Outercourse: what it is, how to practise it and its benefits

Outercourse is sexual activity without penetration. It doesn’t have a strict definition. For some people it means any sex without vaginal intercourse, and for others it means no penetration at all, including oral and anal sex.

It can include:

• kissing, cuddling and touching
• erotic massage
• mutual masturbation, such as hand jobs
• rubbing or grinding against each other (dry humping), with or without clothes
• using sex toys on each other

Fingering and some sex toys involve putting something inside the body, so whether they count depends on your definition. Oral sex can pass on STIs, so it’s worth being clear with your partner about what you both mean.

Outercourse has a lot going for it:

• It carries a much lower risk of pregnancy than vaginal sex.
• It greatly lowers the risk of HIV and many other STIs.
• It has no medical side effects.
• It can help you take things slowly and find out what you and your partner enjoy.
• It can be an option when penetrative sex isn’t possible or isn’t what you want.

It isn’t risk free, though, as the next two sections explain.

Yes, some STIs can pass on without penetration. They spread through skin-to-skin contact of the genitals, or through fluids on hands and sex toys.

Through skin contact

• Herpes, even when there are no sores, and from a cold sore during kissing or oral sex
• HPV, which can cause genital warts
• Syphilis, through contact with a Syphilis sore
• Trichomonas and Chlamydia, through genital contact, even without penetration
• pubic lice and scabies, through close body contact

Through fluids on hands or toys

Chlamydia can spread through vaginal fluid or semen on hands or sex toys. Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea can also cause an eye infection if infected fluid gets into your eyes. Sharing sex toys can pass on Herpes, HPV and Trichomonas too. Read more in “Can you get an STI from a sex toy?”

The risk of HIV from touching is extremely low. It could only happen if body fluid from a partner with HIV reached a mucous membrane or broken skin.

It’s unlikely, but it can happen. Pregnancy is possible if sperm gets into the vagina, for example if your partner ejaculates very close to your vagina or their erect penis touches your vulva. Pre-cum can also contain sperm.

Outercourse isn’t one of the methods of contraception the NHS lists, and pulling out before ejaculation isn’t a reliable way to avoid pregnancy. If semen gets near your vagina, emergency contraception can help. A copper IUD can be fitted up to 5 days after sex and is the most effective option, and emergency pills work up to 3 or 5 days after sex, depending on the type.

A few simple steps lower the risk:

• Talk about what you’re both comfortable with before you start. Consent applies to every sexual activity, and either of you can change your mind at any time.
• Wash your hands before and after touching each other.
• Avoid touching or kissing if either of you has a cold sore, blister, sore or wart.
• Keep your clothes on if you’re grinding and want to avoid skin contact and pregnancy.
• Don’t share sex toys. If you do, wash them and put a new condom on them before anyone else uses them.
• Don’t touch your eyes after touching your partner’s genitals until you’ve washed your hands.
• Use a condom or dam if things move on to oral, vaginal or anal sex.

Read more in “Can you get an STI from giving a hand job?”

If you’ve only had outercourse, your risk is low. Get tested if you’ve had genital skin contact, or shared fluids or sex toys, with a new partner, or if you notice any symptoms.

Better2Know offers:

• Platinum Screen: our most comprehensive STI screen. It tests for 12 infections, including Herpes 1, Herpes 2, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Trichomonas and HIV, from 28 days after sex, with results in 3 days. If you test before 45 days, a negative HIV result needs a repeat test. You can book it at one of our clinics.
• Blemish Screen: if you have a sore, blister, lump or rash, it tests a swab for Herpes 1, Herpes 2, HPV and Syphilis, with results in 5 days.
• Peace of Mind: tests for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and Syphilis from 14 days after sex, with results in 2 days. A Syphilis test in the first 3 months after sex can miss the infection, so you may need a repeat test.

Not sure which test you need? Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

Is dry humping safe?

With clothes on, there’s very little risk of STIs or pregnancy. Without clothes, skin-to-skin contact can pass on infections like Herpes and HPV, and pregnancy is possible if semen gets near the vagina.

Can you get HIV from outercourse?

It’s extremely unlikely. There’s no risk of HIV from closed-mouth kissing, and extremely low to no risk from touching. A partner with an undetectable viral load can’t pass on HIV at all.

Can you get an STI from fingering?

Yes, but the risk is low. Fingering can pass on skin-contact infections like Herpes and HPV, and fluids on fingers can carry Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. Read more in “Can you get an STI from fingering?”

Outercourse can be a fun, lower-risk way to be intimate, and it lowers the chance of pregnancy and many STIs. But Herpes, HPV and Syphilis can still pass on through skin contact, and pregnancy can happen if semen gets near the vagina.

If you’ve had skin-to-skin contact with a new partner, or you notice any symptoms, get tested. Book a Platinum Screen at a clinic near you. Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

Not in the UK? Choose your country from the selector at the top of the page for local tests and prices.

This article originally appeared on 26 May 2023 and was last updated on 30 September 2026.

Medical review. This article was medically reviewed by Dr Steve Chapman, Doctor with a wealth of clinical experience in the field of STIs, on 2 October 2025. It is general information and not a substitute for personal medical advice.

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