Be Prepared To Deal With A Variety Of Responses
Telling A New Partner
If youre trying to woo someone new with your best moves, STIs were probably not a part of your game plan. But sharing your status with a new or potential partner is really NBD, especially if its just a short-lived hookup.
The best approach here is to let er rip like a bandage and just say it or text it.
If you do decide to have the talk in person, choose a safer setting preferably with an exit nearby in case things get uncomfortable and you want to GTFO.
Here are some examples of what you can say:
- Before we hook up, we should talk status. Ill go first. My last STI screen was and Im for . How about you?
- I have . Im taking medication to manage/treat it. I thought its something you need to know before we take things further. Im sure you have questions, so fire away.
Frequently Asked Chlamydia Questions
Below youâll find answers to some of the questions people ask about Chlamydia and contacting their partners. For more information on Chlamydia .
How common is Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a very common infection, particularly in young, sexually active people who donât always use condoms. In 2007, in Australia, there were 52,000 recorded cases of Chlamydia and 80% of these infections occurred in people aged 15-29 years.
However, the actual number of infections may be much higher than this as many people with Chlamydia do not realize they are infected and so never get tested.
Chlamydia is passed from one person to another by sexual contact.If you have Chlamydia, then it is very likely that one or more of your sexual partners also have this infection. Telling your sexual partners is important because it:
- is the only way most people will know they have this infection
- stops you getting the infection back again
- shows your partner that you care about them
- reduces the chance of your partner developing serious problems such as infertility
- stops your partner passing the infection to others
Remember, most men and women with Chlamydia donât have any symptoms and so they donât know they have the infection.
You need to tell your partners that they:
- may be at risk of having Chlamydia
- need to get tested and treated for this infection by a doctor.
- need to contact their other partners
How do I go about telling them?
What if I donât want my partner to know itâs me who has Chlamydia?
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Give Your Boyfriend Space To Process
Im Pregnant How Does Chlamydia Affect My Baby
If you are pregnant and have chlamydia, you can give the infection to your baby during delivery. This can cause an eye infection or pneumonia in your baby. Having chlamydia may also make it more likely to deliver your baby early.
If you are pregnant, you should receive testing for chlamydia at your first prenatal visit. Talk to your healthcare provider about getting the correct examination, testing, and treatment. Testing and treatment are the best ways to prevent health problems.
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Use An Anonymous Notification Program
Telling A New Partner About An Std
If you have an active STD, it’s normal to be nervous about telling someone new. Everyone raises the subject differently.
Here are some ideas for handling the conversation:
Imagine that your roles are reversed. What would you expect your partner to do and say if he or she were in your shoes? Be proud of your intentions. Your willingness to have this hard conversation shows that you care about the other person and your relationship. We’re more likely to trust and respect people who are honest enough to talk about tough topics like STDs.
It’s best to be direct. You could start by saying, “Before we have sex, I want us to talk about STDs and protection because I have an STD.” Say what type of STD you have and how you got it. You don’t have to share every detail of your past relationships, but showing that you’re open to talking and answering questions can help your partner feel more comfortable.
It’s best to be honest. It’s better for your partner to find out because you said something before getting an infection.
Let the conversation proceed naturally. Listen rather than doing all the talking. Prepare for your partner to be surprised. Each person reacts differently to the news. Some might get panic. Some might be full of questions. Others might just need to time to think.
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Reasons For Choosing Methods
Those who chose to tell their partners face-to-face frequently stated that it was the only appropriate way to talk with someone about a personal, sensitive issue such as having chlamydia.
It seemed like the right thing to do. I think he deserved for me to tell him with him there and not just call him up.
Being able to see their partner’s reaction, as well as demonstrating respect and consideration, was also important to many interviewees.
…I felt more comfortable that I could see their reaction and it was just more courteous to tell them to their face.
Those who told their partners by phone commonly mentioned speed and convenience as the main reasons for choosing this method.
It was the quickest and most convenient way at the time. As soon as I found out I wanted to let people know straightaway.
Where infidelity was suspected, the phone provided a means to
“get it out of the way and find out what was going on instead of having to wait.”
For some, avoiding direct contact with the person was a consideration in choosing phone, email or SMS.
I hadn’t seen him in a long time and hadn’t spoken to him and wasn’t really confident seeing him and had to have a little bit of distance in the conversation.
I didn’t really know the person all that well and I didn’t particularly like him and so it was easier to get it out of the way .
Who Do You Need To Tell About Your Sti
Depending on the type of STI you have and when you were last tested, you may have to tell all of your past, current and future sexual partners. This is important to stop the spread of STIs to others in the community, and because a lot of STIs donât have visible symptoms, meaning your past lover can go months or even years without knowing they have one. In fact, a recent report found that roughly one in 20 young Australians have chlamydia, and a whopping 72% of these cases remain undiagnosed. If left untreated, STIs can cause painful and sometimes irreversible health problems such as pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.
And what if you used a condom or only had oral sex? Sorry to break it to you, but you should still tell them. Thatâs because a lot of STIs can be transmitted orally, and as condoms can sometimes break or slip off during sexual activity, they are not 100% effective. In fact, a sample study of 288 people found that nearly half of the participants used condoms incorrectly, or had experienced slippage or breakage.
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How Will They React
There is no way to know how someone will react to news about an STI, especially because education and experience dealing with sexual health varies from person to person. Itâs also likely to vary depending on the type of STI you have, and how easy it is to treat or manage.
If youâre telling someone you have one of the more common STIs, like chlamydia, it may not be that big of a deal — they may have had friends diagnosed with it in the past, or have had it themselves and will just appreciate you letting them know. Others may be less cool with it, because of the stigma associated with STIs and misinformation about health consequences or treatment.
This is why itâs important to approach all conversations with facts about your STI, so that you can let them know how to get tested, and what it means if they have it too.
If youâre telling someone that youâve just started dating, it might not be an easy conversation, but theyâll most likely appreciate your honesty. Remember, a bit of awkwardness now is a much better outcome than your partner being surprised with an STI diagnosis later in the relationship.
If youâd like more information on health issues affecting young people, visit medibank.com.au/adultish.
Here Are Ways To Tell Someone They Gave You An Std
Here are some facts you must know first.
You may indeed be tempted to throw accusations on your partner when you realize you have an STD. But before you do that, youd want to get your facts right. Besides, your current partner may not be the cause. What if you had the STD, but it was asymptomatic?
So unless youve exclusively dated only one partner, then no way will you know how long the STD has taken in your body. Therefore, before you go leveling accusations, you must be sure your partner has an STD, which you only find out when you go for STD screening.
But can you bring the discussion of testing to your partner when you already know youre positive? Its awkward
Here are the best ways then:
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Know That Chlamydia Is Common And Treatable
Opinions Of Contact Methods
In discussing their views of different methods of partner notification for chlamydia, interviewees made a clear distinction between traditional, personal methods of contact such as face-to-face and phone and the newer, less personal methods of email and SMS. Generally, people believed that a sensitive, personal issue such as having a sexually transmissible infection needed to be discussed personally with the partner. However, SMS and email were seen to be appropriate, useful or even advantageous depending on the circumstances.
Also Check: Can Chlamydia Cause Frequent Urination
Decide How You Want To Communicate
If you decide to meet and talk face to face, choose a place where you feel safe and comfortable to have this discussion. If possible, have an exit nearby so you can leave the discussion and get away from the person if their reaction is aggressive or makes you feel unsafe.
If youâre not able to meet in person or you donât feel safe doing that, you could also message or video chat with your partnerâit all depends on your relationship and how you prefer to communicate.
Get On Top Of Your Health Step : Share The News
If youve been diagnosed with an STI, the first thing to do is get any medical care you need. Next youll need to alert past or current sexual partners that they may have been exposed. Its not just politeits the right thing to do for their health and the health of their past, present, and future partners.
Some STIs, like chlamydia and gonorrhea, are easy to test for and curablebut you want to catch them early. Good news: if you find out you have chlamydia or gonorrhea, your health care provider may be able to give you medication for your partner too. . Other STIs, including HPV, herpes and HIV, are not curable but can all be treated to reduce their health impact over the long term.
All STIs are more dangerous if you dont know about them, which is why its so important to tell anyone who may have been exposed. It can be awkward, but its one of the most important ways to reduce the spread of STIs. Depending on what STI you test positive for, your provider may ask for information about current or past sexual partners who might have been exposed. In some casesand if you provide their contact informationthe provider or someone at the health department will confidentially contact those people and encourage them to get tested, while protecting your privacy and theirs. However, most of the time its on you to contact partners who may have been exposed.
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Can You Get Tested For Stis On Your Period
Absolutely! Getting tested for STIs while on your period is totally fine, but if youd rather wait a couple of extra days, thats cool too.
Although your period blood wont affect standard STIs or HIV tests, it could mess with your Pap test results if your flow is heavy. Some healthcare professionals do an HPV test while theyre down there, so check with them beforehand to be sure.
Talk To Your Partner Before Sexual Contact
The best time to talk about this is before you start having sex . Depending on which STI you have, you might need to tell them even earlier: If you have oral herpes, you should tell them before you kiss. If you have a genital STI, then itâs important to tell your partner before you have any type of sex: fingering, oral sex, vaginal, or .
Whether it’s a casual or serious relationship, itâs important to discuss your sexual health history with your partner, and ask them about theirs. This allows you to find out if your partner has any STIs, and gives both of you the chance to make an informed decision about what types of sex you want to have and what safer sex precautions you want to take.
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How Usual Is Chlamydia
In 2017, more than 1.7 million cases of chlamydia were reported to the Centers for Condition Control and also Avoidance . Numerous instances go unreported, so the genuine number of chlamydia infections every year might be closer to 3 million.
Males and female can both obtain the infection, but much more cases in ladies are reported.
Infection prices are highest amongst more youthful ladies, with the highest possible rates of infection occurring in females between ages 15 as well as 24.
The CDC advises that all sexually active females ages 25 years as well as younger get screened for chlamydia yearly, in addition to older ladies with threat elements like multiple or brand-new partners.
Statistically, an individual is more probable to get an STI if they have actually had sex with more than someone. Various other risk aspects consist of having had an STI in the past, or presently have an infection since this could lower resistance.
Prices for chlamydia and other STIs have been climbing over the last few years.