Welcome to another edition of Daily Sparkz patient stories.
At Daily Sparkz, we believe that sharing personal experiences can help reduce the stigma that many people feel about getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases. We’ve collected stories from people who got tested to inspire and encourage others to take this important step in their sexual health.
Certain names and details in these stories have been changed for privacy reasons.
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Norman’s story shows the value of happy accidents. When he was still a student, Norman showed that other areas of his life needed some attention because his university forcefully pushed him to take tests.
When Norman went to university in his early 20s, he was thrust into a new environment, with new people and new life experiences right in front of him. Like many young students, the thrill of learning mixed well with the thrill of dating.
If you’ve had sex and are worried about sexually transmitted diseases, Daily Sparkz is here for you.
“When I went to college in my early 20s, I started dating more often,” Norman said in a video call. Despite his name, Norman has the rounder, softer facial features of a fairly young person; his hair is jet black except for a single tuft of gray at the front. “There were STD awareness campaigns on campus every few months. You had to take a test for drink vouchers, so that was a given!”
For Norman, it wasn’t about a dramatic sexual encounter or a night of fun gone wrong. What prompted him to get tested was much more prosaic.
“I wasn’t particularly worried about an STI as I always wore protection, but at the time all my friends were being tested at the same event so I went along.
“I think there was a big push for testing about a decade or two ago (…) that was pretty normal. I remember there were campaigns everywhere back then.”
Norman, like us at Daily Sparkz, noted the lack of awareness around sexual health testing in recent years.
“It’s not talked about much these days. (I think there’s) more stigma attached to it (than there used to be).”
Despite an increased willingness to be tested at homeUnsafe sexual practices are increasing among 16 to 24 year olds Condom use is far less common than it was twenty years ago. National Surveys have shown that although young people have less sex than previous generations, they are more likely to engage in riskier sexual behavior and are more likely to contract a sexually transmitted disease than other age groups. This points to the need for greater access to sexual health education.
We asked Norman how he felt about his findings, and when we did, he let out a laugh as a look of ambivalence crossed his face.
“I was more relieved than worried. I received a message asking me to call. I thought the worst but then realized it wasn’t too serious.”
Luckily, Norman’s attempt at an STI test did not produce a positive result. At least not this Types of positive results.
“I tested positive for non-specific urethritis caused by harsh shower gels. I used to pee a lot and didn’t think anything of it, but after I found out I switched, which has helped ever since.”
Norman was happy with his testing experience. But it made him think twice about how casual he had been about his sexual health.
“It’s easy to let it slip down the priority list when you’re busy or worried about the outcome, but it’s a real relief to know you can do something about it.”
Don’t leave your sexual health to chance. Book an STI test at a sexual health clinic near you.
