Can you get STDs if you have multiple partners? 

Does having multiple sex partners always mean a sexually transmitted infection? If you have multiple sexual partners, are you more prone to STIs? 

So the answer is both yes and no. On one hand, when you do have multiple sexual partners, you're obviously putting yourself at a higher risk. Because it is as simple as saying that when there is one patient with fever and you go and meet that patient, and then you meet 10 such people on the same day to day basis, so you are more prone to getting that infection. On the other hand, if you have to get that infection, you will get it from that one person who has a fever. Here what we mean is, that sometimes even somebody with multiple sexual partners may not end up contracting an STI. 

This is possible if that person is following proper hygiene like Using a condom. A condom is the only protection that protects you from a sexually transmitted infection.  There are many things which will protect you from not having a baby, but the only thing that will save you from not having a sexually transmitted infection is a condom. It's a myth that sexually transmitted diseases are only transmitted through penetrative sex. Even oral sex, or cunnilingus or going down on somebody, can lead to herpes simplex virus or genital warts and these can happen even without penetrative sex. 

How to protect yourself?

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1. If you are going down on a woman use a dental dam. They can be made as a DIY protection, cutting your condom from both the sides and creating a dental dam. If you are interacting in anal intercourse, or rimming, what it's called, licking ass or eating ass then you are supposed to use the dental dam and that is how you are going to safeguard yourself from all the herpes infection or oral thrush.

2. If you are going down on a man use a condom. 

Penetrative sex can lead to 

• Human papillomavirus Gonorrhoeae 
• Chlamydial infection 

And to protect yourself from these you can either use male or female condoms for penetrative sex.

That is how multiple sexual partners can protect each other from STIs. So, if you are someone who's into casual dating or has multiple partners, you need to be very careful, otherwise, yes, you are more prone to getting STIs. If you are taking proper precautions, like using a condom, be aware that even non-penetrative sex can lead to sexually transmitted infections and follow proper hygiene and rules. Also if someone has a single partner and doesn't follow these steps then you can land up with an infection.