In many states it is a criminal offense to intentionally or recklessly transmit a sexually transmitted disease (STD or venereal disease) to another person. Examples of such diseases include HIV/AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), genital warts, and hepatitis B.

Laws vary from state to state, and in some states these laws include other infectious or communicable diseases. In some states there is a specific criminal offense for transmission of sexually transmitted or communicable diseases, and in other states criminal prosecutors charge the defendant with a more general crime like assault.

Laws regarding criminal liability for the intentional or reckless transmission of sexual or other infectious or communicable diseases are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code, or the health and safety code.

A person who negligently transmits a sexually transmitted disease to another person through sexual contact—without informing the other person of the offender’s infection before the sexual contact—may also be subject to civil liability for money damages in a lawsuit.

In Iowa, the transmission of a sexually transmitted disease (STD) can lead to criminal charges under certain circumstances. Iowa Code Section 709C.1 specifically addresses the criminal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but other STDs may fall under different statutes. Under this law, it is a felony for an individual who knows they are infected with HIV to engage in intimate contact with another person without disclosing their HIV-positive status prior to the contact. The law also covers the transmission of HIV through the donation of body fluids, organs, or tissues, and the sharing of intravenous or intramuscular injection devices. For STDs other than HIV, charges might be brought under general criminal laws such as assault if the transmission was intentional or reckless. Additionally, individuals who negligently transmit an STD without informing their partner may face civil lawsuits for damages.