ anatomy: 

Now that you know when to get tested, make sure to stick to the schedule! You can get tested at the Cal Poly Health Center, places like Planned Parenthood, the Center, and your primary care doctor.