STIs that spread through skin-to-skin contact (herpes, HPV) can still spread with condom use, especially if either partner has any open sores or lesions.
In general, condoms do protect against STIs that are spread through bodily fluids (semen, blood, and anal or vaginal fluids). However, they are not all created equally. Preface: All sexually transmitted infections are bad for your health. But while tops and bottoms are equal, their differing roles do come with different health issues and responsibilities that every gay and bisexual man should be well informed about, regardless of sexual position.
And while the “give and receive” of actions and pleasures may ebb and flow during intercourse, most people generally prefer one role or another. In any sexual encounter, gay, straight, or otherwise, one person typically assumes the dominant role while the other takes on a submissive role in the bedroom. The age-old binary relationship between the top and the bottom is as simple as it is complex.
