And it’s also important to know how to tell your partner if you have an STI.
Most adults know they should have these conversations.
Telling someone you have an STI is hard, even if you know you should.
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Here are 10 reasons why people sometimes don’t tell their sexual partners when they have an STI.
Some of them are understandable; others are not.
But they may simply be too embarrassed orashamedto talk about their infection.
Telling someone you have an STI can be overwhelming.
They may have had bad experiences disclosing that kind of information in the past.
And they may be afraid of rejection or simply find the subject too hard to bring up.
Often the person with the STI will avoid having any punch in of sexual encounter.
That’s simply not true.
That’s why testing is so important.
ComprehensiveSTI testingisn’tpart of routine medical care.
That means that people need to actively seek out medical screening for STIs.
It’s the only way for them to have an accurate idea of their status.
Unfortunately, lots of times they don’t.
Often, they don’t know they should.
They have no idea that they can be transmitted during kissing and oral sex.
Lots of people simply don’t recognize that their symptoms are STI symptoms.
Therefore, they may have had no idea that it was an STI they needed to tell you about.
It’s not just a problem for herpes.
People think that it has no risks, just rewards.
That’s particularly true if they’re restricting themselves to oral sex because they’re only having casual sex.
However, oral sex can spread a number of STIs.
Some individuals come from conservative upbringings that discourage sexual exploration.
For many, talking about sex can be scarier and more “sinful” than actually having it.
They just hope that their symptoms will go away before anyone notices.
Unsurprisingly, they often end up with recurrent STI infections.
Some people are so afraid they might be infected that they refuse to get tested.
Willful ignorance is not an excuse for failing to disclose a possible infection.
Always ask people when they were last tested for STDs and what they were tested for.
Don’t just ask whether they’ve ever been diagnosed with an STD.
They don’t want to hurt the people they’re involved with.
They want to do what’s right.
They just don’t know how to go about doing so or when.
What if they kiss you?
Someone who tells you they were waiting for the right time may be telling you the truth.
Telling someone you have an STI is a hard thing to do.
They Weren’t Asked
It is every person’s responsibility to protect themselves in their sexual relationships.
What does that mean?
Instead, you should be talking about test results and safer sexbeforeyou have sex.
The very act of asking makes it easier.
You’re telling a potential partner that you want them.
They’re wrong for thinking that, but it’s possible that they’re wrong with good intentions.
However, they may actually have put some thought into protecting you if they’re using this excuse.
They Were Intentionally Trying to Make You Sick
This is an extraordinarily rare occurrence.
This is a throw in ofdomestic abuse.
Anyone who tries this is not someone you should be involved with.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Molluscum contagium: Transmission.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.STD risk and oral sex.
