Public forums often turn into places where people share worries they hesitate to bring up with a doctor. Reddit, especially, saw a surge of unusual yet genuinely important questions about sexually transmitted infections this year in 2025. A large number of these posts came from young adults who felt unsure about new symptoms, confused about how infections spread or overwhelmed by the flood of sexual-health content circulating online.The ten questions below may seem odd at first glance, but each one raises a medically sensible point. Together, they show how gaps in sexual-health awareness still shape the way people talk about intimacy and illness on the internet.What Is An STI?STI refers to a Sexually Transmitted Infection. It is an infection passed through sexual activity such as oral, vaginal or anal contact, and in some cases through non-sexual routes such as blood exposure or mother-to-child transmission. These infections can be caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites. Some lead to clear symptoms while others remain silent, but untreated cases can result in serious health problems. When an STI begins to cause notable medical issues, it is often described as a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD).Top 10 Weird But Medically Valid STI Questions People Asked On Reddit“Is it possible to get an STI if both people are virgins?”One user who had only engaged in oral and anal sex with another virgin noticed marks on their legs and wondered if infections could be “passed down by parents.” The spots disappeared on their own, likely due to shaving irritation, yet the question reveals a common misconception. STIs cannot be inherited genetically. They require actual transmission through sexual contact, blood or childbirth.“Can kissing, a blowjob or rimming spread an STI?”This question came from someone who had watched too many alarming clips about PrEP and safe sex on social media. They became so uneasy that they avoided going on dates until they understood the risks. Some infections can spread through oral sex and deep kissing, though the degree of risk varies. Their fear felt intense, but the doubt itself was completely reasonable.“Has anyone in Sri Lanka even had an STI?”A user in a regional subreddit asked whether STIs even “exist here” because no one talked about them openly. The framing sounded odd, but it reflected the silence that still surrounds sexual health in many places. STIs appear everywhere, though in some communities the subject is rarely discussed.“What is the real STI risk from a glory hole?”One of the year’s most unusual but earnest threads came from someone trying to understand whether anonymous sexual setups increase risk. They asked about skin-to-skin contact, bodily fluids and the impact of poor visibility. Though the question seemed strange, experts often point out that uncertainty about partners and surroundings can raise the chance of exposure.“For people who use glory holes, aren’t you worried about getting an STI?”Another thread took a more confrontational tone, suggesting that anyone who uses a glory hole “either already has an STD or doesn’t care.” Replies pushed back, saying that anonymity has many motives and that what truly matters is the use of protection and clarity about risk, not assumptions about a person’s character.“Would I break up with a new partner if they gave me an STI?”This question was framed like a moral dilemma, but the situation involved real medical timing. A woman had contracted an STI from a partner who had tested too early for the infection to show up on his results. One commenter suggested that the timing hinted at sexual activity very close to the start of their relationship. The discussion blended relationship boundaries with the science of incubation periods.“I have every symptom under the sun. Is this an STI?”A worried user described swollen tonsils, tiredness, muscle twitching, stomach cramps, cracking joints, night sweats and more. None of this lined up with any single STI, yet their panic was sincere. The thread showed how anxiety can turn normal bodily sensations into something that feels catastrophic.“Could I have an STD from giving oral once?”A person who had their first sexual experience by giving oral sex to an AFAB partner developed painful cracks on their genitals a few days later, even though there was no genital contact. They feared they had caught an infection. While genital cracks from oral contact alone are unlikely, some infections can move through oral-genital routes. Their confusion made sense even if the symptoms did not match the exposure.“Are these rashes from sex or something else entirely?”Several users described bumps, redness and irritation, convinced they must have an STI. Many replies explained that chafing, sweat, allergic reactions or grooming habits can look similar to infection symptoms.“My symptoms came weeks later. Could it still be an STI?”Some posters were puzzled when new bodily changes appeared long after a sexual encounter. They mentioned stomach issues, headaches or tiredness. While certain infections do have incubation windows, many unrelated issues can appear around the same time, which can lead people to make the wrong connection.These questions may sound strange, but nearly all came from people trying to understand their bodies and risks. They also show how much sexual-health education remains incomplete. Proper testing, routine medical visits and clear conversations with professionals are still far more dependable than guessing through anonymous internet threads.