1. I came across mycoplasma, ureaplasma, gardnerella etc - am I right in thinking that the advice given in your response #9836 about non-sexual exposures to my family (elderly parents and young nieces/children) from living in the same household, would also apply to these more “obscure” STDs - ie I do not need to worry about giving my parents or nephews/nieces any such STDs even if I’ve used the same towel or other non-sexual household item as them? So I still have nothing to be realistically worried about giving them something I have? (regardless of whatever medical conditions my parents might have, as mentioned in my follow up response to #9836).

1. You are at little risk for these infections, and in any case mycoplasma, ureaplasma and gardnerella are entirely normal in the genital tract and cause no harm or disease. You should not be tested for them. No STDs or genital bacteria are transmitted non sexually in household situations.

2. Condoms sometimes fail without realizing it. Consistent condom users are at much lower risk of STDs than non-users, but their risk is not zero. Regardless of condom use, all persons with sexual lifestyles like yours should be tested from time to time, regardless of having had no obvious condom failure.

HHH, MD