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Like the poorly installed umbrella on a fine sand beach that gets blown away during your sunny lounging session, a sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) can rain out your hot summer evening (or at any steamy session, really).
Getting tested lets you know whether you have contracted an STBBI. It’s a precious, not-to-be-skipped little check-up that helps you keep your cool when things get hot. If sexual health was a wet t-shirt contest, STBBI screening would make a huge splash due to its legendary effectiveness in detecting STBBIs.
By knowing your sexual health status, you can receive the appropriate treatment, limit transmission, and protect your partner(s). Isn’t that music to your ears?
Symptoms
Contrary to the saying, when it comes to STBBIs, you don’t need to see it to believe it. Indeed, many of us can contract an STBBI without developing symptoms. Thankfully, your buddy Screening is there to tell you whether you have an STBBI that’s on “mute” so you don’t transmit it without knowing it! A bit like a roast in a slow-cooker, never forget that just because it’s not burning doesn’t mean it’s not simmering.
Protection
Condoms and dental dams don’t guarantee 100% protection against STBBIs. In addition, in the heat of the moment, we sometimes get clumsy with these lubricated rubbers, which means we don’t always use them perfectly.
Are your itchy (or not)? No need to panic!
While it’s true that STBBIs such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia can have serious consequences for your health, this is only when they’re not treated fast enough, hence the importance of getting tested. Once detected and treated with antibiotics, you can get back to your steamy sessions right away!
Other STBBIs such as herpes, HIV, and certain strains of HPV remain in the body for life, but you can take steps to greatly reduce symptoms and learn to live well with them. Consult our information sheets on the main STBBIs for more details.
Getting tested
Getting tested is a bit like giving a free hug to all the crotches in the world. It’s the equivalent of whispering “I love you!” in your partner’s ear. Screening also helps limit the risk of transmission and reduce the number of people with an infection. #TeamWork
Getting tested regularly
Like low-rise jeans that make their comeback once every ten years, most STBBIs can be contracted more than once in your lifetime. For this reason, it’s important to get tested regularly to monitor your sexual health.
Getting tested regularly makes you a good partner who looks out for their health and that of others.
Everyone is at risk of contracting an STBBI
Everyone is at risk of contracting an STBBI. STBBIs are not selective: they love crotches of all shapes, smells, colours, and degrees of hairiness. And no, there’s no superpower that can always protect us against these infections. The best protection is getting your crotch checked out regularly and avoiding transmission.