One of the hardest things about getting a positive result for a sexually transmissible infection (STI), is the request from doctors or nurses to tell your previous partners so that they can get tested and treated. Many guys in this situation, who have done the right thing and told people that they need to get a test, have experienced negative responses, such as anger and blame, from the guys they have informed. Now there is a much easier, pain free way of letting your sexual contacts know if you are given a positive STI result.
The Drama Downunder website ( www.dramadownunder.info) has a section titled ‘Let Him Know’ on the left hand side of their homepage. If you click on this section you can type in a sexual contacts email address, or phone number, and the website will send an anonymous message informing him of the need to get a sexual health test. There is absolutely no way a guy can trace this message back to you, and if you were ever asked about it, you could certainly deny having sent the message.
If you ever receive an anonymous message from the Drama Downunder website, you should follow it up with a sexual health screen. Keep in mind that many STIs can have no symptoms, so get a test even if you’re feeling fine.
There are many reasons for letting your sexual partners know after you are diagnosed with an STI. The more men who get treated for an STI, the more we can decrease the amount of infection in our community. If you ever intend on having sexual contact with that guy again, and they haven’t been informed or treated, then you run the risk of being reinfected. If a person has an untreated STI it can lead to a number of long-term health complications, and increase their risk of contracting or passing on HIV. With these reasons in mind, think about whether you would appreciate being informed from any of your past partners that you might be at risk of an STI, and let them know!
The WA AIDS Council runs HIV/STI testing clinics at Perth Steamworks (corner of Forbes and William Sts, Northbridge) on Mondays from 3-5pm or 7-9pm, and at the WA AIDS Clinic Monday to Friday 9am-5pm (664 Murray St, West Perth). We will also be running a Sat morning clinic 9am-12.30pm at 664 Murray St, West Perth from May 2nd. For more information call 9482 0000
waac@waaids.com
Ben Bradstreet
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