Hepatitis B, syphilis, and HIV, the AIDS virus, can be spread by sharing needles or other objects contaminated by blood, as well as through sexual contact. STDs are not spread by handshakes, hugs, toilet seats, towels, dishes, telephone receivers, or insect bites.

Can you get a STD from a hand shake?

STDs are not spread through casual contact. Shaking hands, sharing clothes, or sharing a toilet seat, for example, would not lead to STDs.

Can you transmit STD by touching?

Yes. If you have sex with anyone, no matter their gender or genitals, there's a chance of passing on an STI. If you're touching your partner's genitals, or they are touching yours, then there is a risk of transmitting some STIs (such as HPV, genital warts, chlamydia, herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 and/or 2, syphilis).