You’ve probably heard the basics: wrap it up, get tested, avoid suspicious rashes. But Sexually Transmitted Infections have a long, strange history and some surprisingly modern twists. Whether you're a walking WebMD or someone who still thinks you can catch chlamydia from a toilet seat (spoiler: you can’t), this one's for you.

Let’s get into 10 STI facts that’ll leave your jaw on the floor and your pants responsibly fastened.

You read that right. Grandpa isn’t just playing shuffleboard. He’s also playing the field. Sexually Transmitted Infections are on the rise in retirement communities, with rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis spiking among the 65 and older crowd.

Why? The risk of pregnancy is gone, erectile dysfunction meds are flowing like prune juice at brunch, and no one’s having The Talk with the bingo crowd. But hey, sexually active seniors? We love to see it. Just don’t forget the condom.

Popstar Pro Tip: If you’re anywhere near retirement or just planning ahead, remember that age doesn't exempt you from testing. It just makes you wise enough to know better.

In the 1800s and early 1900s, some cities had “venereal disease hospitals.” And they weren’t exactly the Four Seasons.

These places were usually grim, highly stigmatized, and disproportionately targeted women. Some patients were even detained against their will under laws aimed at controlling “immorality.” A historical fun fact that’s somehow both fascinating and rage-inducing.

Let’s retire this myth already. Unless you’re doing things to that toilet seat that are not FDA-approved, the germs don’t work that way.

Sexually Transmitted Infections need direct skin-to-skin or fluid-to-fluid contact. So while the toilet at the gas station might give you anxiety, it won’t give you gonorrhea. Sit easy.

Yes, even the stuff you learned in high school health class was trying to downplay. STIs like gonorrhea, herpes, and syphilis can all be transmitted through oral sex.

If your idea of protection during oral is hoping for the best, it might be time to reevaluate. There are ways to reduce the risk including condoms, dental dams, and routine testing.

STIs aren’t some modern inconvenience invented to ruin your spring break. Syphilis may have originated in the New World and was brought back to Europe by Columbus’s crew (yikes). Gonorrhea dates back to ancient Greek texts, and herpes has been with us since the dinosaurs or at least since the dinosaurs with opposable thumbs.

In short: if you’ve ever had an STI, you’re participating in a long, weird, global tradition. Congratulations?

A huge number of Sexually Transmitted Infection cases are asymptomatic. Translation: you can have one, not feel a thing, and pass it on to someone else.

This is especially true for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HPV. That’s why regular testing is key even if everything seems fine below the belt. Waiting until there’s a rash, discharge, or unexplained burn is kind of like waiting for your check engine light to come on before adding oil. You can do better.

Timing tip: Get tested every 3 to 6 months if you're sexually active with multiple partners. Once a year if you're in a monogamous relationship, unless something changes.

HPV (Human Papillomavirus) gets a lot of attention in relation to cervical cancer, but it can affect anyone with genitals, which is, last we checked, most of us.

HPV can lead to genital warts, throat cancers, and anal cancers in people of all genders. Men are often asymptomatic carriers, which is why the vaccine is recommended for everyone. You’re not exempt, bro.

Most Sexually Transmitted Infections are treatable, and many are curable. The bigger problem? Shame. Embarrassment. That “I can’t tell my partner” feeling.

Stigma is what stops people from getting tested, from telling their partners, from getting treatment. That’s where things get messy.

Having an STI doesn’t make you dirty, irresponsible, or gross. It makes you human. Let’s de-stigmatize so people can de-louse, de-bump, and de-discharge. You’re welcome.

If you thought “super gonorrhea” was the name of a punk band, we have bad news. It’s real. Some strains of Sexually Transmitted Infections are becoming resistant to standard antibiotics, making them harder to treat.

The solution? You guessed it. Early detection, full-course treatments, and not hoarding antibiotics like they’re multivitamins. The longer you wait to treat something, the more time it has to get tricky.

This might not be in the medical textbooks, but if your partner is tasting something...off, it could be a sign to get tested. Infections can change the taste, smell, or texture of semen. Of course, so can things like smoking, diet, hydration, and medication.

Want to keep things fresh? Popstar Volume + Taste Supplement is loaded with ingredients designed to support semen quality and taste. Because if someone’s doing you the honor, why not be a gourmet experience?

If there’s one thing we hope you take away from this list, it’s that STIs are a part of life and they don’t have to be scary. They’re manageable, preventable, and way more common than most people realize.

Whether you're dating, committed, or somewhere in between, sexual health should never be a mystery or a shame spiral. Knowledge is sexy. Testing is responsible. And lube? That’s just good manners.

Want to make your sex life feel better and taste better too?
Try Popstar Volume + Taste Supplement or upgrade your glide game with Popstar Personal Lubricants.

Go forth, stay safe, and may your test results always come back boring.