Protecting Your Sexual Health + The Tests You Shouldn't Skip
A note before reading: This article has been written so that the information contained is applicable to all people: men, women, trans-, and anyone who identifies as LGBTQIAPK+.
Sex is a regular part of life that can reduce stress, express intimacy and simply be pleasurable. Taking care of your body and health includes actively taking steps to ensure your sex life is the healthiest it can be. But just as your overall health is not defined merely by the absence of disease or health conditions, the same notion applies to sexual health. Your sexual health means much more than the absence of sexually transmitted disease/infections, or the absence of other medical conditions that could prevent you from having a fulfilling sex life. Sexual health is the presence of a satisfying, consented, respectful, and beneficial sexual experience.
Sexual health includes the ability to have pleasurable, respectful and safe sexual experiences and relationships that are consensual and free from discrimination, violence, and anything unwanted. The sexual right of every person must be protected, respected and fulfilled to achieve and maintain sexual wellbeing.
Ensuring your own sexual health also includes ensuring the sexual health of your partner(s) since most sexual acts are inescapably linked to another person. In the context of HIV and STI/D’s, it is crucial to think about more than just your own individual sexual health. Not thinking about or asking your partner(s) about their status can put you at great risk. It’s imperative that both partners get tested before engaging in sexual activity.
Safe Sex is:
For everyone – Your age, race, ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, number of partners, relationship status or STI status does not matter.
Knowing all your options before engaging in a sexual act with another person (s).
Being comfortable with what you are doing and being comfortable enough to talk to your partner(s) about what you do and do not want.
Sex that considers both partners’ plans around pregnancy.
About choosing options that lower the chance of transmitting or getting STIs.
Getting tested for STIs if you are sexually active and getting treatment if you are diagnosed with an STI.
Fun, stimulating, enjoyable, exciting and erotic.
Consent
Consent is for everyone. An important and necessary part of sexual health is being open with your partner and talking about sex. It is a way of making sure that consent is asked for and given for anything that happens during sex. Consent is also not a blanket statement, rather, it is an ongoing process. This means that you always have the right to change your mind or stop any activity that does not feel safe or right at any point. Before engaging in any act, talk to your partner(s) about what feels safe and what you all do and do not want.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
A sexually transmitted infection is a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection transferred from one person to another through sexual contact. Sexual contact includes vaginal or anal sexual intercourse, oral sex, and the use of sex toys. The most important element of STIs is that you do not always know you have one because in most cases there are no signs or symptoms. If signs do arise, they are often mild and are overlooked. STIs include HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, genital warts, hepatitis A, B, and C, and parasites. An STI caused by bacteria can typically be cured with a short course of antibiotics. Generally, a bacterial STI is less likely to cause damage to the body if diagnosed and treated soon after the infection developed. An STI caused by viruses cannot be cured with antibiotics; however, the symptoms can be managed by medication. Talk to a health care professional about managing and treating viral STIs.
The only way to know if you have an STI is to get tested.
The Tests You Shouldn’t Skip
If you have had unprotected sex, have a new partner, have multiple partners, or are worried you have been exposed to an STI, there are essential tests that you need to have done. Getting the tests done is quick and easy, and can be performed by most general practitioners. Before engaging in sexual intercourse with a new partner, ask that they test as well.
Chlamydia
Test: A swab of the genital area or a urine sample.
Who should get the test: Sexually active women younger than 25 years, older women with chlamydia infection risk factors, and all pregnant women.
Note: Let your healthcare provider know if you have had oral or anal sex. Vaginal and urine samples might come back negative, however, these sites might still be infected.
Gonorrhea
Test: A swab of the genital area or a urine sample.
Who should get the test: All sexually active women younger than 25 years, older women with risk factors (new or multiple partners), and anyone with a sex partner who has an STI.
Note: Let your healthcare provider know if you have had oral or anal sex. Vaginal and urine samples might come back negative, however, these sites might still be infected.
HIV
Test: A blood test or a swab of the inside of the mouth.
Who should get the test: Everyone aged 13 to 64. 25% of infected people do not know they are infected.
Note: Many clinics have confidential and anonymous testing options available.
Genital Herpes – With Symptoms
Test: A swab of the affected area; if at first, the test appears negative for herpes, follow up later with a blood test to confirm.
Note: This test must be completed as soon as possible as a viral culture test is not accurate after 48 hours. This is why negative results do not always mean you do not have herpes.
Genital Herpes – Without Symptoms
Test: A blood test.
Note: Make sure the doctor runs an IgG test (not an IgM test).
Syphilis
Test: A blood test, or sample taken from a sore.
Note: All Sexually Active Women should test. All pregnant women should be tested for this.
Trichomoniasis
Test: A swab the infected area, physical exam or sample of discharge.
Note: This STI is harder to detect in males than females.
HPV (genital warts)
Test: An HPV test is usually done during your regular pap smear. The HPV test collects cells from your cervix to check for abnormalities or the presence of cancer or pre-cancerous cells. An HPV test can be done using the same sample from the Pap or by collecting a second sample from the cervical canal.
Note: Warts can occur in males and females. Most men do not know they are infected.
HPV (cervical cancer or precancerous cells)
Test: If Pap test results are abnormal, an HPV DNA test and a biopsy may be done.
Who should get the test: All women beginning at age 21. Women age 30+ should get the HPV test along with their Pap smear 1 x per year.
Note: Pap tests detect cervical cell changes, not HPV. An abnormal test is often caused by an HPV infection. No test is available for males for this type of HPV.
Ways to Reduce the Risk of Getting an STI
Have both partners get tested before engaging in sexual activity.
Kissing. Avoid kissing if your partner(s) have sores on the lips or mouth, or if one partner has an active oral infection.
Getting Cunnilingus. Cover the vagina with a barrier such as an oral dam or cut condom.
Giving Cunnilingus. Cover the vagina with a barrier such as an oral dam or cut condom.
Getting Fellatio. Use a condom on your penis.
Giving Fellatio. Use a condom on a partner’s penis.
Giving and Getting Anilingus. Cover the anus with a barrier such as an oral dam or cut condom.
Penis-Vagina Intercourse. Use a condom.
Penis-Anus Intercourse. Use a condom.
Sharing Sex Toys. Wash all toys with soap or disinfectant before and after each use. Use a new condom on inserted toys for each partner. Make sure to change the condoms between partners.