[Ashlee T.]

Too much room for false security if your partner is lying. I don't know how a person could really tell with a brand-new partner whether they're lying about having been tested or their results. I'd be much more fastidious about condom use, though.

That's true. The last guy I pretty much knew he wasn't lying because it was his idea to do it in the first place, and when he got his results he asked me if I wanted a copy. I didn't of course....because at that point I felt like I knew him well enough that he wasn't the malicious type to KNOW he had something and still expose me. We also always used condoms. Maybe it could be just like a "this is something we're both going to do" kind of thing unless we haven't had any sexual partners since our last test? I dunno... but I'm definitely going to be more picky. When I was on the pill I didn't think a whole lot about unprotected sex in an exclusive relationship. Eeek....scary things out there.

[avvie_88]

I was told something similar to Mes. They told me something along the lines of that they only test for a few common STDs, but if one of those come back positive, they test you for others. I believe it was they can only test for some though urine, which is the only test they did due to cost of blood tests. They did however give me an HIV finger prick.

I was 19. I had a couple partners, all I was "safe" with, however, a condom did break with the last partner I had.

This is where I disagree with whomever said they haven't gotten tested because they haven't frequently engaged is "risky business." You don't have to hook up with random people at a bar to get an STD. People lie. And even if it's not your partner lying to you, THEIR previous partner could have lied to them. My activity was less than ideal, but far from "risky."

Anyway, that partner and I had broken up some months later. A while after that, my best friend had told me he had feelings for me. Before we got too serious, we both got tested. Neither of us felt we had reason to worry, but it was better safe than sorry.

Getting tested isn't something "dirty" people only do. It's a good thing to get tested. Even if you've had NO other partners, who cares? Get it done. It's like going to the gyno. I believe you should go (come a certain age) whether you've had sex or not.
They asked me when I got tested if I believed I NEEDED to be tested. I said no, but better safe than sorry, and the woman told me she wished more people thought like I did.

As for changing how I handled myself...I always used condoms, so that was good. The people I was with, I was friends with, I trusted them. However, I was with them out of rebellion in a bad part of my life.
My best friend who finally told me he cared for me is now, years later, my fiancee. So I can't really say if I would have stopped doing what I was doing had it not been for him. But looking back, I wish I hadn't done what I'd done. I'm glad I made responsible choices in regards to WHOM I was with, and using protection, but looking back, I wish I'd never bothered with them like that at all.
I DID learn, however, the just because you use a condom, that doesn't mean you're fully protected. Condom's fail. That wasn't a pleasant lesson to learn, and going to the pharmacy to buy Plan B with him wasn't pleasant either. But it's much better than having a kid.

[Faerunner]

I've been getting tested since I became sexually active in my late teens, for my own peace of mind more than anything else. I've had a grand total of 3 partners and 2 of them were virgins at the time. The third is my current long-term partner, who did have partners before me, which is part of what spurred me to get tested (he hasn't been, yet, but my tests have been clean 8 years running).

It's also really easy to get tested through Planned Parenthood which is where I get my care anyway. Being insurance-less and female and (for tax purposes) single makes my visits cover-able under PA's SelectPlan, which is a state 'family planning' insurance for women and means that I don't have to pay for regular care. Since that's the case, I might as well take advantage and make sure I get tested regularly!

I am honestly not afraid of catching something from a toilet seat or finding that my partner of 8 years has suddenly given me a disease that he's been carrying (if he were going to it would've happened already), but I like knowing that I have a clean bill of health all the same, especially when there are scary stats about the number of young people unknowingly carrying an infection around!

[Quest]

Nope but given that I haven't had sex, it would be not usefull. I would certainly like to see the results of girl I was dateing before I had sex with her considering how carefull I am.

I would be very, very angry if the girl gave me an STD. I shouldn't say this but I would likely call her a ***** and break up with her.

[Little]

I don't think having an STD makes someone an [insert sex-shaming slur here.] Unless you're abstinent, chances are that you will get one at some point, and unless you're testing fastidiously, you'd never know it.

[Ashlee T.]

I would be very, very angry if the girl gave me an STD. I shouldn't say this but I would likely call her a ***** and break up with her.

Eh...easy on the slurs tiger. Not everyone who has an STD is a promiscuous person. A movie called Girl, Positive. was on tv yesterday about a teen who contracted HIV during her first ever sexual encounter. She made one bad decision and it changed the course of her entire life. So be careful with that mentality. And keep in mind that you, a virgin, most likely have HSV1 right now as we speak. If you performed oral sex on someone especially during a time when you have mouth sores, you could give them hsv1 (herpes) in their genitals. So YOU, a virgin, could give someone genital herpes. Otherwise, I think it would be totally natural to be angry with someone who gave you an STD. Honestly, I would be angry too, at least for a while.

I'm enjoying these responses. It is becoming ever more clear what a risky world we live in, especially in regards to STD's. As a single gal that enjoys good fun sex.... I am so thankful to be past the point in my life where I take unnecessary risks with my health. And I'm SO thankful I got through those encounters without contracted a life changing disease.

[ItsASecret]

If a person has ever had a cold sore in their life they have herpes simplex 1 in them. It is not the actual herpes that everyone is scared about but it is a member of the family of herpes viruses. Having HSV1 is not something that a should be going "omg omg STD STD!!", nearly everyone has contracted it at an early childhood age from sharing a utensil or drink with someone and then virus just sits in a cranial nerve until something like stress induces it to come out from latency. HSV1 can be contracted sexually but again it is not the form of herpes to be overly concerned about. HSV2 is the one to be concerned about though.

[kristalyn_04]

I get tested annually (whenever I get a physical), unless I haven't been sexually active that year. New parters, I always ask if they have been tested recently before we touch each other, even though we use protection. I don't usually ask to see his results, unless I have reason to think he'd be dishonest or if I barely know the guy (in which case I probably wouldn't be sleeping with him anyway).

[DreamP346]

the usual tests your GYN does doesn't cover all the STIs, usually not HIV.

I have gotten tested a few times and I make my partners get a complete test as well. I have done this when I was in a committed long term relationship and wanted to experience sex without condoms. I had to really be super comfortable with the person to get to this point.

I used to be a sex educator so I really understand STIs and the need to protect yourself. Most diseases are spread skin to skin so intercourse is not even needed. You just need microscopic cuts in the skin for the infection to pass.

Personally, I never understood the concept of people who stopped using condoms after they were in a monogomous relationship without getting themselves and their partners tested. I know too many cases of people getting infections who weren't practicing high risk behaviors. They just made one mistake or didn't use a condom with the long term partner.

[SaharaJim]

I get a complete screening every year along with the hemoglobin A1C tests for diabetic control. Then again for the last 15 years I have had only three sexual partners, none of which were more active than I; ;o) to the VERY BEST of my knowledge and belief.