I’ve tested positive. What do I do?

The first thing you’ll want to do if you test positive for an STI is to remain calm.

This might sound easier said than done – the news of a positive test result can be very scary.

But here are some things to remember to help you keep a level head.

A lot of people get STIs

Every year, millions of people all around the world contract STIs. These new diagnoses occur for people of every race, religion, creed, country, and social class.

Having sex is a natural human function, like eating, breathing, talking, and walking. Just as you wouldn’t feel guilty about getting the common cold or a bout of food poisoning, no one should feel guilty about getting an STI.

Many STIs can also be transmitted to other people through non-sexual means, like through sharing personal hygiene products, needle stick injuries, or through blood transfusions.

In a word, STIs are a fact of life, no more out of the ordinary than most other bouts of illness. It’s best to treat it like any other sickness or disease and do what you can to get treated.

Most STIs are curable, and all others are treatable

STIs can cause a lot of harm to your health. But this harm usually occurs if you leave an STI untreated, and most people don’t get them treated because they don’t even know that they have the infection in the first place. This is why regular testing is so important.

Most STIs that people contract can be completely cured. Some of the most common STIs, like Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, and Mycoplasma, can be cured with antibiotics, sometimes with a single dose.

Other infections, like HIV and Hepatitis B, can be managed effectively with the right medication and treatment. If caught early and treated correctly, the people with these infections can go on to live long, healthy lives.

Taking action is the best thing you can do to secure your health.

You can reduce the likelihood of getting another STI in the future

Most people get STIs through sexual contact, like through vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Other infections can be spread through foreplay, kissing, and skin-to-skin contact.

This might seem scary, but it’s good that we know this.

We can prevent the spread of most infections with one simple tool: safe sex practices. This usually means using barrier methods of contraception, like normal condoms, female condoms, and dental dams. These products create a physical barrier between the infected person and their partner and prevent infected bodily fluids from contacting mucous membranes that could absorb the infection.

No method of contraception gives a complete guarantee. However, most condoms are 98% effective at preventing the spread of most STIs.

In the future, if you want to avoid getting an STI, use condoms regularly with each sexual act. You may also wish to consider what sexual practices you are comfortable participating in, in the future, to prevent infection.

One of the most important things to do when you test positive is to stop engaging in sexual activity.

Doing so will help prevent the spread of your infection and keep other people safe.

This is particularly important because most STIs are silent, meaning they often don’t cause noticeable symptoms. Some STIs can also cause symptoms that can be confused for other, less serious infections and dismissed. In this fashion, STIs can go undetected for months or years and spread to each new partner without the carrier knowing.

When you test positive on a Better2Know test or screen, we set up a consultation with a Better2Know doctor near you. Your Better2Know doctor will help you access any medication or treatment you need.

In the case of a positive HIV or Hepatitis diagnosis, you may be referred for specialist care.

Some people feel more comfortable taking their test results to their own doctor.

Following any treatment plan carefully is important to ensure you get the best possible results.

We don’t want to mince words. Testing positive for an STI can be very difficult for some people.

Seek support from kind, caring members around you, whether family, friends, a doctor, or a counsellor. Difficult periods are always less challenging when we don’t have to face them alone.

The most difficult part is over: you did the responsible thing and got tested. It’s important now to turn your attention to treating your infection.

Remember – it’s always better to know.