Some questions to consider. Please answer honestly, and I champion those who wish to be seen, but I do welcome and recommend anonymous comments for this as I think it will yield a more honest answer. You don't have to answer every question unless so inclined, but try to answer as many as possible. I also welcome additional questions I may have missed.
This isn't meant to be a battlefield. Be nice or I will delete.
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- Do you have an STD? If so, which one(s)? (please consider answering anonymously)
- Do you know anyone who has an STD? If so, is it a friend, family member or lover?
- Have you ever knowingly slept with someone who had an STD?
- You are dating someone you really like. How would you handle the situation if he/she gently informed you that he/she had a certain STD, and provided you both time and resources to better educate and understand his/her disease?
- If you have been told someone you were interested in seeing had an STD, how DID you react?
- Do you assume anyone with an STD is a promiscuous person?
- If you do have an STD, what has been your experience with telling a new person in your life about your STD?
- Would you disclose you had an STD if you knew using proper protection would likely prevent transmission and would avoid the ostracization that comes from this situation?
- How would you feel if someone gave you an STD? Would you assume it was done knowingly? Would you believe them if they said they didn't know?
- You are in a committed relationship and learned you or your partner learns he/she has an STD. Would you automatically assume your partner was unfaithful? Would you be interested to know that some viruses can lie inactive for years and the person may not know they have it, yet still shed cells that can be passed along?
- Would you be willing to educate yourself enough to understand that there are some STDs whereby transmission can be prevented or greatly minimized with medications and common sense sex practices, and you can still have a loving healthy partnership?
- How would you feel if you contracted such a disease?
- If you have an STD, do you choose partners who share your disease so as to minimize the spread to non-infected populations?
- Do you believe you can get an STD from the toilet seat or other non-sexual contact?
- Would you understand that contracting such a disease doesn't mean that if you choose not to have a sexual partnership with them, that a nurturing friendship can't be enjoyed, or would you wish to have no contact at all with a "tainted" person?
Don't want to contract an STD? or Think you may have one? Arm yourself with credible information:
http://www.cdc.gov/std/default.htm
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Think you might be infected?
Get tested and get proper medical treatment. Ignoring it won't make it go away and can affect your fertility at a minimum, and your life at a maximum.
Already infected and looking for love without the stigma?
Then type in "STD Dating" on any search engine and a whole host of options should show up. Including how to discuss with a non-infected partner. But always be respectful, they may not choose you. Hopefully they will be respectful in response.
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God bless all and live with caution and compassion, but do LIVE, don't hide in fear. And thank you for participating in this discussion.
