Two Situations in Which You Should Get an STI Test

There are certain situations in which it is sensible to get tested for STIs (sexually transmitted infections). Here are two examples of such situations.

Your partner has cheated on you

Infidelity can wreak havoc on your relationship with your partner. It can also have a detrimental effect on your health. If your partner has been physically intimate with someone else during your relationship, then it is possible that they may have contracted an STI, which they have since passed on to you.

Even if they used protection when they were unfaithful, there is still a chance that they might have caught an STI, as condoms are not 100% effective at preventing the transmission of this type of infection.

STIs can impact both your reproductive health and your overall physical well-being. Given this, if your partner has cheated, it is absolutely crucial to get tested for STIs at a clinic like Travellers Medical Services that offers these health screenings. If you intend to be physically intimate with your partner again at some point in the future, it is also a good idea to encourage them to get tested too.

You're about to start a new relationship

If you have met someone with whom you wish to have a romantic relationship, then it is absolutely essential for both you and your new partner to get tested for STIs at a local sexual health clinic before you engage in any physically intimate acts with one another. This is important both for you and your partner's well-being. These tests should be carried out even if neither of you has been exhibiting symptoms of infection (remember, early-stage STIs do not always result in symptoms; even in cases where they do, the symptoms are often so mild that they go unnoticed by the infected person).

It can sometimes be difficult to ask a new partner to be tested. However, do not be tempted to skip this conversation; doing so could have serious consequences for you and your partner's health. Try to use non-judgemental language, as some people may perceive being asked to get an STI test as an insult, that implies something negative about their sexual history. Additionally, emphasise that you are asking them to get tested because you care not only about your own health and well-being but also theirs.

If either of you tests positive for an STI, it is absolutely crucial to have this treated before you engage in any form of physical intimacy so that the infection is not transmitted further.