Making STD Clinics Disability-Friendly: The Key to Inclusive Sexual Health Care
Why͏͏ STD͏͏ Testing͏͏ Before͏͏ a͏͏ New͏͏ Relationship͏͏ Matters
STDs͏͏ Are͏͏ More͏͏ Common͏͏ Than͏͏ You͏͏ Think
Many͏͏ people͏͏ assume͏͏ they͏͏ don’t͏͏ need͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ test͏͏ if͏͏ they͏͏ feel͏͏ fine.͏͏ But͏͏ did͏͏ you͏͏ know͏͏ that͏͏ most͏͏ STDs͏͏ show͏͏ no͏͏ symptoms?͏͏ According͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ CDC,͏͏ up͏͏ to͏͏ 70%͏͏ of͏͏ chlamydia͏͏ cases͏͏ and͏͏ 50%͏͏ of͏͏ gonorrhea͏͏ cases͏͏ are͏͏ asymptomatic.͏͏ You͏͏ or͏͏ your͏͏ partner͏͏ could͏͏ have͏͏ an͏͏ infection͏͏ without͏͏ realizing͏͏ it.
One͏͏ Reddit͏͏ user͏͏ shared͏͏ their͏͏ story:
"I͏͏ had͏͏ been͏͏ in͏͏ a͏͏ monogamous͏͏ relationship͏͏ for͏͏ years.͏͏ When͏͏ I͏͏ got͏͏ out͏͏ of͏͏ it,͏͏ I͏͏ thought͏͏ I͏͏ was͏͏ fine.͏͏ I͏͏ had͏͏ no͏͏ symptoms,͏͏ no͏͏ issues.͏͏ When͏͏ I͏͏ started͏͏ dating͏͏ again,͏͏ I͏͏ decided͏͏ to͏͏ get͏͏ tested,͏͏ just͏͏ in͏͏ case.͏͏ Turns͏͏ out,͏͏ I͏͏ had͏͏ chlamydia͏͏ for͏͏ who͏͏ knows͏͏ how͏͏ long.͏͏ I͏͏ would͏͏ have͏͏ unknowingly͏͏ passed͏͏ it͏͏ to͏͏ someone͏͏ new͏͏ if͏͏ I͏͏ hadn’t͏͏ gotten͏͏ checked."
This͏͏ story͏͏ highlights͏͏ why͏͏ testing͏͏ should͏͏ be͏͏ a͏͏ routine͏͏ health͏͏ check-up͏͏ rather͏͏ than͏͏ something͏͏ to͏͏ be͏͏ ashamed͏͏ of.
Preventing͏͏ Long-Term͏͏ Health͏͏ Complications
Untreated͏͏ STDs͏͏ can͏͏ cause͏͏ serious͏͏ health͏͏ issues,͏͏ including:
- Infertility͏͏ (chlamydia͏͏ and͏͏ gonorrhea͏͏ can͏͏ cause͏͏ pelvic͏͏ inflammatory͏͏ disease͏͏ in͏͏ women͏͏ and͏͏ affect͏͏ sperm͏͏ health͏͏ in͏͏ men)
- Increased͏͏ risk͏͏ of͏͏ HIV͏͏ (having͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ like͏͏ herpes͏͏ or͏͏ syphilis͏͏ makes͏͏ it͏͏ easier͏͏ to͏͏ contract͏͏ HIV)
- Organ͏͏ damage͏͏ (untreated͏͏ syphilis͏͏ can͏͏ affect͏͏ the͏͏ brain,͏͏ heart,͏͏ and͏͏ nerves)
It’s͏͏ not͏͏ just͏͏ about͏͏ protecting͏͏ yourself—it’s͏͏ about͏͏ ensuring͏͏ a͏͏ healthy͏͏ future͏͏ for͏͏ your͏͏ relationships͏͏ and͏͏ well-being.
Trust͏͏ and͏͏ Transparency͏͏ in͏͏ Relationships
Starting͏͏ a͏͏ relationship͏͏ with͏͏ honesty͏͏ and͏͏ open͏͏ communication͏͏ is͏͏ key͏͏ to͏͏ building͏͏ trust.͏͏ Talking͏͏ about͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ might͏͏ feel͏͏ awkward,͏͏ but͏͏ it͏͏ shows͏͏ that͏͏ you:
- Respect͏͏ your͏͏ partner’s͏͏ health
- Value͏͏ honesty
- Want͏͏ to͏͏ build͏͏ a͏͏ foundation͏͏ of͏͏ trust
In͏͏ contrast,͏͏ avoiding͏͏ the͏͏ conversation͏͏ can͏͏ lead͏͏ to͏͏ misunderstandings,͏͏ resentment,͏͏ or͏͏ worse—someone͏͏ unknowingly͏͏ passing͏͏ an͏͏ infection͏͏ to͏͏ their͏͏ partner.
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Challenges͏͏ of͏͏ Getting͏͏ Tested͏͏ Before͏͏ a͏͏ Relationship
Despite͏͏ the͏͏ benefits,͏͏ many͏͏ people͏͏ hesitate͏͏ to͏͏ get͏͏ tested.͏͏ Why?
Fear͏͏ of͏͏ Judgment
People͏͏ worry͏͏ their͏͏ partner͏͏ will͏͏ assume͏͏ they͏͏ have͏͏ been͏͏ "sleeping͏͏ around"͏͏ if͏͏ they͏͏ suggest͏͏ STD͏͏ testing.͏͏ But͏͏ the͏͏ truth͏͏ is,͏͏ regular͏͏ testing͏͏ is͏͏ a͏͏ sign͏͏ of͏͏ responsibility,͏͏ not͏͏ promiscuity.
A͏͏ user͏͏ on͏͏ a͏͏ dating͏͏ forum͏͏ shared:
"When͏͏ I͏͏ asked͏͏ my͏͏ boyfriend͏͏ if͏͏ we͏͏ could͏͏ both͏͏ get͏͏ tested͏͏ before͏͏ sleeping͏͏ together,͏͏ he͏͏ got͏͏ offended͏͏ and͏͏ said͏͏ he͏͏ ‘wasn’t͏͏ dirty.’͏͏ I͏͏ had͏͏ to͏͏ explain͏͏ that͏͏ it’s͏͏ just͏͏ a͏͏ normal͏͏ health͏͏ check-up,͏͏ like͏͏ a͏͏ dentist͏͏ visit.͏͏ Once͏͏ he͏͏ understood,͏͏ he͏͏ agreed."
Normalizing͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ is͏͏ essential.
Cost͏͏ and͏͏ Accessibility
Not͏͏ everyone͏͏ has͏͏ easy͏͏ access͏͏ to͏͏ STD͏͏ testing.͏͏ Some͏͏ people:
- Don’t͏͏ have͏͏ insurance͏͏ that͏͏ covers͏͏ testing
- Feel͏͏ uncomfortable͏͏ going͏͏ to͏͏ a͏͏ clinic
- Live͏͏ in͏͏ areas͏͏ with͏͏ limited͏͏ healthcare͏͏ services
Thankfully,͏͏ at-home͏͏ STD͏͏ test͏͏ kits͏͏ are͏͏ making͏͏ testing͏͏ easier͏͏ and͏͏ more͏͏ private͏͏ than͏͏ ever.
Fear͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ Results
Many͏͏ people͏͏ would͏͏ rather͏͏ not͏͏ know͏͏ if͏͏ they͏͏ have͏͏ an͏͏ STD,͏͏ fearing͏͏ how͏͏ it͏͏ might͏͏ affect͏͏ their͏͏ relationship.͏͏ But͏͏ ignoring͏͏ the͏͏ problem͏͏ doesn’t͏͏ make͏͏ it͏͏ go͏͏ away.͏͏ If͏͏ you͏͏ do͏͏ test͏͏ positive,͏͏ most͏͏ STDs͏͏ are͏͏ treatable,͏͏ and͏͏ early͏͏ detection͏͏ makes͏͏ treatment͏͏ much͏͏ easier.
How͏͏ to͏͏ Talk͏͏ to͏͏ Your͏͏ Partner͏͏ About͏͏ Getting͏͏ Tested
Bringing͏͏ up͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ in͏͏ a͏͏ new͏͏ relationship͏͏ can͏͏ be͏͏ tricky,͏͏ but͏͏ it͏͏ doesn’t͏͏ have͏͏ to͏͏ be͏͏ awkward.͏͏ Here͏͏ are͏͏ some͏͏ practical͏͏ ways͏͏ to͏͏ approach͏͏ the͏͏ conversation:
Normalize͏͏ It
Instead͏͏ of͏͏ making͏͏ it͏͏ a͏͏ big,͏͏ dramatic͏͏ conversation,͏͏ keep͏͏ it͏͏ casual:
"Hey,͏͏ I͏͏ think͏͏ it’s͏͏ a͏͏ good͏͏ idea͏͏ for͏͏ both͏͏ of͏͏ us͏͏ to͏͏ get͏͏ tested͏͏ before͏͏ we͏͏ take͏͏ things͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ next͏͏ level.͏͏ It’s͏͏ just͏͏ something͏͏ I͏͏ do͏͏ for͏͏ my͏͏ health,͏͏ and͏͏ I’d͏͏ feel͏͏ better͏͏ if͏͏ we͏͏ both͏͏ did͏͏ it."
This͏͏ frames͏͏ testing͏͏ as͏͏ a͏͏ routine͏͏ health͏͏ measure,͏͏ not͏͏ an͏͏ accusation.
Offer͏͏ to͏͏ Get͏͏ Tested͏͏ Together
Some͏͏ people͏͏ feel͏͏ more͏͏ comfortable͏͏ if͏͏ they’re͏͏ not͏͏ alone͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ process.͏͏ Suggest͏͏ going͏͏ together͏͏ or͏͏ using͏͏ at-home͏͏ STD͏͏ test͏͏ kits͏͏ at͏͏ the͏͏ same͏͏ time.
Emphasize͏͏ Mutual͏͏ Care
Make͏͏ it͏͏ about͏͏ protecting͏͏ each͏͏ other͏͏ rather͏͏ than͏͏ implying͏͏ mistrust:
"I͏͏ respect͏͏ you,͏͏ and͏͏ I͏͏ want͏͏ to͏͏ make͏͏ sure͏͏ we’re͏͏ both͏͏ starting͏͏ off͏͏ healthy."
Most͏͏ reasonable͏͏ partners͏͏ will͏͏ understand͏͏ and͏͏ appreciate͏͏ your͏͏ honesty.
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What͏͏ Are͏͏ Your͏͏ STD͏͏ Testing͏͏ Options?
At-Home͏͏ STD͏͏ Testing
At-home͏͏ STD͏͏ test͏͏ kits͏͏ are:
- Private͏͏ and͏͏ discreet
- Easy͏͏ to͏͏ use͏͏ (collect͏͏ a͏͏ sample͏͏ at͏͏ home͏͏ and͏͏ mail͏͏ it͏͏ to͏͏ a͏͏ lab)
- Available͏͏ for͏͏ multiple͏͏ STDs,͏͏ including͏͏ chlamydia,͏͏ gonorrhea,͏͏ syphilis,͏͏ and͏͏ HIV
Visiting͏͏ a͏͏ Healthcare͏͏ Provider
Your͏͏ doctor͏͏ can͏͏ recommend͏͏ which͏͏ tests͏͏ you͏͏ need͏͏ based͏͏ on͏͏ your͏͏ sexual͏͏ history.
Free͏͏ and͏͏ Low-Cost͏͏ Clinics
Planned͏͏ Parenthood͏͏ and͏͏ local͏͏ health͏͏ departments͏͏ often͏͏ provide͏͏ affordable͏͏ or͏͏ free͏͏ STD͏͏ testing.
Statistics͏͏ and͏͏ Data:͏͏ The͏͏ Reality͏͏ of͏͏ STD͏͏ Prevalence
To͏͏ better͏͏ understand͏͏ why͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ is͏͏ important͏͏ before͏͏ entering͏͏ a͏͏ new͏͏ relationship,͏͏ let’s͏͏ take͏͏ a͏͏ look͏͏ at͏͏ the͏͏ numbers:
- 1͏͏ in͏͏ 5͏͏ people͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ U.S.͏͏ has͏͏ an͏͏ STI͏͏ at͏͏ any͏͏ given͏͏ time͏͏ –͏͏ Centers͏͏ for͏͏ Disease͏͏ Control͏͏ and͏͏ Prevention͏͏ (CDC)
- 50%͏͏ of͏͏ sexually͏͏ active͏͏ people͏͏ will͏͏ contract͏͏ an͏͏ STI͏͏ by͏͏ the͏͏ age͏͏ of͏͏ 25͏͏ –͏͏ American͏͏ Sexual͏͏ Health͏͏ Association
- Over͏͏ 70%͏͏ of͏͏ chlamydia͏͏ cases͏͏ and͏͏ 50%͏͏ of͏͏ gonorrhea͏͏ cases͏͏ show͏͏ no͏͏ symptoms͏͏ –͏͏ CDC
- HPV͏͏ (Human͏͏ Papillomavirus)͏͏ is͏͏ the͏͏ most͏͏ common͏͏ STI,͏͏ with͏͏ nearly͏͏ all͏͏ sexually͏͏ active͏͏ adults͏͏ contracting͏͏ it͏͏ at͏͏ some͏͏ point͏͏ –͏͏ National͏͏ Cancer͏͏ Institute
- Only͏͏ 12%͏͏ of͏͏ adults͏͏ discuss͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ with͏͏ their͏͏ partner͏͏ before͏͏ becoming͏͏ sexually͏͏ active͏͏ –͏͏ Kaiser͏͏ Family͏͏ Foundation
These͏͏ statistics͏͏ highlight͏͏ a͏͏ major͏͏ problem:͏͏ STDs͏͏ are͏͏ widespread,͏͏ often͏͏ symptomless,͏͏ and͏͏ rarely͏͏ talked͏͏ about͏͏ before͏͏ intimacy.͏͏ This͏͏ is͏͏ why͏͏ getting͏͏ tested͏͏ before͏͏ a͏͏ new͏͏ relationship͏͏ is͏͏ one͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ most͏͏ responsible͏͏ health͏͏ decisions͏͏ you͏͏ can͏͏ make.
Expert͏͏ Opinions͏͏ and͏͏ Real-Life͏͏ Testimonials
Medical͏͏ professionals͏͏ overwhelmingly͏͏ support͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ before͏͏ a͏͏ new͏͏ relationship:
Dr.͏͏ Lisa͏͏ Richardson,͏͏ Infectious͏͏ Disease͏͏ Specialist
"Testing͏͏ before͏͏ a͏͏ new͏͏ relationship͏͏ is͏͏ a͏͏ form͏͏ of͏͏ preventative͏͏ healthcare.͏͏ We͏͏ don’t͏͏ wait͏͏ for͏͏ cavities͏͏ to͏͏ check͏͏ our͏͏ teeth;͏͏ we͏͏ shouldn’t͏͏ wait͏͏ for͏͏ symptoms͏͏ to͏͏ check͏͏ our͏͏ sexual͏͏ health͏͏ either."
Dr.͏͏ Alan͏͏ Carter,͏͏ Sexual͏͏ Health͏͏ Researcher
"The͏͏ biggest͏͏ misconception͏͏ is͏͏ that͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ is͏͏ only͏͏ for͏͏ people͏͏ who͏͏ suspect͏͏ they͏͏ have͏͏ something.͏͏ Regular͏͏ testing͏͏ is͏͏ about͏͏ maintaining͏͏ health,͏͏ not͏͏ just͏͏ diagnosing͏͏ illness."
Real-life͏͏ testimonials͏͏ reinforce͏͏ this:
"I’ve͏͏ been͏͏ with͏͏ my͏͏ boyfriend͏͏ for͏͏ three͏͏ years͏͏ now.͏͏ On͏͏ our͏͏ second͏͏ date,͏͏ he͏͏ casually͏͏ mentioned͏͏ getting͏͏ tested͏͏ together͏͏ before͏͏ becoming͏͏ intimate.͏͏ At͏͏ first,͏͏ I͏͏ was͏͏ surprised,͏͏ but͏͏ I͏͏ appreciated͏͏ how͏͏ mature͏͏ and͏͏ responsible͏͏ he͏͏ was.͏͏ It͏͏ gave͏͏ me͏͏ so͏͏ much͏͏ trust͏͏ in͏͏ him."͏͏ –͏͏ Sarah,͏͏ 28
"I͏͏ was͏͏ once͏͏ unknowingly͏͏ exposed͏͏ to͏͏ herpes͏͏ by͏͏ a͏͏ past͏͏ partner.͏͏ Ever͏͏ since,͏͏ I͏͏ make͏͏ sure͏͏ to͏͏ get͏͏ tested͏͏ and͏͏ ask͏͏ my͏͏ partners͏͏ to͏͏ do͏͏ the͏͏ same.͏͏ It’s͏͏ a͏͏ simple͏͏ step͏͏ that͏͏ saves͏͏ a͏͏ lot͏͏ of͏͏ heartache."͏͏ –͏͏ Mike,͏͏ 34
Common͏͏ Misconceptions͏͏ About͏͏ STD͏͏ Testing
There͏͏ are͏͏ many͏͏ myths͏͏ surrounding͏͏ STD͏͏ testing.͏͏ Let’s͏͏ clear͏͏ some͏͏ of͏͏ them͏͏ up:
“I͏͏ Don’t͏͏ Have͏͏ Symptoms,͏͏ So͏͏ I͏͏ Don’t͏͏ Need͏͏ to͏͏ Get͏͏ Tested”
Most͏͏ STDs͏͏ are͏͏ asymptomatic͏͏ for͏͏ months͏͏ or͏͏ even͏͏ years.͏͏ The͏͏ only͏͏ way͏͏ to͏͏ know͏͏ for͏͏ sure͏͏ is͏͏ through͏͏ testing.
“Getting͏͏ Tested͏͏ Means͏͏ I͏͏ Don’t͏͏ Trust͏͏ My͏͏ Partner”
STD͏͏ testing͏͏ is͏͏ about͏͏ mutual͏͏ health͏͏ and͏͏ responsibility,͏͏ not͏͏ suspicion͏͏ or͏͏ mistrust.
“Only͏͏ Promiscuous͏͏ People͏͏ Get͏͏ STDs”
STDs͏͏ don’t͏͏ care͏͏ about͏͏ your͏͏ relationship͏͏ history.͏͏ Even͏͏ people͏͏ in͏͏ monogamous͏͏ relationships͏͏ can͏͏ contract͏͏ infections͏͏ from͏͏ previous͏͏ partners.
“Condoms͏͏ Protect͏͏ Against͏͏ All͏͏ STDs”
While͏͏ condoms͏͏ significantly͏͏ reduce͏͏ risk,͏͏ they͏͏ don’t͏͏ fully͏͏ protect͏͏ against͏͏ infections͏͏ like͏͏ herpes,͏͏ HPV,͏͏ and͏͏ syphilis,͏͏ which͏͏ can͏͏ spread͏͏ through͏͏ skin-to-skin͏͏ contact.
“STD͏͏ Testing͏͏ is͏͏ Expensive͏͏ and͏͏ Difficult”
There͏͏ are͏͏ affordable͏͏ and͏͏ accessible͏͏ options,͏͏ including͏͏ free͏͏ clinics͏͏ and͏͏ at-home͏͏ test͏͏ kits.
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FAQ
1. How͏͏ often͏͏ should͏͏ I͏͏ get͏͏ tested͏͏ for͏͏ STDs?
It͏͏ depends͏͏ on͏͏ your͏͏ sexual͏͏ activity.͏͏ The͏͏ CDC͏͏ recommends͏͏ once͏͏ a͏͏ year͏͏ for͏͏ most͏͏ sexually͏͏ active͏͏ adults͏͏ and͏͏ every͏͏ 3-6͏͏ months͏͏ for͏͏ those͏͏ with͏͏ multiple͏͏ partners.
2.͏͏ What͏͏ STDs͏͏ should͏͏ I͏͏ test͏͏ for͏͏ before͏͏ a͏͏ new͏͏ relationship?
A͏͏ standard͏͏ panel͏͏ usually͏͏ includes͏͏ chlamydia,͏͏ gonorrhea,͏͏ syphilis,͏͏ HIV,͏͏ herpes,͏͏ HPV,͏͏ and͏͏ hepatitis͏͏ B͏͏ &͏͏ C.
3.͏͏ Should͏͏ both͏͏ partners͏͏ get͏͏ tested?
Yes!͏͏ Both͏͏ partners͏͏ should͏͏ be͏͏ tested͏͏ before͏͏ becoming͏͏ intimate͏͏ to͏͏ ensure͏͏ mutual͏͏ safety.
4.͏͏ What͏͏ if͏͏ my͏͏ partner͏͏ refuses͏͏ to͏͏ get͏͏ tested?
This͏͏ is͏͏ a͏͏ red͏͏ flag.͏͏ If͏͏ your͏͏ partner͏͏ is͏͏ unwilling͏͏ to͏͏ prioritize͏͏ health,͏͏ reconsider͏͏ their͏͏ level͏͏ of͏͏ responsibility͏͏ and͏͏ trustworthiness.
5.͏͏ How͏͏ do͏͏ I͏͏ bring͏͏ up͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ with͏͏ my͏͏ partner?
Be͏͏ casual͏͏ and͏͏ straightforward:͏͏ “I͏͏ think͏͏ it’s͏͏ important͏͏ for͏͏ both͏͏ of͏͏ us͏͏ to͏͏ get͏͏ tested͏͏ before͏͏ we͏͏ take͏͏ things͏͏ further.͏͏ It’s͏͏ just͏͏ something͏͏ I͏͏ do͏͏ for͏͏ my͏͏ health.”
6.͏͏ Can͏͏ I͏͏ use͏͏ an͏͏ at-home͏͏ STD͏͏ test͏͏ instead͏͏ of͏͏ going͏͏ to͏͏ a͏͏ doctor?
Yes!͏͏ At-home͏͏ STD͏͏ tests͏͏ are͏͏ private,͏͏ easy͏͏ to͏͏ use,͏͏ and͏͏ just͏͏ as͏͏ accurate͏͏ as͏͏ lab͏͏ testing.
7.͏͏ What͏͏ happens͏͏ if͏͏ I͏͏ test͏͏ positive͏͏ for͏͏ an͏͏ STD?
Most͏͏ STDs͏͏ are͏͏ treatable͏͏ or͏͏ manageable.͏͏ Your͏͏ doctor͏͏ will͏͏ guide͏͏ you͏͏ through͏͏ treatment͏͏ options.
8.͏͏ Can͏͏ I͏͏ get͏͏ tested͏͏ for͏͏ all͏͏ STDs͏͏ with͏͏ a͏͏ blood͏͏ test?
Not͏͏ all͏͏ STDs͏͏ are͏͏ detected͏͏ through͏͏ blood͏͏ tests.͏͏ Some͏͏ require͏͏ urine͏͏ samples͏͏ or͏͏ swabs.
9.͏͏ Is͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ covered͏͏ by͏͏ insurance?
Many͏͏ insurance͏͏ plans͏͏ cover͏͏ annual͏͏ STD͏͏ screenings,͏͏ and͏͏ some͏͏ clinics͏͏ offer͏͏ free͏͏ or͏͏ low-cost͏͏ testing.
10.͏͏ What͏͏ if͏͏ I͏͏ feel͏͏ embarrassed͏͏ about͏͏ getting͏͏ tested?
There’s͏͏ nothing͏͏ to͏͏ be͏͏ embarrassed͏͏ about.͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ is͏͏ a͏͏ normal͏͏ part͏͏ of͏͏ healthcare,͏͏ just͏͏ like͏͏ getting͏͏ a͏͏ physical͏͏ or͏͏ a͏͏ dental͏͏ check-up.
Take͏͏ Charge͏͏ of͏͏ Your͏͏ Sexual͏͏ Health
The͏͏ decision͏͏ to͏͏ get͏͏ tested͏͏ for͏͏ STDs͏͏ before͏͏ entering͏͏ a͏͏ new͏͏ relationship͏͏ isn’t͏͏ just͏͏ about͏͏ you—it’s͏͏ about͏͏ your͏͏ partner,͏͏ your͏͏ future,͏͏ and͏͏ your͏͏ health.
- STDs͏͏ are͏͏ common,͏͏ often͏͏ symptomless,͏͏ and͏͏ can͏͏ have͏͏ long-term͏͏ health͏͏ effects͏͏ if͏͏ left͏͏ untreated.
- Having͏͏ the͏͏ testing͏͏ conversation͏͏ builds͏͏ trust,͏͏ respect,͏͏ and͏͏ transparency͏͏ in͏͏ your͏͏ relationship.
- STD͏͏ testing͏͏ is͏͏ now͏͏ easier͏͏ than͏͏ ever,͏͏ with͏͏ at-home͏͏ test͏͏ kits͏͏ providing͏͏ a͏͏ private͏͏ and͏͏ convenient͏͏ option.
If͏͏ you’re͏͏ starting͏͏ a͏͏ new͏͏ relationship,͏͏ make͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ part͏͏ of͏͏ your͏͏ routine.͏͏ You͏͏ can:
- Schedule͏͏ a͏͏ test͏͏ with͏͏ your͏͏ healthcare͏͏ provider
- Order͏͏ an͏͏ at-home͏͏ STD͏͏ test͏͏ for͏͏ privacy
- Visit͏͏ a͏͏ free͏͏ or͏͏ low-cost͏͏ clinic͏͏ near͏͏ you
Protect͏͏ yourself,͏͏ protect͏͏ your͏͏ partner,͏͏ and͏͏ start͏͏ your͏͏ relationship͏͏ on͏͏ a͏͏ foundation͏͏ of͏͏ trust,͏͏ health,͏͏ and͏͏ responsibility.
