We have a very strange relationship with sexually transmitted infections.
On one hand, we tell people to get tested. We remind them that knowing their status is responsible and simply part of taking care of their health. On the other hand, the moment someone tests positive, we often treat them as some kind of social pariah.
Somewhere along the way, we confused getting an infection with being irresponsible.
This flawed outlook is one we need to fix.
An STI is a health issue, full stop. It doesn't say anything about your character, your values, or how "responsible" you are. People contract STIs in all kinds of circumstances and in all kinds of relationship configurations. An STI diagnosis tells you that an infection is present. It doesn't tell you anything about someone's character.
The real problem is that shame doesn't make anyone healthier or safer. It makes people less likely to get tested, less likely to seek treatment, and less likely to tell a partner what's going on.
If we actually care about public health, shame is a pretty terrible strategy. So let’s dig into the topic of STIs and try to peel back some of the layers of stigma.
What actually counts as an STI?
Let's start with the basics.
An STI, or sexually transmitted infection, is an infection that can be passed through sexual contact. You might also hear the term STD, but many healthcare professionals (myself included) now prefer STI because you can have an infection without developing symptoms or have it progress into a disease. It's a small language shift, but an important one.
It's also worth remembering that "STI" isn't shorthand for one single experience.
It's easy to lump all STIs together, but that doesn't reflect reality. They're different infections with different ways of spreading, different testing protocols, and different treatment options. Some, including chlamydia and gonorrhea, are usually curable with medication. Others, like herpes and HIV, aren't curable but can often be managed so effectively that people go on to have healthy, fulfilling sex lives.
When we throw every STI into one giant pile labelled "terrifying," we lose the nuance people actually need. Better sexual health starts with accurate information, not fear.
