If the test is positive: letting sexual partners know
Talking about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) isn’t always easy. But it’s important that your sexual partners know about your infection so they can get tested and treated if necessary. It’s not about blaming people. It’s about preventing ‘ping-pong infections‘ between you both and protecting any other sexual partners. In this way you can help stop infections spreading more widely.
Why talk about it?
STIs spread easily and have a serious impact on health. That’s why it’s important to let your sexual partners know. Being open and honest about STIs means taking responsibility for yourself and others.
How do I go about it?
If you’ve been diagnosed with an STI, talk to a medical professional about the following points:
- Who could have passed the infection to you?
- Who could you have passed the infection on to?
- Are you still in a sexual relationship with this person/these people? If so, you need to get treated at the same time so you don’t keep re-infecting each other.
If you can’t talk to them, you could let your sexual partners know in writing using our suggested text. Choose your language and the infection you have. Then copy the text and paste it into your message.