#STDs

[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

[cuubism]

think it would be funny if the first time dream and hob hooked up hob was like "do we need to worry about stds" and dream was like "obviously i can't get human illnesses 🙄" and so hob was like "cool we won't worry about it 👍". what dream didn't share is that there are also supernatural stds and apparently hob has one after hooking up with some supernatural creature like 200 years ago (he didn't know they were supernatural) (he also didn't know he had the std because they don't affect humans they're just carriers of it) anyway he doesn't find out about it until dream storms into his house later like HOB GADLING WHAT DEMON DID YOU HAVE SEX WITH and hob just stares at him because dream's skin is fucking. green

hob's like demon? when- what? why are you green

dream doesn't answer because he's mentally scanning hob's life book and is like "november 3 1821" and hob's like "she was a demon?" and dream (jealous) is like "YOU REMEMBER WHO IT WAS FROM 200 YEARS AGO???" and hob's like "in retrospect the all-black eyes should have given it away but in my defense. i'm stupid."

then he's like "wait did i get you sick is that why you're green???" dream says "no it doesn't really do anything to you it just makes you green" hob's like "why does that exist" dream's like "presumably someone was feeling petty and created it but. i haven't really looked into it"

anyway eventually they figure out how to un-green dream (and also hob) and then dream's like "you should use these supernatural condoms if you sleep with supernatural entities in the future" and hob is like. dream. WHAT SUPERNATURAL ENTITIES AM I SLEEPING WITH OTHER THAN YOU

[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

[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]

Do you know if getting the HPV vaccine protects you against infections you have already cleared in the past (i.e. so that those same infections don't infect you again later on) or if the vaccine only protects against new infections that you have not been exposed to yet?

So, if you've already gotten HPV, that infection can still cause symptoms even if you get the vaccine. There isn't a cure for HPV, even though it can resolve on its own.

But the vaccine does heavily reduce the risk of new infections and strains of HPV you haven't been infected with yet. It can also help lower the possibility of how bad your symptoms will be if you catch any other strain of HPV.

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

[cuubism]

Loooove the last post. Just imagining Dream doing an anti-magic STD laser for Hob's fun bits, only for five years later on an eclipse day and Hob to give Dream the gentlest of kisses only for his lover to explode into an eldritch horror because there was apparently dorment magic moon herpes that managed to escape notice and targets shapeshifters and only shapeshifters so Hob is just so confused as Dream is just over there becoming the physical embodiment of unknowable knowledge and everyone in The New Inn have passed out and Hob is just like Ah for fucks sake, not again before Dream pulls him into the Dreaming for a very fun impromptu weekend of monsterfucking since a certian Shaper of Forms can't hold down a consistant one. Finally Dream can isolate and eject the viral magic. It gets thrown into a black hole and now Hob is behind on grading but he knows that dating Dream comes with a whole lot of excitement, and he wouldn't change it for the world...though he does now go to a very awkward annual physical with an exhausted Johanna not-paid-enough-for-this-bullshit Constantine now to make sure that nothing else he's managed to pick up over his long life rears its ugly head.

LMAO I love Hob just being a time bomb of magical STDs, every time they have sex Dream is just taking his fucking life into his hands 😂 after the latest incident Dream is just like "my husband, you are a slut" and Hob's just like #no ragrets if you wanted to be exclusive you had 600 years to make it known, Dream. Hob may not have regrets but Dream does.

When Desire found out about it all they laughed until they fell apart into sweetheart candies, then went to find Hob just to shake his hand. "Safe sex is important Hobert, but if you wanted to get another STD there's one that's REALLY funny--" I'm imagining that supernatural STDs don't kill you they just do really weird things to you, like give you cat ears for a while, or make you float five inches off the ground. Or turn you green of course. The creation of many supernatural STDs was actually just PVP violence between jilted ex-lovers; they couldn't key each other's cars so instead they were like "virus be upon ye!" forgetting that viruses get spread to other people too. Oh well. A bunch of the other ones were a collab project between Desire and Despair. At least one was made by some anti-sex crazy guy that just really wanted to get his point across. The Kellogg of the supernatural community if you will.

Later on Hob's like "should I be a good person and do safe sex advocacy among the magical-but-not-supernatural community?" but then he tries and it turns out literally every other magical or immortal human in the whole world already knew about this except Hob. They're like "you just starting sleeping with people without asking?" he's like "yeah? you guys became unkillable and DIDN'T use it for crazy sexcapades?"

I think it's simply inevitable that Johanna misses one, and Hob and Dream have another 'incident'...

[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.