If both my partner and I have the same sexually transmitted disease (STD), is it OK to stop using condoms for sex?

It might seem like since you and your partner both have the same STD you cannot infect each other. Unfortunately, this is not the case. A single STD (like HPV) can have many different strains or types, so it’s possible that you and your partner can infect each other with different types of the STD that you each have. Different infections in the same body can be harder to treat and can do more damage if untreated, so continuing to use condoms is a good idea.