What is “snowmanning”, and how is it related to STIs?

From “ghosting” and “breadcrumbing” to “love-bombing” and “cushioning,” ingenious internet denizens are hard at work categorising new behaviours people may encounter while dating online.

Although all these new terms may have arisen in the last few years, they describe actions that have long been common among courting couples. Labelling these behaviours can help us understand confusing situations better and give us tools for responding to them.

So, what’s “snowmanning”, and how is it related to STIs?

Keep reading to find out more.

Don’t “ghost” your sexual health – get a clear view of it with Better2Know’s Full STI Screen.

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What are STIs?

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections you can get through sex – primarily through unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral sex.

Some STIs are well-known. Infections like Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, and HIV are regularly screened for in most sexual health tests.

However, other, less well-known infections can also damage sexual health. Infections like Hepatitis B, Trichomonas, and Mycoplasma can be easily passed on, and it can be difficult for infected people to know they have them.

That’s why Better2know encourages all our patients to undergo regular STI testing if they’re sexually active. You may want to consider getting tested if you’re:

Having unprotected sex with a new partner
Have begun a sexual relationship with a new partner
Having sex with multiple partners

Many people also choose to get tested for STIs as part of a regular health check-up. Sometimes, you never know what you have until you test for it.

This leads us perfectly to “snowmanning”.

What is snowmanning?

“Snowmanning” is a term used to describe a courtship dynamic where one person’s interest in another “melts away” over the space of a short period of time, usually a few days or weeks.

This dynamic is nothing new. Interest in a new partner could fizzle out very quickly in many relationships. There’s nothing problematic with this in and of itself. Sometimes, romantic and sexual interest doesn’t last.

The term tends to describe relationships that form quickly and intensely over the winter months, especially during the holidays, before wearing off quickly and definitively in the new year.

However, it can be problematic when these temporary romantic interests overlap with a sexual encounter.

How are STIs connected to snowmanning?

A high proportion of UK adults have unprotected sex regularly, and don’t perceive much risk connected to the activity.

In a study published in 2018, 64% of men and 73% of women in the UK perceived themselves as not at all at risk for STIs. Moreover, more than 70% of men and over 85% of women were classified as having had unsafe sex in the past year. Those who had a prevalent STI also perceived themselves as not at all or not very much at risk of contracting another infection. As of 2022, there were 394,453 reported new STIs, with large increases in Gonorrhoea and Syphilis infections over the last decade.

Engaging in sexual activity with a new partner, especially unprotected sex, can increase the likelihood of getting unwanted STIs. If you have a sexual encounter and this new person melts away from your life, you may be left with a nasty infection.

If you experience snowmanning, you may not necessarily get an STI, but it may also increase your exposure. If you’re caught in an intense sexual relationship, you may be tempted to engage in unsafe sexual behaviours, which can put you at higher risk of getting an STI.

Such a scenario can be very common during the holiday season, when people are more likely to contract STIs because of increased drug and alcohol intake, connecting with new sexual networks, and decreased condom use.

How can I protect my sexual health?

You can protect your sexual health by taking the following precautions:

Use a condom during every sexual encounter unless you are in a committed monogamous relationship
When sharing sex toys, cover the toy during each use with a fresh condom. Don’t reuse condoms you have already used
Have open and honest conversations about your sexual health status
Weigh the risks and benefits of each sexual encounter carefully

And, of course, one of the most important things you can do for your sexual health is to undergo regular sexual health testing.

Final thoughts

Navigating the modern dating world can be tough. You may never know how to act, react, and think about certain situations.

But staying safe should always be your first priority. Maintaining your sexual health is vital for ensuring your overall health and the health of the people you care about.

Click the button below to book a comprehensive sexual health test at a sexual health clinic near you.