STI: no shame, just get checked

I’ve had crabs, chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhoea.

There you go. We can stop whispering now.

Most of the time, I haven’t had symptoms;

infections were picked up through testing or

because a sexual partner told me they’d tested positive.

At 18, I tried dealing with crabs by shaving my pubes because I had no idea what else to do.

I wish someone had explained that pubic lice need appropriate treatment and that a healthcare professional or pharmacist can advise on what to use.

That’s why I talk about this now:

embarrassment shouldn’t stand between you and healthcare.

At a recent STI check, I told the nurse,

“I’m doing sex work as well as being sexually active.”

I used to leave things out to sound more acceptable.

This time,

I gave her the information she needed to look after me.

She checked my prescriptions, and we got on with testing.

I also mistook a bottle of lube for hand sanitiser,

so the appointment wasn’t entirely without embarrassment.

Read the fucking label.

If testing makes you nervous,

ask what’s involved and whether you can take your own swabs.

Tell the clinician what kinds of sex you have so they can recommend

the right tests and decide which body sites need checking.

Feeling fine doesn’t mean you don’t have an STI.

Testing can involve urine, blood and swabs, depending on what needs checking.

I get checked every three months; your clinic can help you work out a schedule that suits you.

If you have symptoms or a sexual partner tells you they’ve tested positive,

contact a healthcare provider rather than waiting for your next routine appointment.

Some infections take time to show up on tests,

so ask whether the timing of a recent encounter means you’ll need repeat testing.

STI testing: https://sexualwellbeing.org.nz/adv/stis/sti-testing

I take PrEP daily and use prescribed Doxy-PEP,

but they do different jobs.

PrEP helps prevent HIV;

it doesn’t prevent other STIs.

Doxy-PEP can reduce the chance of syphilis and chlamydia,

but it isn’t expected to prevent gonorrhoea in Aotearoa because of antibiotic resistance.

It isn’t suitable for everyone,

so discuss it with your clinician and follow your prescription.

Condoms reduce the risk of many STIs,

although they don’t prevent every infection.

Regular testing still matters, whichever prevention tools you use.

PrEP: https://www.burnettfoundation.org.nz/learn/staying-safe/prep/

Doxy-PEP: https://www.burnettfoundation.org.nz/sluts-for-doxypep/

If you test positive,

you deserve care without judgement.

Follow your clinic’s advice about treatment, telling partners and when you can have sex again. Recommendations can differ depending on the infection.

If someone tells you they’ve tested positive, don’t make them regret being honest.

STI information: https://sexualwellbeing.org.nz/adv/stis

Testing options: https://www.burnettfoundation.org.nz/get/get-a-test/

Whether you do sex work or not,

you shouldn’t have to apologise for your sex life to get help looking after it.

Woulf