#STDs

[evilhorse]

Hope you got an extra deck ‘a cards, Gambit.

(Uncanny X-Men Volume 6 #5)

[certifiedsexed]

What even is the term sanitary though. Like if it's about "if it gets in you you'll have an infection" STI's are certainly unsanitary and that doesn't say anything about the person's moral character or something. If it isn't, what is even the point of the term.

— signed, a severely disabled, and very tired, guy

Well, sanitary has more than one definition, like a lot of words. It actually has quite a few definitions, all revolving around "cleanliness".

For example, it can mean "kept clean of dirt and waste", but it can also mean "free of dirt and germs that carry infection and disease". By some definitions, STIs can be unsanitary and by other definitions, they're not.

So automatically pinning someone with an STI/D as unsanitary [to have sex unprotected with] isn't a great idea just based on the basic fact that "kept clean of dirt and waste" is the more common use of sanitary.

But it's also not a great idea when terms like that have repeatedly been used to moralize having an STI/D and you're not clarifying specifically what definition you're using.

It doesn't automatically say anything about someone's character, that's true! I am not trying to say that fitting the definition of "unsanitary" is an automatic bad thing at all. As someone who's also disabled, I very much understand where you're coming from on that.

But making sweeping statements like "having sex with someone with an STI/D without protection is automatically unsanitary" is demoralizing and inaccurate.

You can have an STD, have sex, and there be an almost nonexistent possibility of someone catching it, it just depends on the STD and how you're managing it and how you're having sex.

I wasn't pointing any of that out to try and redefine the term "sanitary" or something. I was pointing it out both for accuracy and because by the common definition of the term, that was edging into language that could easily be construed as bigoted.

[Also, as I mentioned, you are almost never safe from infection/disease during sex. By that definition, all sex is unsanitary, so to pick people with STI/Ds out specifically is shit.]

Maybe that's just me being picky but given I'm a sex ed scholar, I think it's fair to be a little hyper-specific sometimes on language.

Hope this makes sense. If not, feel free to let me know or ask for clarification. <3

[worldhistoryfacts]

There was a lot of propaganda during World War II encouraging soldiers to avoid venereal disease. Many of them revealed quite a bit about social attitudes in the 1940s:

More encouragement to avoid "prostitutes and pickups" here:

{Buy me a coffee} {WHF} {Medium} {Looking Through the Past}

[supercomputer-lizard]

STD poll

Couldn’t come up with a worse name for this honestly. Also, the thing about the Chaos Gods is that time in the Warp means nothing, so they’re all younger and older then each other, despite being born at different times

edit: put “beep boop” in the tags if you see this, ass or assette

[sapphic-sex-ed]

my girlfriend and i want to get more intimate with each other but im concerned about possibly contracting an STD/STI. can we contract one of we’re both clean and use no dams? or is protection always the way to go?

STD/STI are acronyms for Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Sexually Transmitted Infections and as with any disease, if you are not exposed to the virus/bacteria that causes it, you cannot transmit it. If you have been tested and have the results come back negative, you do not have the disease and cannot transmit it*.

If you have not been tested but don't experience any symptoms (and has had previous sexual partners), you can still be infected and transfer the disease. It is believed that upwards of 80% of humans are infected with herpes (HSV1 or HSV2) but most don't show any symptoms, called being asymptomatic. Other STIs where it's common to be asymptomatic are chlamydia, HPV/genital warts (only some strains cause warts), and latent syphilis (although you would have noticed syphilis symptoms like rashes before the latent phase, which is a phase that sometimes occurs before the third/final stage of the disease).

If neither of you have had partners before**, or if you have been tested negative 3 months after your last sexual encounter, you don't have an STI.

Furthermore, hand and oral sex on vulvas are considered the safest ways to have sex when it comes to transmission of STIs. Now, I don't know you or your partner's genitals but I'm guessing based on the dental dam comment that it's likely that the sex you'll be having will mainly involve vulvas. While you absolutely can contract an STI in your throat, the amount of vaginal fluid you would have to guzzle to get enough pathogens down to your throat to cause infection is a lot. Semen is a lot more effective at transmitting diseases because, uh, its purpose is to get that shit (spermatozoa) in there, so to speak. It's not risk free, but nothing in life is. This is so low risk that the Swedish organization for sexual and reproductive rights and education (founded in the 30's, leading org for SRHR in the nation) which also produce and sell condoms, at home pregnancy and STI-tests, lube, etc, don't sell dental dams at all. That being said, dams can be fun to play with vis a vis sensation (taut dam vs relaxed dam, for example) and if you want to use one I would never dissuade you from it.

I do wanna bring attention to the usage of the word "clean" to denote that you aren't infected with an STI. It's a common way to phrase it, but it does stigmatize those who have been or are infected with an STI. To say that one is "clean" to mean "not infected" directly implies that to be infected is dirty or unclean, which it is not. This is part of the stigma of contracting and living with an STI, where a moral judgement is cast upon the person. As some STIs are life long, like HIV, herpes, and sometimes hepatitis, the stigma can also be life-long. In the future, I suggest using terms like "not infected" or "tested negative" to avoid this.

-mod liz

*because of incubation time, you have to wait up to three months for some STIs to show up on a test, so if you sleep with a new partner, getting tested the next week may not yield accurate results.

**some STIs are not exclusively sexually transmitted. You can for example contract HIV at birth if your parent was a carrier, hepatitis C can spread through blood, and herpes can infect both mouth and genitals and sharing a glass of water with somebody with oral herpes can transmit it. Unless there's any reason to suspect that you have contracted HIV or hepatitis from somewhere else (like a tattoo or injection needle, or if you mixed your blood with somebody somehow like in an accident) I wouldn't be too worried though.

[gwydionmisha]

Wrap it up.

[lovelyrocker]

Consequences Part 2

RPF

Warnings: Talk of Cheating, STD, Language, Angst, 

Parings: Timothee Chalamet x Reader

Word Count: 1,244

Two weeks was how long you had to wait for the test results to come in. Timothee and you both got tested for every other STD it was possible to get tested for safe measures. He’d only known the extra for several days before he’d slept with her. Not long to know where and who someone had been with. 

Your home was cold the last few weeks. Timothee had been staying in the guest room. You didn't talk to one another aside from one or two words here and there. You could hardly look at him. All of the feeling and rage that you thought you’d pushed aside when you found out he cheated was filling you now. Yes, when you found out he cheated you cried and was pissed. But those feelings quickly faded when you saw how much his actions were eating him alive. You saw that it really was a mistake and he learned from it. You had no doubt that he would never do that again.

Now you were enraged that he could even think of cheating, even if he was drunk. You were betrayed and so hurt. And now, you are terrified of having this disease. This constant reminder of someone else’s careless actions. Someone who was supposed to love, take care of you, keep you safe.

You both sat in the doctor’s office in front of the desk, waiting for him to come into the room. Waiting, more waiting. Timothee’s leg bounced with anxiety. He fiddled with his fingers as he absentmindedly looked around the office. He was scared. But unlike all the other times you would hold him and assure him it would be okay, you didn’t. Because you didn’t know. You weren’t even sure you were going to stay with him after this. Deep down he knew that, too.

The door opened, making both of you jump as the doctor walked in. “Good morning.” The doctor said cheerfully. It made you roll your eyes. “I have both your test results here.” He said placing two folders on his desk. He looked up at the two of you. “Are you sure you want to do this together? Normally we do this separately.”

“We’re sure.” Timothee answered, rubbing the palms of his hands nervously on his jean clad knees.

“Alright then,” He opens the file. “We’ll start off with Ms. Y/L/N.” He looks over the paper in his hand. You’re holding on to your bag tightly, heart racing. “All of your STD panels came back negative.” You and Timothee both exhale in relief as the doctor’s eyes scan the page. “No HIV or anything like that.” He looks up at you. “You are a little anemic so I would make sure you get more iron in you. You can get over the counter supplements.” 

You nod your head. “Okay.” You take another breath. “Is that all?”

“Yeah. You are a very healthy young lady.” He placed the paper into the folder and grabs Timothee’s. “Now Mr. Chalamet.” He lifts the page out of the manilla folder. “Your STD panel came back inconclusive.” 

“Inconclusive? What does that mean?” You ask before Timothee can open his mouth. 

“Most of your results came back negative.” The doctor explains. “But Your HIV results aren’t clear.”

You reach over, taking Timothee’s hand, entwining your fingers. He squeezed you hand with both of his. “So, what do we do?” You ask, looking at the doctor.

“We will do another blood draw. Retest.” The doctor looks at Timothee. “I’ll be honest with you,” His hand tightens around yours. “You have some abnormalities with your white blood cell count. Have you been sick lately?”

Timothee shakes his head. “Just tired. With my work, I-I-”

“You could just be overworked.” The doctor looks over the page again. “I don’t want to take any chances. We will do another blood draw and run a few other tests.” The doctor closes the folder. “Do you have any questions?”

Timothee swallows hard and looks at you then back to the doctor. “Can you not sugar coat it?” He says finding his voice. “What are the odds I'm infected?”

The doctor takes a breath, removing his glasses. “It is harder for a woman to give it to a man, but you admit to not using protection. All it takes is one time.” He exhales again. “But your white blood cell count shows something is going on. The results do align with being infected, yes.” You felt Timothee go rigid. “Even though you haven’t passed it to Y/N doesn’t mean you are in the clear. But these results can mean a dozen other things as well. Is it probable because you were exposed, yes. Is it 100% positive, no.” 

“When does he get retested?” You ask.

“Right now.” The doctor stands. “Follow me and I’ll show you to the lab.”

You hold his hand as you follow the doctor and watch him squint when the nurse sticks the needle into his arm. You drive back to the apartment, Timothee showing no sign of emotions the entire drive. He doesn’t talk or even look your way. He doesn’t comment about your results or even look away from the car window. 

When you got home, he walked into the apartment and straight to the guest room. You followed him, opening the bedroom door. He was laying in the bed, back to the door. You didn’t say anything. You crawled into the bed behind him and wrapped your arms around him. The moment you embraced him he broke. The tears fell down his face as he sobbed hysterically. You didn’t say a thing, just held him. Timothee cried until he had nothing left in him. No tears, no energy to let his body be wracked with his own fear and self-loathing. 

When he finally calmed, he just laid there with no emotion on his face. You still stayed silent. You just let him know you were still there by holding him tight, as close as you could. 

The room had been quiet for a long time, you thought he’d fallen asleep. You were surprised when you heard his voice groggily speak. “I’m sorry.” He says, barely audible. “I’m sorry I fucked everything up.” He turns in your arms and his eyes are puffy and red. He looks exhausted. You fight the tears that you know he can see fill your eyes. “We were supposed to be together forever. Just you and me. We were supposed to have a family and grow old in the city.” He begins to cry again. “I messed it all up and I am so fucking sorry.”

You pull him till your foreheads meet. “Shh.” You whisper. “Stop it.” You wipe away his tears. “You’re not alone.” I pull him close, tucking his head beneath my chin. “I’m here, with you.” You kiss the top of his head. “I’m not going anywhere.” You feel him hold you tighter.

You could feel the fear pulsing through him. Before you were ready to leave Timothee, to let him and his cheating self, deal with the consequences of his action on his own, all alone. Which was how you felt when he first cheated. Alone.

In your arms now were the broken pieces of the love of your life. And there was no way in hell you were going to leave him alone. No matter what.

Part 3

[drmonkeysetroscans]

Never had thrush.

[i-cant-really-think-of-a-name]

The people who are against wearing masks knowing that they are sick and say it’s your body your choice how do you feel about people not wearing condoms when they know they have STIs. Like if AIDS was an airborne illness would y’all still wear masks.

[dukeofriven]

Asking the hard questions.

[high-quality-tiktoks]

Learn more about this story at the link in our bio.

[certifiedsexed]

if I want to do sexual things with someone do I need to get tested for STDs even if I have never had sex before?

Great question, Anon!

It's always best to get tested! For example, you could have herpes, even if you haven't had sex before. There are two specific types of herpes and both are sexually transmitted diseases [STDs], something that you would want to be aware of having before having sex!

[This is a good article with some info on herpes, if you're interested.]

It's also a good practice to have access to your STD/STI test results, so that you can show your partner your results and encourage them to do the same!

Hope this helps, Anon! Let me know if you have any other questions. <3

[thedashproject]

[mcatmemoranda]

GC-CT is a medical abbreviation for Gonorrhea-Chlamydia. GC stands for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium that causes gonorrhea, and CT stands for Chlamydia trachomatis, the bacterium that causes chlamydia. GC-CT is a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) that uses target capture to differentiate between the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) of GC and CT. NAAT is the recommended method for initial screening or testing for these infections.