STD's

[C~Q]

Mods I didn't think this needed to be in AO but please move if it does, thanks.

I was at a party last night and a friend who had broken his arm decided to have a full check up while he was at the Dr. The Dr told him to have blood tests to check for many things including STD's. My friend said it wasn;t neccessary because he always practises safe sex and the Dr told him that 60% of the population have chlamydia He couldn't believe it!!!

Also I had a friend who had Herpes (hmmm sounds like I have a lot of "friends" but I'm really not talking about myself ) and her Dr told her that 1 in 8 people have Herpes

It amazes me that if it's that easy to catch, that MORE people don't have STD's...I mean you would think that they're either easy to catch or not IYKWIM???

It really, really shoked me!

[Spring Angel]

I've been married for 7 years and with DH for 10 and my GP still tests for STD's each time I have a pap smear.

I am shocked at the figures also but I guess you have to think when having unprotected sex not only am I sleeping with this person, I'm sleeping with their history.

Spring x

[rhyb]

Sadly Im the only one of my friends who has been tested for STD's. I get tested regularly regardless of if Ive been sexually active or not since my last test as some things take time to show up. I think its being responsible and cant understand how my friends that will have unprotected sex with strangers wont get them done as they 'prefer not to know'. Very silly in my books. Rant over.

Just out of curiosity does everyone get a pap smear as often as they should? I didnt have my first one until 4 years after becoming sexually active and that was only cz DS was born
Ive decided to be more of an adult about it and continue getting them every 2 years instead of being a chicken

[Fleur]

I've been with DH for over 13 years & been tested for STDs probably three times in that time. I figure it can't hurt
pap smears I get done yearly. My first smear showed abnormal cells, CIN1 or 2. It's all clear now & I can go back to every two years but I prefer the peace of mind that comes with getting it done regularly.

[Fleur]

I dont know if im just precautious or weird.

I don't call that weird, just safe...and responsible

[STARRYSKY]

I once caught something nasty from my very x partner (nothing that wasnt cleared up witha bit of medication thank the stars!!) who cheated on me ALOT and obviously without protection, I was ***** scared to go have that STD test after we broke up, but I made myself do it! luckily I havent been left with anything "memorable" from him.
I get tested for chlamydia every pap smear (every year for me, family history of abnormal cells) I have had the same partner for 11 years now, but one just never knows, all it takes is just one slip up.

on another note, in my little bros group of friends its quite incestual the way they all sleep with eachother () if one gets somethng, guaranteed they all get it, I know for a fact that most of them have herpes now!

[Glamourcide]

I'm due for another pap smear, come to think of it. I'll ask the doc for an STD check while I'm at it even though the only person I've slept with for the last 3 years is DH, and I assume I'm the only person he's been pointing his pieces at, too At the confirmation of both pregnancies my GP did STD checks as routine, all clear (thankfully) but it never hurts to keep getting checked out every couple of years, even in a monogamous relationship (because although I can 100% guarantee I've been behaving myself, and I like to think DH is the kind of bloke who'd never do me wrong, I obviously can't absolutely be sure of it, kwim?).

I definitely think it's silly to not get tested and checked out, especially if you're not in a long-term/monogamous relationship. I used to get checked whenever a relationship ended, just so I could keep track of who went where and if I'd caught something, I would know who needed to hear about, you know? Never hurts to be safe, and after having two kids I have no shame about being poked and prodded down there... and have never had a problem with needles so a blood test is as easy as blinking.

[Winter]

I dont know if im just precautious or weird. I get tested when I leave a relationship, then again 6 months later and then again when I enter a new relationship. I always insist that a new relationship partner gets tested too before DTD.

Meee toooo! I think its precautious & definitely NOT weird. It seems like a normal & healthy, responsible thing to do, for my own health & my new partners.

I've been married a few years now, but our relationship started off this way.

[heliana]

omg! that reminds me, I saw an add on tv the other night saying you could get herpies from kissing! I know you can get coldsores, but they said herpies.
There goes the ol pash n dash lol!
not that Im doing that anymore these days...

[Fleur]

Pretty sure cold sores & herpes are the same thing.
Not sure though if they are different strains of the same virus, or exactly the same?

[Winter]

Different strains of the one virus, Herpes Simplex 1 & 2 but I can't remember which is which. I think you can get cross contamination due to oral sex. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I also had a feeling that Chicken pox & Shingels are related in some way...same virus family or something - anyone?

[Fleur]

Yep I think so Winter, it's chicken pox when you are a child & shingles when you are an adult.... and they are related to the herpes virus also? or am I just getting my viruses mixed now

ETA - hang on I think I misunderstood you mean c'pox & shingles are related to herpes virus?

[STARRYSKY]

yep all are from the same virus family. herpes 1 and 2 is oral and genital but can be transferred to either region.