Hands up, who regularly gets an std test?

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Every time a thread pops up about being promiscuous, someone invariably pops up and says along the lines of urrggg, I wouldn't touch with a barge pole as they must be full of diseases etc.

So regardless of how many you have, or haven't' fucked, how often do you get tested if at all?

Me. Every couple of months I get the full works of genitals, blood and mouth.

OP this is a timely post, seeing as it’s HIV testing week!

I think that for all of us it depends on how many sexual partners and the sort of sex. A lot of people believe they do not need to get tested. For example there’s currently about 8,000 people in the U.K. living unknowingly with HIV and almost half of all new diagnoses are people who might have contracted the virus many years ago.

Because I go into my GUM clinic every 6 months I regularly get asked if I want testing for other STIs. Some people, even if in a LTR, might go in for an annual MOT.

Testing is indeed really easy nowadays. ItsJustTheOneSwanActually being offered STI testing at the same time as a smear sounds a great idea. Some clinics have self testing rooms or they can be done via post.

Personally, with what I know now, I would always get tested in any new relationship, and more importantly, ensure my partner gets tested too.

I was only tested when I had a coil put in.

A little over 30 years ago I met ex, people didn't routinely test in our area then.

I left ex nearly 3 years ago, haven't had sex since so haven't tested, but if I do start dating, I'll certainly be testing.

Yup HIV week.

I am really amazed that people don't get tested. It's not just HIV that should be of concern.

I said it's free at GUM clinics and home testing. Home testing isn't necessarily provided by the NHS.

Privately it depends on what you have tested and where you go in relation to cost. My last complete test cost me around £300. This included HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, hepatitis, trichomonas, mycoplasma, Gardnerella, Ureaplasma.

I'm monogamous and haven't had many partners, and have a full work up about every 5 years at the clinic. I've had 2 STD's from partners in the past, some can lie dormant so I'm not complacent.
Its just a basic health check, like a smear.

I don't need to be tested for Lymes as I don't have any symptoms and afaik its not a silent disease. The only other test I would like to have which isn't currently free is for toxoplasmosis.

OP do you not use condoms? 2 months is a bit excessive tbh. Once a year maybe.

Only the ones done while pregnant... my last pregnancy was about 20 years ago, I’ve had the same partner for nearly 25 years and while no, you can never be 100% sure someone hasn’t cheated, I know I haven’t and I’ve never had any reason to suspect my partner of it... so...

Until I had a reason to it’d seem like a bit of a waste of my time and NHS money to get tests tbh.

Of course, I use condoms. I said couple so 2 - 3 months.

Yearly can be too late for things like chlamydia.

I dont think I've ever had an std test apart from whatever they test for in pregnancy. Have been with dh since I was 19 and am now 46 so dont see the need for one

Every 3-6 months is the recommended frequency of testing for people who have multiple sexual partners, men who have sex with men etc. PrEP can also be taken to protect against HIV (more effective than condoms), also vaccinations against Hepatitis A & B. Maybe sex workers get tested more often? , although my understanding was they were more likely to insist on condom use when having sex?

My clinic offers free postal STI testing and is the best option for most. If anyone is experiencing symptoms it’s better to go in.

OP do you live in the U.K.? Most of those tests are not done as standard, and even if paid for by post that’s still a bit expensive.

I don’t but I only have one long term partner and practice safe sex.

Obviously if a person is having numerous partners and not practicing safe sex then tests should be done but not at a cost to the nhs. They should be chargeable.

Have you ever seen someone about your health anxieties OP?

Twice a year even with long term partners. The way these men are set up now-a-days scares me even with protection.

I am really amazed that people don't get tested. It's not just HIV that should be of concern.

How often do you think people in long term monogamous relationships should get tested?

Yes, I am. I don't get the full works done every time, couldn't afford it lol that's once a year. Next one will be through possibly Superdrugs as theirs works out around a hundred cheaper. Although it's not as comprehensive

The 'normal' tests every couple of months.

Even without symptoms, it's good to get tested as not all have any.

And the questioning burning on everyone lips - nope, never had a thing. And even when I stop having sex 🤣 I will continue to test for around 6 months after.

And yea everyone who gets the coil fitted gets tested for chlamydia because of the damage it can do.

Why do I need to see someone about my health anxieties?
I have sex so I get tested. I have done so from the first time I had sex. It's being responsible, isn't it?

Ideally, before they start the relationship and test again before condoms are no longer used. And yes in a monogamous relationship because you can never 100% guarantee what the other person is doing. If people didn't cheat then this board would be emptier.

Why just std? What about TB? Lyme disease?

Interesting question. I had to have a syphilis test to get married (US, 20 years ago).

I guess I then had various tests during pregnancy for whatever they look for.

I also had to have various tests to be allowed to emigrate to the US. IIRC I was tested for HIV, syphilis, TB (chest X-ray) and a variety of other things.

I have been tested for Lyme since as it's a big problem in my area and I've been bitten by a tick.

I haven't been tested for STDs recently as I think I'm lower risk for STDs.

It sounds like the OP is testing for things she considers higher risk in her life.

I have only ever had sex with my husband and he has only ever had sex with me so it seems a bit pointless.

I've had one when a condom split. Both my partner and I are clean and don't practice unsafe sex.

Why do you get them so regularly?

I was tested when I was pregnant so about 18 months ago and before that when I was having fertility investigations so about 2.5 years ago. Before that it was when I first got with DH so nearly 8 years ago

We always use condoms except when we were TTC. When I was single/dating I got tested more regularly, probably about every 3-6 months

Never ... until one partner and he was faithful but now separated. That said I'm not on contraception so any potential partner will be using condoms for the next few years (I'm peri menopause so hopefully that phase of my life will be over soon. I don't do ons so will wait until I'm quite sure

I work in sexual health. I don’t get tested anymore (been with dh 11 years, have had no reason to feel I need to test in that time). But when I was single, I always got tested between every relationship (or more often if I felt I needed to). It’s a much more normal thing now (which is great it’s been normalised), but back then, I definitely got quite a few raised eyebrows from HCPs.

Do you also get tested for other illnesses or just sexual? You eat, therefore you could catch all sorts of bacterial illnesses. You have contact with people and could therefore catch literally any contagious disease

When I’m single every three months (unless I’ve had a dry spell) and at the start of new relationships. I’ve been vaccinated against HepA/B and HPV, I take PrEP when single/testing wait period.

I’ve never caught anything, hopefully it stays that way.

So evertime you have sex you tootle off and get tested for stis for months afterwards... Even after using condoms?

What are you after with this thread OP? Do you want people to pat you on the head for being super safe while the rest of is are patient zeros in your head for not doing it? What you are doing is mega extreme.

I've never had one. Am I supposed to?