Normalizing STIs + STDs: What to Expect During a Visit
At ICAN!, we believe that birth control is basic healthcare that gives people the opportunity to decide if, when, and under what circumstances to be pregnant and parent, protect against STIs*, support gender-affirming care, and manage health conditions. We are working to break down silos between maternal, sexual and reproductive healthcare. This includes ensuring that birth control and STI/HIV prevention and education conversations always go together. Last month we spoke to Jacqueline McSparron, the Medical Director at Erie Family Health Center’s Humboldt Park location. Erie Humboldt Park, one of ICAN!’s partnering health centers, about the importance of STI testing and how to feel prepared and empowered for your next STI test.
Why is STI Testing + Care Important?
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are spread when semen, vaginal fluid, or blood comes into contact with the mouth, penis, vagina, anus, or eyes. A few STIs are passed through skin to skin contact even if no body fluids are present. If left untreated, STIs can cause more serious problems for you, and if you’re pregnant, for your baby. While not all STIs are curable, all of them are treatable. Which is why routine testing for STIs + HIV is an essential part of your visit with your healthcare provider. In fact, most people who have STIs report no signs or symptoms!
What to Expect During Your Visit:
Nervous about your STI appointment? Don’t be! Here what to expect:
- A conversation with your provider about your sexual and reproductive health history and concerns. They may ask you one or more of the following questions:
- Partners: Are you currently having sex? In recent months, how many partners have you had? What is your partner(s) gender?
- Practices: What kinds of sexual contact do you have, or have you had? What parts of your body are involved when you have sex?
- Protection from STIs: Do you and your partner(s) discuss STI prevention? How often do you use condoms?
- Past history of STIs: Have you ever been tested for STIs or HIV?
- Depending on your symptoms (if you are showing any) you will be asked to provide one or multiple of the following types of samples:
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- Urine (try to drink water prior to your appointment!)
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- Q-tip swab of the vagina or the urethra
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- Finger prick
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- Blood draw from the arm
- Your provider will confirm how to get your results. Results typically come back as early as 2-3 days, sometimes up to five. Do not panic if you do not get a call within that time frame, many clinics say no news is good news!
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- It is recommended to abstain from sex/ use condoms while waiting to get your results back.
Tips, Tricks and Advice for Your Visit
Now that you are prepared for your appointment, here are some tips, tricks and advice from Jacqueline to feel empowered for your visit!
Tip #1: Be honest, providers have heard it all! Your provider will not judge you. It is their job to treat patients without bias and with the utmost respect. “Nothing you say will surprise or shock me! Providers have heard it all! We talk about this all the time, and I am not going to judge you in any way. No shock, offense or scandal,” Jaqueline reports.
Tip # 2: Getting tested is normal! Normalizing routine testing makes it less scary and even empowering by giving patients control over their sexual health. Jacqueline compares routine testing to “protecting patients in the same I would help them prevent diabetes or high blood pressure…it is my job to take care of the whole person.” She encourages patients to also feel confident starting a conversation on STI testing and using condoms with their partner(s) and reminds her patients that willingness to get tested and be open about STI prevention is a sign of respect from your partner and something you deserve to have a safe and enjoyable sex life!
Tip # 3: Your STI test and results are confidential. In Illinois, anyone 12+ has the right to seek confidential sexual health care, unless your doctor is worried you are at risk of harming or being harmed by others. Read more about your rights here. Jacqueline often tells her younger patients “Legally I can’t tell your parents if you want to get an STI test, it’s the law I would get in trouble.” She even allows people to leave a trusted phone number for their results if they’re not comfortable leaving their own.
Ready to make an appointment?
Looking to get tested? Visit our provider finder to locate a health center that can connect you to low cost, high quality reproductive and sexual healthcare! All our partnering health centers can help you get tested, find the birth control method of your choice, and provide you with high quality care. Remember condoms are the only type of birth control that also protects against STIs and HIV! If you’re considering a different method of birth control like the pill or IUD, you should consider also using condoms for extra protection from STIs and HIV.
*There has been a shift in language from STD to STI, read more here About Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) | STI | CDC
