Imagine feeling so awkward or embarrassed about having strep throat that you wouldn’t go to the doctor. Or going months without noticing the infection, allowing it to get much worse (and potentially spread to others).
Ridiculous, right? Unfortunately, this happens a lot – not with strep, but with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). STDs are extremely common; in fact, one in two sexually active people will get an STD by age 25. Yet a recent study shows that fewer than 12 percent said they were tested in the past year.
Where’s the disconnect? Today’s young adults are proud and outspoken about sexuality, rallying for LGBT and women’s health rights, denouncing “slut-shaming” and speaking out against rape culture. It’s no secret that this has required overcoming a lot of traditional social barriers to garner widespread public attention for these issues.
But the issue of sexual health can’t be put to bed. Today, there is still a critical need to shatter the STD stigma that keeps millions of people every year from taking care of themselves and talking with their sexual partners and healthcare providers. And, to complicate the issue even further, many STDs don’t have obvious symptoms so it’s common to become infected without realizing it.
That’s why open communication is essential. It promotes positivity and reduces shame around STDs, and it also helps prevent serious health problems. For example, untreated chlamydia can put a woman at risk for pelvic inflammatory disease, a condition that can make it difficult to get pregnant. Fortunately, testing for STDs is convenient, usually confidential and sometimes even free. The CDC recommends annual chlamydia and gonorrhea tests for sexually active women 25 and younger – a sure way to catch and treat infections early.
That’s why the American Sexual Health Association has launched “YES means TEST,” a campaign aimed at shattering stigma and normalizing STD testing among young people by encouraging them to focus on their sexual health. Like the movement built around promoting sexual consent, the idea is to inform and empower people not to fear STDs. If we start talking about STDs, we can say “yes” to sex safely and take ownership of our sexual health.
Getting an STD is human, it’s normal. So why are we still uncomfortable talking about it? Especially when we can do something about it. Let’s treat STDs like any other health matter. Safe sex practices and early detection are extremely effective. If we all agree to say “yes” to test, we can have healthy sex, no matter what kind, how or with whom.
For more information about the “YES means TEST” initiative or to locate free or low-cost testing at a nearby clinic, please visit www.YESmeansTEST.org.