Why is this important?
When your immune system - your body’s defense against infections - is weaker from the anti-rejection medicines that you take to protect your transplanted organ, your body has a harder time fighting infections. That means you have a higher risk of getting all kinds of infections, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs). These can be more serious for people who have had an organ transplant.
If you have pain during sex, redness and tenderness in the genital area, or genital body fluid that is abnormal in color or smell, you could have an STI. Although there are usually symptoms, some STIs don’t give you any early warning signs and later, you can get very seriously ill.
This info is here to help you stay healthy and feel your best about your sexual health — no judgement, just support!
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This information is provided to help you stay healthy and take care of your sexual health after transplant. It’s meant to support you—without judgment—so you can make informed choices and feel confident about your body and your health.
How can I protect myself from getting a STI?
- Not having sex is the best way to prevent getting an STI. It is OK to wait. You should not feel pressured to have sex.
- If you are sexually active, talk to your partner about preventing STIs and get tested before having sex.
- Protect yourself by using latex or polyurethane condoms correctly EVERY time you have sex. Condoms are very effective in preventing STIs, although they are less helpful in preventing pregnancy (about a 20% failure rate). Another form of birth control, in addition to using condoms to prevent STIs, should be in place. This includes oral contraception (birth control pill), long-acting reversible devices (IUDs, implant) and injection (“the Depo-shot”).
- If you are sexually active, have sex with only one person who has sex with only you. This is called mutual monogamy. But you will still need to get tested for STIs first.
- Some types of sex (activity that tears skin and having anal sex) may increase the risk of getting an STI. Having sex with someone who has an STI and contact with body fluids that may carry infection also present a risk.
- Get the HPV vaccine (see below).
- Do not mix alcohol or drugs with sex. Your mind needs to be clear to make safer choices if you are having sex.
Vaccines for teens and young adults
- Keep up to date on your vaccines as a teen and young adult. The vaccines that are especially important for your sexual health and to prevent STIs are:
- HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine: This vaccine helps prevent certain cancers and genital warts. If you have had a transplant and are older than 9 years of age, you will be advised to get the 3-dose HPV series after transplant.
- Hepatitis B vaccine: Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The illness can last for a short time or become a chronic disease, lasting for a long time. HBV spreads easily through contact with infected blood and body fluids. Your PCP or transplant team will advise you on when you should get this vaccine
- Hepatitis A vaccine: Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus that spreads through close contact or by eating or drinking contaminated food. Getting this vaccination is the best way to prevent this infection.
Not sure what vaccines you’ve had? Just ask your provider what vaccines you need and help you schedule them at the right time.
Let’s Talk!
Talk about your sexual health concerns with your providers. Remember questions about sex are normal. Having a trusted provider you can talk to openly, in addition to your transplant doctor, is very helpful.
As you get older, it’s also important to have routine appointments and collaborate on your care with an adult primary care provider (PCP) and a gynecologist.
It’s also helpful to meet with an Adolescent Medicine provider while you are still at a pediatric transplant center. These providers specialize in taking care of teens and young adults. They can help you by providing information about safer sex, STI testing and treatment, and general reproductive health. They are experts at answering questions – even awkward ones!
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