Together is just better
Even when everything seems perfect—a trusting relationship, great chemistry, no symptoms in sight—it's still a good idea to get tested once a year!
If you feel safe in your relationship and there are no visible signs of infection, you may think everything is fine. Here’s the thing, though: Most STBBIs don’t cause symptoms, and tests don’t always properly detect them. You can have one without knowing it, even for a long time, and pass it on without meaning to.
Tip #1
Don't wait until you have symptoms to get tested.
STBBIs don't always have noticeable symptoms, so even if everything seems fine, it's still possible for you to have an infection without knowing it. Getting tested regularly is part of taking care of your sexual health and that of your partner(s).
Tip #2
Get tested... even if you're in a relationship!
Being in a couple or in a monogamous relationship doesn’t mean you’re free from risk. Because STBBIs are often asymptomatic and some STBBIs can spread beyond the area covered by a condom, there may be a risk of transmission.
Getting tested is a sign of trust and respect for each other. It helps protect both partners and unwanted surprises, even if you aren’t sleeping with other people. Getting tested regularly doesn’t mean you don’t trust your partner: This is a shared responsibility that gives you both the information needed to make an informed decision about whether to stop wearing protection.
To learn more about why you should get tested, even if you are in a monogamous relationship, read this article
Tip #3
Know the risks of transmission
Sexual contact is not the only way to transmit STBBIs! Sharing unsterilized piercing or tattoo equipment or using contaminated drug paraphernalia is another way they can spread. Even if you are in a committed relationship, you should always get tested before going condom-free and get tested once a year or if you think you may have been exposed to risk.
