Myth-busting about getting tested for STIs
You know they’re out there. You know the symptoms. You know the consequences. But when it comes right down to it, you probably don’t know if you have one.
I’m talking, of course, about sexually transmitted infections.
Most college students think that once the condom is on, their job is done. Not so fast! While wrapping it every time (for oral sex too!) is a great preventative measure, it’s not the last step in protecting your sexual health.
When I asked some of my sexually active friends if they’d ever been tested for STIs, most of them stared at me blankly. Even though half of all new HIV infections occur in people age 25 or younger, it appears that getting tested is not a popular phenomenon among the nation’s most at-risk.
Some of my friends gave me the run-down of their and their partner’s sexual history as proof of a clean bill of health. This kind of sexual inventory is totally ludicrous. Unless both you and your partner were virgins and have always been in a true-blue monogamous relationship, going on what your partner tells you about their sexual history is not the best way to protect yourself. Even if they are perfectly honest about their past, there’s no guarantee that the people they’ve been with were as truthful.
The bottom line is this: If you aren’t sure of the status of your own sexual health, how can you expect your partner to know theirs?
There’s an easy solution to clear up any doubt — just get tested. The medical standard is that if you’ve had three or more sexual partners in a year, you are a good candidate to get everything checked out. But I would advocate testing for anyone who’s been sexually active.
Taking good care of your sexual health can be nerve-wracking and confusing. Here’s a quick run-down of what do:
It’s a hassle, but getting tested is the responsible thing to do. Your partner might be a little freaked out if you announce that your next date is going to involve rubber gloves and needles, but just assure them that safety is always sexy.
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If you're a virgin, you don't even have to worry about STIs. Read other columns from Carnal Knowledge. Or you can return home.
That “Also on NBN” link isn’t true! If you’re still a virgin but you’ve engaged in oral sex you’re still at risk for STIs, including HIV, herpes, gonorrhea, and Hepatitis B.
Use a condom or a dental dam for oral sex unless every time unless you’re in a monogomous relationship and you’ve both been tested.
Otherwise you could get gonorrhea on your tonsils. And that would be real nasty.
Jessi Knowles
November 14, 2006 at 4:12 pm
Man, my first day perusing NBN, and I already feel like commenting. Only because I love you, Knowles.
Testing is great, but testing in Evanston is not. Civic center only costs $10 and you get a ton of condoms. Sounds like a deal, right? They only test for 4 things, and if you want more testing you have to pay $15 more and go down to the Chicago campus. The doctors/nurses are also on the other side of the creepy line. They also don’t call you back when you call repeatedly. I’m just saying.
Searle? Please. They test for the same 4 things as the Civic Center (HIV, Syph, the clap, and Gon) but it’ll cost you upwards of $130. And they claim there is no way to test for HPV or Herps or any number of other STDs that are common (trichomoniasis anyone?).
In short, go to a gynecologist or the male equivalent of that. They’ll test you for errrthang they can think of and it’ll probably be covered by insurance. Searle is ridiculous, and the Civic Center isn’t enough.
That is all.
Love, your sexually active friend,
Shayden.
PS – Emma got gonorrhea on her tonsils on Degrassi. “You gave me a SOCIAL DISEASE.” She wasn’t kidding, kids.
Shayden
November 22, 2006 at 2:06 am
Thanks love!
Yes, it is probably your best bet to get checked out by your regular health care provider if it’s covered by your parent’s health insurance and they either won’t find out or don’t care. So call up your insurance company before break, get their policy, and make a damn appointment. Early Christmas present to yourself.
If your parents finding out is going to be a problem, $10 for four tests is not bad, even if the docs are creepy. And there are definitely ways to test for HPV and herpes, as well as trich, so I don’t know who Searle thinks it’s fooling.
Jessi Knowles
November 22, 2006 at 12:19 pm
I’ve heard that to test for herpes at least there has to be a sore that they can swab. So I if you don’t have a sore I guess they can’t easily test for it?
Maybe?
Eh, ignore me.
Angelica
November 24, 2006 at 4:24 am
Tests done on actual sores are more accurate, but you can be tested for herpes with a simple blood test. Check out here for more info in herpes testing:
http://www.webmd.com/hw/genital_herpes/hw264763.asp
Jessi Knowles
November 24, 2006 at 11:43 pm
I heard that the test for herpes, as a minimum, there must be a pain they can swab. So if you think that pain is not easy to test for it?
trichomoniasis
July 13, 2009 at 12:05 am