One of the more taboo subjects that come from dating in the 21st century is what to do when you or your partner have an STI. Do you stop sex all together or do you keep it to yourself? Here at Broadgate GP, we have a reliable and committed team who deal with sexual health concerns everyday. Our aim is to get rid of the stigma surrounding an STI diagnosis and are here to help you live a normal, sexually active life.
The unprecedented disruption caused by the COVID-19 lockdowns and continued strain the pandemic is having on health services across the country since 2020 has made it difficult to keep track of the exact number of the population affected by an STI. However, in 2019 there were 468,342 diagnosed cases of an STI in England – a 5% increase from the 2018 figures. It’s thought that most adults will, at some point in their life, contract an STI. Keep reading for more information.
What Do I Do If I Think I Have an STI?
First things first, if you suspect you have an STI, get in touch with a local sexual health clinic – or your GP if they offer sexual health services – to get a diagnosis. A medical professional will run tests to determine if you do in fact have an STI, or if another condition may be at the root of your problems. Blood, swabs, and urine samples may be taken.
Chlamydia is the most common STI because some people don’t experience symptoms, and those who do don’t start to see them until 1 to 3 weeks after having unprotected sex with somebody who has chlamydia. Nearly 50% of those 468,342 cases from 2019 was a chlamydia diagnosis. If you do show symptoms, they will present as unusual discharge from the penis or vagina, pain during sex or while urinating, and bleeding between periods. Chlamydia can also impact your rectum, throat, and eyes.
There are other STI’s, like chlamydia, that don’t present symptoms, so it’s recommended that men and women under the age of 25 who are sexually active get tested at least once a year for any conditions. While many common STI’s are cleared up with medication or creams, there are some that cannot be cured.
Can I Date with an Incurable STI?
There aren’t many STI’s that are classed as incurable: HIV, HPV, Herpes, and Hepatitis B. Chances are, you’ve heard of at least some of these and have probably gotten the impression from the media that relationships and sex are forbidden once one of these conditions have been identified, but that simply isn’t true. Firstly, let’s take a look at these STI’s and the risks associated with them:
Hepatitis B: After 1991, it became common practice to vaccinate babies against the infection at birth, but anyone born before then probably won’t have received the vaccine. If you think you have been exposed to Hepatitis B you can receive emergency treatment within a few days that can prevent the infection. Outbreaks can be reduced and risk of transmission lowered with antiviral medications. Hepatitis B is one of the leading causes of liver cancer and symptoms include feeling and being sick, diarrhoea, stomach pain, and flu-like symptoms.
HPV: Human papillomavirus effects 9 in 10 of sexually active people. While the majority of these infections go away within 2 years of initial detection, it is still incurable and in some cases can lead to genital warts, oral cancer, and cervical cancer. Women may remember receiving their vaccine to protect against HPV from 2008 and men began to be offered to boys from 2019. For extra protection, women also receive a smear test every few years to make sure serious issues aren’t developing.
Herpes: Worldwide, over 500 million people have one of the two strains of herpes simplex. Spread through skin to skin contact, many people aren’t aware they have the virus because there are no initial symptoms. However, when symptoms appear, an individual may experience outbreaks of blisters around the genitals, thighs, and anus which burst to leave open sores. Herpes can be managed using antiviral medication for the symptoms but the virus itself is a lifelong one. If you think you may have genital herpes or have received a diagnosis, our blog on Life With Genital Herpes can help!
HIV: Once upon a time, HIV was a very scary diagnosis to receive, but modern medicine has come a long way since then. The virus damages the immune system, until the point where symptoms include weight loss, skin problems, recurrent infections, and serious, life-threatening illnesses. Antiretroviral drugs stop the virus from replicating in the body and the virus can become undetectable in the blood after 6 months of treatment. For more information, check out our blog on How to Protect Yourself from Catching HIV.
If you have one of these lifelong conditions, it’s important to inform anyone you plan on becoming intimately involved with before risking transmission. Anyone who knowingly spreads conditions like HIV without warning a sexual partner is breaking the law and can face prosecution.
Honesty is the Best Policy
With all the medication available to manage STI’s and protection on the market, many people who live with a lifelong STI can experience a normal, healthy sex life with lasting partners who are aware of their diagnosis. If you want to date with an STI, be honest with each sexual partner and manage your condition however you can to reduce the risk of transmission.
Got any questions? Contact Broadgate GP today!
Sex and relationships can be confusing, which is why Broadgate GP are here to help! Our team of medical professionals are on hand to offer advice and guidance when it comes to dating with an STI. We’re only a phone call away so don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today! We also provide STI testing and Pregnancy tests from our private clinic!
For more information on different STDs, check out our blog! Full of useful information on different STDs like genital warts, chlamydia, HIV, and more!
