If you tap it... you better wrap it!
Sexually transmitted infections (STI) are more than just an embarrassment. If left untreated they can escalate
to cause permanent damage leading to infertility and even death.
A recent study by the Center of Disease Control (CDC) found that 15 to 24-year-olds represent almost half of all new STI infectants in North America. So it is always important to know if you have come in contact with one.
According to the CDC, the most common STIs among college students are chlamydia, HPV and genital herpes, and over 45 per cent of college froshies have neglected to have safe sex while binge drinking.
The trouble happens when people feel perfectly fine and show no signs of having an STI and since they do not know, they don’t get treated and then spread the infection unknowingly. This is why whenever are hooking up with someone you should always wear protection. Just because everything looks fine, doesn’t mean that it is. Nothing is ever as it seems.
Telling Your Partners
The thought of discussing your health issue with lovers can be nerve racking, but it is a conversation that needs to be had. Confessing to a partner about an STI allows them to make an informed decision on their health to get checked out and treated. If not, the infection could lead to life threatening illnesses and, in some cases, that carelessness may be considered a criminal offense.
It is hard to confront someone about something so personal and traumatizing, so Powell explained how the health clinic could help with this process.
“If someone has an STI that is reportable, it is important that partners are notified. You would need to notify any partners that you have had in the last three months,” she said. “If someone is not able to do this for various reasons, a nurse at the clinic can help contact their previous partners. The nurse will not give your name but will just explain that they are a contact of someone with an STI and they need to come in for testing and treatment.”
Treatment
An STI doesn’t just go away. Without treatment, the infection stays in the body and could cause permanent health problems and spread to others, which is why doctors recommend to those who are sexually active or have been sexually active to regularly get checked for STIs.
“Testing can be as simple as peeing in a cup,” said Powell. “People can have blood drawn and we can test for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis. We do a visual inspection of lumps or bumps to diagnose herpes and warts and we usually recommend that people get all the testing done but a person can decide what testing they would like.”
10 Reasons to Get Tested
You should be tested any time that you are at risk. This means you might want to consider being tested if you have found yourself in one of these following instances:
- Starting a new relationship
- Ended a relationship
- Condom broke
- Didn’t use a condom
- Shared drug paraphernalia
- Friend did your piercing
- Tattoo artist wasn’t inspected by the health unit
- Mon/Wed/Fri with nothing else to do
“Any doctor can test for STIs. If you don’t have a doctor or you don’t want to see your doctor, you are welcome to come to the clinic,” said Powell. “The clinics are first come, first served. You cannot make an appointment. No health card is required. Most of our testing and treatment is free.”
So even if you have never been tested before, it is the perfect time to start. The London Middle Sex Health Unit clinics run Monday and Wednesday evenings from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Stay safe!
A recent study by the Center of Disease Control (CDC) found that 15 to 24-year-olds represent almost half of all new STI infectants in North America. So it is always important to know if you have come in contact with one.
According to the CDC, the most common STIs among college students are chlamydia, HPV and genital herpes, and over 45 per cent of college froshies have neglected to have safe sex while binge drinking.
The trouble happens when people feel perfectly fine and show no signs of having an STI and since they do not know, they don’t get treated and then spread the infection unknowingly. This is why whenever are hooking up with someone you should always wear protection. Just because everything looks fine, doesn’t mean that it is. Nothing is ever as it seems.
Telling Your Partners
The thought of discussing your health issue with lovers can be nerve racking, but it is a conversation that needs to be had. Confessing to a partner about an STI allows them to make an informed decision on their health to get checked out and treated. If not, the infection could lead to life threatening illnesses and, in some cases, that carelessness may be considered a criminal offense.
It is hard to confront someone about something so personal and traumatizing, so Powell explained how the health clinic could help with this process.
“If someone has an STI that is reportable, it is important that partners are notified. You would need to notify any partners that you have had in the last three months,” she said. “If someone is not able to do this for various reasons, a nurse at the clinic can help contact their previous partners. The nurse will not give your name but will just explain that they are a contact of someone with an STI and they need to come in for testing and treatment.”
Treatment
An STI doesn’t just go away. Without treatment, the infection stays in the body and could cause permanent health problems and spread to others, which is why doctors recommend to those who are sexually active or have been sexually active to regularly get checked for STIs.
“Testing can be as simple as peeing in a cup,” said Powell. “People can have blood drawn and we can test for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis. We do a visual inspection of lumps or bumps to diagnose herpes and warts and we usually recommend that people get all the testing done but a person can decide what testing they would like.”
10 Reasons to Get Tested
You should be tested any time that you are at risk. This means you might want to consider being tested if you have found yourself in one of these following instances:
- Starting a new relationship
- Ended a relationship
- Condom broke
- Didn’t use a condom
- Shared drug paraphernalia
- Friend did your piercing
- Tattoo artist wasn’t inspected by the health unit
- Mon/Wed/Fri with nothing else to do
“Any doctor can test for STIs. If you don’t have a doctor or you don’t want to see your doctor, you are welcome to come to the clinic,” said Powell. “The clinics are first come, first served. You cannot make an appointment. No health card is required. Most of our testing and treatment is free.”
So even if you have never been tested before, it is the perfect time to start. The London Middle Sex Health Unit clinics run Monday and Wednesday evenings from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Stay safe!
