As a young teen, I had some understanding that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) existed.
(Anyone remember that infamous and apparently doctored blue wafflepicture?)
My feelings about and understanding of STIs have long evolved since I was a child.
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But for many others, the same can’t be said.
This dichotomy between “clean” and “dirty” is a limiting and unhelpful way to discuss STIs.
If you are sexually active, it’s possible for you to contract an STI point blank period.
“The stigma surrounding STIs is harmful to everyone, whether or not you have an STI.
What is an STI?
Arguably the most well-known example: HIV is an STI than could lead to AIDS, an STD.
The hope is that using the term “infection” can help reduce the shame associated with contracting one.
“We really want to double-check we meet people where they are,” she shares.
As of 2022, there are 10 STIs recognized by health organizations.
Planned Parenthood has addedmolluscum contagiosumandscabiesto their list.
How common are STIs?
To state it plainly, STIs areextremelycommon.
Condemning sex also affects people’saccess to contraceptives, testing, and other sexual health and reproductive services.
Sex education is not federally mandated across the United States, and each state defines its own laws.
Access to sex education in the U.S. is actually declining.
For instance: Some states mandate teaching abstinence or allow parents to opt their child out of sex ed.
Dr. Shepherd and Bennett both attribute the disproportionate impact on youth to the absence of accurate sexual health information.
Furthermore, the goal is to catch the infection as early as possible.
California-based sex therapistVanessa Marinsays that contracting an infection can invoke a lot of anxiety in people.
The burden of staying sexually healthy or “clean” often falls on women and queer community.
What happens after you reveal your status to someone you trusted who rebuffs you and tells others?
The shame can even worsen the disease’s physical effects.
Looking for someone to hold responsible after contracting an STI ultimately does nothing.
It’s not always someone else’s fault.”
You wouldn’t blame yourself if you got a cold, so why do it with an STI?
So, how should we talk about STIs?
“These are not conversations that we are taught how to have when we’re growing up.
We don’t see these conversations modeled in TV and movies,” Bennett says.
It’s not a trial.
Marin suggests having this conversation before and separate from any sexual activity.
Then, when it is time to share, she says to share it freely without shame.
“We all have a responsibility to help increase access to accurate sexual health information and education.”
Ultimately, you should be able to have this conversation without blaming or shaming.
Some of our biggest enemies to combat the stigma are misinformation and ourselves.
Testing positive for an STI doesn’t make you dirty just as testing negative doesn’t make you clean.
Contracting an infection or disease is not a moral failing.
It’s fragile and not impervious to illness.
Ultimately, for better sexual health, we have to leave this stigmatizing language behind.
Stigmatizing STIs won’t protect you from getting one.
