History Main / STDImmunity

** Averted with Artie, who after having a casual sexual relationship with two different women, finds out he has chlamydia. He's shocked, despite the fact that he says he never used condoms because buying them freaked him out.

* Nearly universal in period [[RomanceNovel Romance Novels]]. Some authors have noted that [[TropesAreTools this is a deliberate choice]]: romance novels are meant to be fantasies that definitionally come equipped with a HappilyEverAfter ending, not gritty, in-depth explorations of all the horrible ways that sex could go incurably wrong in the relevant periods. (It's much like how rarely the fairytale marriages lead to the complete legal subjugation of the heroine, and how unrealistically abundant non-despicable noblemen are. [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality If those had to be depicted realistically]], [[AnthropicPrinciple the genre wouldn't really exist]].)

* Nearly universal in period RomanceNovels. Some authors have noted that [[TropesAreTools this is a deliberate choice]]: romance novels are meant to be fantasies that definitionally come equipped with a HappilyEverAfter ending, not gritty, in-depth explorations of all the horrible ways that sex could go incurably wrong in the relevant periods. (It's much like how rarely the fairytale marriages lead to the complete legal subjugation of the heroine, and how unrealistically abundant non-despicable noblemen are. [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality If those had to be depicted realistically]], [[AnthropicPrinciple the genre wouldn't really exist]].)

* Averted in ''VisualNovel/BeingADIK''. Arieth has crabs, which is a problem for most of the male cast as she ReallyGetsAround; it is therefore easy to know who has slept with her. Played straight with the main character (who is notably the only major male character Arieth cannot have sex with), who engages in unprotected sex throughout the game (despite Neil's admonishment at the start of the game) and does not contract any [=STDs=].

* ''Film/FatalAttraction'' Dan sleeps with Alex, a woman he barely knows, without using a condom, as evidenced by him asking ''her'' about birth control. And the reason he's asking her this is that she's just told him that she's pregnant. Yet the thought that he might have caught something never enters his mind. Particularly glaring, since the film was made in 1987, a time when the [=AIDS=] crisis was in full swing (albeit it was often viewed as a "gay" plague).

Of course, many writers ''are'' aware of the risk of catching an STD, but since the plot of the story is not about somebody dealing with an STD they avoid bringing it up. This may have the unintended consequence that when a story ''is'' about catching/having an STD, the disease seems to be [[KarmicSTD a punishment for a lifestyle]], rather than a lapse in judgment in self-protection. Another consequence is that sex can be made to seem inconsequential.

Okay. Looks like we worked in the word "consequences" as much as we could.

* Averted in ''Literature/{{Gate}}''. There's a scene where a prostitute in the Special Region's capital wonders to a modern medical officer why the Men in Green (the JSDF) don't patronize them at all. The medic glares to a very heavy report at her side, titled "A Report on Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the Special Region".

* The aversion is actually a plot point in the ''Series/{{Castle}}'' episode "[[Recap/CastleS5E6TheFinalFrontier The Final Frontier]]". [[spoiler:Gabriel Winters' alibi for the murder of his former co-star, now-business partner, is that he was at the doctor's office getting treated for an STD.]]

* Dabbler from ''WebComic/GrrlPower'' mentions that she and her fellow Succubi are immune to most diseases, including [=STDs=].
--->'''Dabbler:''' [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-731-heres-the-windup-and-its-a-triple/ Heck, I can cure people of some ailments by sleeping with them.]]
--->'''Literally everybody:''' [[WorldOfSnark Like blue balls]].

* On ''Series/{{Hunter}}'', [=DeeDee=] has the same fears after she's raped by a South American diplomat. Nothing comes of it, fortunately.

* In ''Dead End'' (1937), the protagonist's ex-girlfriend has become a prostitute and is {{implied| trope}} to have syphilis. Her "sickness" [[TheDiseaseThatShallNotBeNamed goes unnamed]], however.

An obvious trope in most actual pornography.

* ''Series/{{Degrassi}}: The Next Generation'' had an episode where there was an outbreak of gonorrhea. Alex found out Jay was cheating after he was found to have the STD, and some girls also got it from having oral sex with him. This included Emma, who was to kiss a boy in a school play, but he gave her a fake kiss for fear of being infected. She didn't seem to care about infecting him, and [[WhatTheHellHero was called out for it by her friend.]]

* Makoto Itou of ''VisualNovel/SchoolDays''. Considering how often he [[AnythingThatMoves gets around]] and his apparent refusal to use protection, especially in the anime, it's a wonder he hasn't come down with at least ''one'' of these. Also, considering that his mother is a nurse, it's a wonder that he hasn't even thought of getting himself tested, nor has she made him get tested...

-->-- ''Blog/{{Things Mr Welch Is No Longer Allowed To Do In An RPG}}''

* During Chuck Austen's run on ''ComicBook/XMen'', there was a passing mention by Husk that mutants apparently can't get HIV. This was never mentioned before, was likely meant to include as a HandWave for why Archangel's [[HealingHands healing blood]] didn't carry the really obvious health risk, and has never been mentioned again. Angel also mentions it and a doctor confirms it.
* Part of the [[IncrediblyLamePun package]] Comicbook/{{Wolverine}} gets with his healing factor. In fact, he can't get sick ''period''. By extension, it also applies to Comicbook/{{Daken}} and Comicbook/{{X 23}}. Fortunate for the latter especially, since she spent time as a prostitute.
* ComicBook/SheHulk must have this, as she not only has never had any known problems but any children as a result of her numerous lovers over the years, something that has been an occasional problem for her cousin.
** That cousin at one point carried a blood-soaked HIV patient in his arms to the hospital with the hand-wave of "with my system, I'm immune."

Subtrope of IdealIllnessImmunity. It almost always goes hand in hand with UnproblematicProstitution. If this is part of a FreeLoveFuture, it may be related to WeWillHavePerfectHealthInTheFuture. Contrast the TragicAIDSStory.

* ''Series/{{Loving}}'' As Steffy prepared to seduce Clay, he rebuffed her advances, telling her, "I don't have any condoms". She assured him that she was on the Pill, completely disregarding that this would only prevent pregnancy, not disease transmission. Subverted a few years later on the SpinOff ''Series/The City1995'', after Sydney is raped by her husband Jared. When she goes to her doctor for an exam, she is very adamant about being tested for HIV and [=STDs=] (this is a standard part of a rape exam regardless), given Jared's penchant for infidelity.

An obvious trope in most actual [[UsefulNotes/Pornography pornography.]]

An obvious trope in most actual UsefulNotes/Pornography.

An obvious trope in most actual pornography.

* ''Series/{{Loving}}'' As Steffy prepared to seduce Clay, he rebuffed her advances, telling her, "I don't have any condoms". She assured him that she was on the Pill, completely disregarding that this would only prevent pregnancy, not disease transmission. Subverted a few years later on the SpinOff ''The City'', after Sydney is raped by her husband Jared. When she goes to her doctor for an exam, she is very adamant about being tested for HIV and [=STDs=] (this is a standard part of a rape exam regardless), given Jared's penchant for infidelity.

* Jeremy of ''Manga/ACruelGodReigns''. Despite the fact that he [[HookerWithAHeartOfGold worked as a teenaged prostitute]], stating himself that he took on 5 or 6 clients a night, and [[FunctionalAddict turned to injecting heroin]] to [[DrowningMySorrows avoid having flashbacks]] of his [[BrokenPedestal mother]] and the [[RapeAsBackstory abuse he received from his stepfather]], no one thinks to get him checked for [=STDs=], and he never gets sick from it, although here it seems to be a {{Defied Trope}}: Jeremy also tells Ian that he carried condoms every time he worked. And Ian himself [[TheCasanova gets around pretty damn well]].

* During Chuck Austen's run on ''ComicBook/XMen'', there was a passing mention by Husk that mutants apparently can't get HIV. This was never mentioned before, was likely meant to include as a HandWave for why Archangel's [[HealingHands healing blood]] didn't carry the really obvious health risk and has never been mentioned again. Angel also mentions it and a doctor confirms it.

-->'''Laurel:''' Now tell me Oliver, was that an overreaction?

* Averted in ''Film/CabinFever''. When two casual friends suddenly decide to jump into bed together, in the middle of a flesh-eating disease outbreak, the man is aware of how dangerous their affair is, and remarks to the woman how surprised he is that [[ButWeUsedACondom she didn't care about using a condom]] -- while they're in the ''middle'' of having sex. The woman [[BlatantLies tries to assure him that she's healthy,]] though she has no way of knowing this for sure and doesn't seem to care one iota about the health risks. As it happens, rashes -- which are the first symptom of the deadly disease -- break out by the woman's lover's passionate squeezes on her back while they're still having sex. Sure enough, the woman quickly deteriorates and dies thereafter, and the man later falls ill himself -- confirmed by a scene where he pulls up his hospital gown to find sickly welts just above his crotch.

* ''Film/FatalAttraction'' Dan sleeps with Alex, a woman he barely knows, without using a condom, as evidenced by him asking ''her'' about birth control. And the reason he's asking her this is because she's just told him that she's pregnant. Yet the thought that he might have caught something never enters his mind. Particularly glaring, since the film was made in 1987, a time when the [=AIDS=] crisis was in full swing (albeit it was often viewed as a "gay" plague).

** Three prisoners who are condemned to death are given the choice between a straightforward execution or being infected with HIV. The first prisoner opts for a quick death rather than potentially suffer for years. The second opts for HIV, saying that he'd rather live as long as possible. The third also opts for HIV. As the executioner injects him, he begins laughing maniacally. He continues laughing as they walk him to the gate of the prison and release him. Finally, a guard asks him what could possibly be so funny when he just got injected with HIV. The man answers, "You can't give me AIDS, you idiot! I'm wearing a condom!" and takes off running.

* Averted in ''Literature/TheNameOfTheWind''. In Kvothe's part of the world, it's rarely mentioned (because it's not really that relevant to him), but the Adem describe going to great lengths to avoid or remove venereal diseases. Kvothe notes how important this is in light of the amount of sex they have, and with how many partners.

* ''Literature/TheTeresaKnightTrilogy'': {{Averted}}. [=STDs=] are explicitly mentioned as a threat for people who have a lot of casual sex. The sex clubs portrayed all require members be tested first before joining.

* ''Series/{{Loving}}'' As Steffy prepared to seduce Clay, he rebuffed her advances, telling her, "I don't have any condoms". Shee assured him that she was on the Pill, completely disregarding that this would only prevent pregnancy, not disease transmission. Subverted a few years later on the SpinOff ''The City'', after Sydney is raped by her husband Jared. When she goes to her doctor for an exam, she is very adamant about being tested for HIV and STD's (this is a standard part of a rape exam regardless), given Jared's penchant for infidelity.

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Despite these being TheDungAges, no one seems to get [=STDs=]. Not [[TheVamp Queen Cersei]], not [[TheHedonist King Robert]], not [[LovableSexManiac Tyrion]], not [[CasanovaWannabe Theon]], not [[SoiledDove Shae]], not even [[HookerWithAHeartOfGold Ros]]. The trope is averted the [[Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire books]] at least in passing. A Tyrell camp follower gave a young lord an STI. One of the Targaryen kings allegedly died of an STD from a whore. Also, the prostitute enlisted to teach Dany how to pleasure men is implied to have been living with an STI, and she suffered a flareup when she was weakened by hunger. Still, [[PlotArmor none of the main characters ever get any]].
** Season 8 averts it though with an extra rather than a real character; one of the prostitutes that Bronn intends to have an orgy with is diagnosed with a venereal disease by Qyburn, who notes she doesn't have much to live much to Bronn's shock.

* Averted in ''Series/TorchwoodMiracleDay.'' No one can die anymore, and when Jack suggests a condom, his hook up laughs it off about how no one can die. Of course, Jack, [[ResurrectiveImmortality being better versed in the realities of immortality]], insists.

* Averted in ''Series/LawAndOrderSVU,'' which deals with sex crimes. Victims are encouraged to get tested-- in one particular {{Tearjerker}} episode, the rapist ''had'' in fact infected several of his victims. A similar episode of the [[Series/LawAndOrder The Mothership]] had a man deliberately infecting women via consensual sex and the prosecution trying to find a way to prosecute him for assault or murder.
** In one episode, a man who was raped complains about the fact that he won't know for sure he doesn't have HIV until after his honeymoon and he doesn't want to tell his fiance.

* ''Series/LostGirl'': The main character is a Succubus, and has such has ''lots'' of sex. Even if her male lovers used condoms (this is never confirmed), that wouldn't account for her female ones. However, she feeds during sex and can heal her injuries, so it's possible that if she did contract an STI she'd heal herself of it at the same time.

* ''Series/TheSexLivesOfCollegeGirls'': Leighton believed she had this due to only having sex with women, but then catches chlamydia. She's then told that no, having sex with women can infect her too. When she neglects to inform her sex partners like the doctor said to, one of the girls Leighton had given it to tells everyone later while she's seeking to pledge a sorority, embarrassing her publicly.

* Early rap pioneer Music/KoolMoeDee is considered to be the very first rapper to avert the trope with his self titled album's opener, "Go See The Doctor":

He'd hound em like a dog, so we used to say "fetch!"\\
And it was no tellin what he would catch\\

** The 4th Edition push of Paladins to any alignment allowed promiscupus paladins of goddesse of hedonism, lust, and similar pursuits, who got a lot of milage out of their immunity.

* In the same vein, ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' has the Resistant advantage. It allows to resist better to a variety of hazards and can go up to immunity. "Immunity to disease" is perfectly valid (and if taken with the 0-point feature "sterile", allows one to not have to worry about consequences of sex, well, other than potentially having to deal with a {{Yandere}} of either gender). The next step up is "Immunity to metabolic hazards", which means complete immunity to things that would only affect an organic body. It is part of the "Machine" meta-trait, for obvious reasons. [[SexBot Ideas are forming...]]

'''Peter''': I dunno Joe, that's it. We're out of known diseases. Unless...''[flies all the way to Africa to catch a mosquito in a jar]'' Alright, what this is has no name so you can't have it.\\

** Averted and played for laughs in "Road to the Multiverse", in which Quagmire contracts AIDS...but since he's in a universe where Christanity never existed and science is ''far'' more advanced than the main timeline, curing it is as simple as taking a pill.