Here's Exactly What To Do When You Find Out You Have An STI

For Glamour, by Suzannah Weiss. April is Sexually Transmitted Disease Awareness Month, which makes it a great time to think about what you would do if you contracted an STI — after all, around half of the human population will get one at some point. While that might seem a little scary, it also means that testing positive shouldn’t be a source of embarrassment or instant panic. Most STIs are treatable if you manage them properly, says Anne Hodder, a sex and relationship coach who teaches about STIs with Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. But once you find out you’ve got one, it’s hard to know how to start handling it responsibly. If your health care clinic (or at-home test) reveals you’ve contracted an STI, here are the first steps to take to make sure you’re keeping yourself and your partners safe. 1. See a doctor. Ask your doctor or another health care provider (like someone from Planned Parenthood) every question you can think of. Don’t hold back — they’ve heard everything. Also, ask where you can look online if more questions come up. Hodder recommends the sites for Planned Parenthood, the CDC, and Scarleteen. “Do your best not to self-diagnose or fall down the Internet spiral, because there is a sea of misinformation, harmful and shaming rhetoric, and factually inaccurate information out there about STIs and treatment,” she says. “So save yourself the trouble and stick to professional advice.” If...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news