CHLAMYDIA TESTING:

Ed: 'You can't assume everyone has the same sexual attitude'

Having grown up in the 1980s as a gay man, all my sexual activity and health has been informed by the HIV/AIDS campaigns so I have always considered my self to be a responsible and modern gay man who takes full responsibility for his sexual health and that of his partners. I have tended to be monogamous when in relationships but when I am single I can play the field but always practice safe sex.

chlmaydia clinicA year or so ago I started a new relationship and after a few weeks and it felt like it was going to last, I took myself off to the local clinic to get my regular MOT. However, what I failed to do was to discuss this with my new partner. I’m not sure why really perhaps I was embarrassed or maybe a bit coy about my sexual past. So when my results came back and I tested positive for NSU and Chlamydia I was a bit surprised as I was expecting a negative result now had to tell my new partner.

He was angry that I had got tested without discussing it with him and as he had been celibate for sometime before we got together. We need to get rid of this stigma about talking about sex as I think it is that that prevents men from seeking help for sexually transmitted diseases.

He tested positive for both too

Anyway, he went and got himself tested and sure enough he tested positive for both.

Chlamydia and NSU are both easily treated so there was nothing to worry about on that score but what was slightly freaky was that I had no idea I had contracted either of these and was showing no symptoms of either infection. It was also unclear how long I had been infected. The relationship I am happy to say weathered this storm but there are a couple of lessons in there which were worth learning.

Firstly, find a way to talk to your partner honestly and upfront about sexual activity and sexual health. You can’t just assume that everyone has the same attitude to testing and the same knowledge about what constitutes safe sex.

Secondly, some infections are invisible and asymptomatic. We really do have to open this subject up and talk about it.

Back  Top  Send this page to a friend

Page last updated: 29/05/2009

Health Choices 09

 

COMPETITION: win a Wii in our health choices challenge

CHALLENGES: choose our ten men's health challenges

WHY CHOOSE HEALTH? The answer is 14

Download Challenge Checklist

Cruyff 14 

Ed: 'You can't assume everyone has the same sexual attitude'

James: ‘I’m giving up my magical thinking about cigarettes'

Nick: 'I only discovered my high blood pressure through a friend's joke'

Tony: 'Did men's health day save my life?'

Richard: 'The day I admitted I was an alcoholic'

Wayne: 'You can get fit again and it's easy. Walk.'

Round-up: Men's Health Week events nationwide

 

Online drugs survey  

HONcode accreditation seal.

We comply with the HONcode standard for health trustworthy information:
verify here.

THE TIMES
The Top Five Keeping Well websites 2006

JIM POLLARD. MALEHEALTH EDITOR
Patients Association Health Journalist of 2006 runner-up

ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE
Medical Website of the Year 2004

 
Patient Info Awards 2003:
Highly Commended

 

The Department of Health has provided funding to the Men's Health Forum, assisting the provision of health information and advice.

The material on this site is intended for reference and information only and should not be used in place of advice from a doctor or suitably qualified healthcare practitioner.

Designed by Anytime After 9 Limited

Designed by
Anytime After 9 Ltd