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How do you tell your partner if you’ve got an STI?
Former Member
Posts: 29 Boards Initiate
Hey everyone,
Finding out you have an STI can be difficult enough as it is, but telling your partner can seem even more difficult. Although it is important to share this information with your partner to make sure you are both being safe going forward, knowing the right words to say is not always clear.
So how do you tell your partner if you’ve got an STI? Share any ideas you have here.
Greta
0
Comments
It should be straightforward and easy if it's from a past relationship, just say something like "I made a few mistakes in the past and I wasn't careful and I got *insert sti here*"
It can be much harder If you caught it from shaving needles for a drug habit nobody knows about or if you have cheated bit it's a very important topic you should sit them down with and explain in detail.
How someone got it doesn't matter to me I'd rather know x
On the one hand it is a good system but I see many flaws,
For one example if it was a one night stand you may not know their contact info.
I also just feel it's a little I guess cowardly to not send them an email or text personally.
I would much rather them tell me in person than to hide behind an automated service, might just make exes more mad 🤔
As for when to tell your partner, I think you should definitely tell them before you engage in any sexual activity. Whether this is right at the start of the relationship, or just before any physical intimacy, I think depends on when you feel most comfortable and ready. I personally don't think RIGHT before any activity is preferable, but it's still better than never. I also believe that the anonymous service with contacting exes is a good idea, since it still gets the message across, without any potentially awkward and/or uncomfortable confrontation. However, as Laine said, it's not so possible when you don't know how to contact the other person (e.g. one night stands or changed contact details), and it may come across like a prank (so the other person mightn't take it seriously).
-peachysoo