New program encourages couples to learn STD status together

 

When a person enters a new relationship, they should make sure that they know if their partner is infected with any sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). While practicing safer sex can reduce a person's risk of contracting one of these conditions, it's still important to be informed of a partner's sexual health.

Recently, USA Today reported on a new program called Testing Together, which encourages couples to get screened for STDs and hear the results together, in an effort to maintain open communication about sexual health within a relationship.

After being told the results, couples speak to a counselor about agreements that they should make with each other about their relationship. For example, are they comfortable having sex with other people or do they plan to be monogamous? The counselor is meant to help people start difficult conversations about sexual matters. While these discussions can be uncomfortable, they are necessary to ensure a sexually healthy relationship.

This approach goes against traditional STD testing methods, which revolve around total confidentiality. In fact, the news source reports that many other clinics would not allow a person to bring their partner in with them to hear the results because of confidentiality concerns.

Counselors can help facilitate the most difficult discussions, which occur when one partner is found to have HIV and the other does not.

"If the couple thinks the test result means one partner has been unfaithful, the counselor might point out that the infected partner could have acquired HIV before the partner became a couple. If the couple believes the virus is 'sleeping' and can't be transmitted, the counselor might explain that HIV can be transmitted even if there are no signs or symptoms," states USA Today.

AIDS.gov reports that it's possible to reduce the chance of transmitting HIV to an uninfected partner by practicing safer sex, which involves using condoms and dental dams. Encouraging open communication about sexual health may help reduce the number of infections that occur each year.