Feeling an Itch

When was the last time you had an STI test? I got tests done just a few days ago, now, and I get them done around every 3 months or with every new sexual partner. It's a practice of mine to ask said partner when they were last tested and what their results were. I know it can be hard to disclose your health status to someone, but it's my personal philosophy that if you don't feel safe enough to ask someone these kinds of questions/share, you shouldn't be having sex with them. For this week of 'Into the Bush', let's walk through the process of getting tested, how to build confidence to get tested/ask a partner their status, and what kind of tests you should be getting done. Sex is a big umbrella term, and not all of us have sex in the same ways. So to speak plainly, if you're coming into contact with someone's bodily fluids, you should be getting tested.

Getting Tested:

One of the things I've heard over the years is that the cost is too high or that the location is too far away. These are extremely valid concerns, but here in Illinois, especially in Chicagoland, the options are immense. I've compiled a list of free/low-cost STI testing.

UI Health-Family Medicine Center

https://hospital.uillinois.edu/primary-and-specialty-care/family-medicine/student-health

Chicago Department of Public Health https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdph/provdrs/health_services/svcs/sexual-health-services.html

University of Chicago

https://care2prevent.com/

Planned Parenthood

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-illinois/patient-resources/sti-testing-treatment

Howard Brown Health

https://howardbrown.org/service/community-testing-sites-outreach-services/

Cook County Public Health

https://cookcountypublichealth.org/communicable-diseases/sexually-transmitted-diseases/testing-sites-in-cook-county/

Now that you know where to go and the cost, we can go over what the actual testing process can look like. The most common sample collected from you is urine. You simply urinate into a cup, close the lid, and after you've finished in the bathroom/washed your hands, you'll put the sample in a metal box that stores the newest samples. You don't have to hand them off to someone. Urine samples test for things like chlamydia, gonorrhea, yeast infections, trichomoniasis (trich), and pregnancy. Not all are sexually transmitted, but they should be tested for.

Blood tests are the next most common form of sample collection. For HIV testing, it can be as simple as a quick prick of the finger. For testing of syphilis, hepatitis (B/C), and herpes (HSV). Blood tests can be difficult for a lot of folks due to fears of needles, the risk of bruising, the pain of the injection, and the discomfort with blood. Providers are very used to these types of fears and can support you. In the long run, it's a temporary situation for your overall health. For those of you who may not be frequently sexually active or are in long-term monogamous relationships, this could be a form of testing you do yearly or at the first sign of an infection.

The final common form of sampling is a swab. Swabs are an internal collection process, meaning that you will have to insert the equivalent of a Q-tip into the vagina, urethra, anus, or mouth. You don't have to put it very far, and it shouldn't hurt. After insertion, make a few small circles, then place it in the collection tube. This can be done by yourself, privately, or, depending on the provider, you may be assisted (you can always say no and do it yourself). Results for all of these tests typically come in 3-5 business days, but it can be shorter or longer depending on the lab.

What you should be tested for:

Here is a list I compiled of the most common STIs you will be tested for, along with some that aren't commonly included in testing but should be. I have also listed what they are and how they can affect you if left untreated. This isn't by any means a full list, but it's a good starting point. Another extremely common STI is human papillomavirus (HPV). It can be prevented through a series of vaccinations; however, for those who did not receive Gardasil 9, the most up-to-date vaccine, it would be wise to speak with your health provider about getting an updated vaccine.

How to talk with your partner(s):

This conversation should happen before becoming sexually active with a partner and should happen periodically. No shade to those of you who are in monogamous or long-term partnerships, but even you should be getting tested. It's an unfortunate reality that cheating does occur, and sometimes the clearest proof someone gets is from contracting an STI. It could also simply be that your partner has only been in monogamous partnerships before yours and, from that, has chosen not to be tested. Many of these infections are asymptomatic, and some can even remain dormant in the body before showing signs. Testing is for everyone!!! STIs can occur at any time and affect anyone. Believing that you're immune or that it won't happen to you is hubris.

It all starts with trust and expressing a mutual desire to be sexual with another person. You can start by saying how you like to keep yourself safe, and then ask the same of someone else. For example, "I like to have safe sex by using condoms/dental dams, and I get tested before I have sex with someone. I got tested on this date, and everything is negative. What do you do?" If your partner doesn't directly say when they were last tested, you can ask them. If they haven't been tested in a while or have never been tested, ask them to make an appointment by saying, "I think testing is really important, it keeps you and me safe and healthy. I can help you find a place to get tested." At the end of the day, it's your right to say no to having sex if your partner is not willing to get tested or has not been tested. It's also your right to have sex with someone who hasn't been tested, but it comes with the knowledge and acceptance that there is a risk of infection.

What isn't okay is a partner pressuring you, guilt-tripping you, continuing to pursue sex when you've said no, making promises to get something if you give sex in return, or becoming violent/forceful. All of this is rape.

The main way I've become comfortable with these topics is by thinking about them from a healthcare perspective. At the end of the day, I want to stay healthy; I don't want an infection, disease, or virus. I have control over my life, and a piece of that control is getting tested. What also comforts me is knowing that even if I do contract something, I can be and will be okay. Many of them are treatable. They are not a death sentence, and it isn't shameful to have one. What is shameful is having it and doing nothing to help yourself or keep other people safe. The more you talk about it, the less scary or embarrassing it may feel. Good luck out there, have fun, and stay safe!

Are you getting tested?

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