STDs have become a hot topic over the last 10 years. Being in one relationship for a long time has meant I have not really had to think about the issue too much. Once I did, I felt kind of uncomfortably. I feel pretty embarrassed thinking about asking my doctor to do the tests on me.
Is it common now to ask for testing? Or is it better do purchase some home kits (found these - homestdtestingkits.org) Are these home kits reliable? How do you handle testing for something like genital herpes where blood test is unreliable and only certain tests are when lesions are in eveidence and can be swabbed?
Is it the same test for HIV, chlamydia, syphillis etc etc or is it a different test for each one? Are the tests expensive? Do you take them every time you meet a new potential sex partner?
How long do the tests take?
If you do both get testing, what is the process, do you sit down and show each other all the results of a clean billing or what?
I'm really interested in the practicallities of such an approach.
Is it common now to ask for testing? Or is it better do purchase some home kits (found these - homestdtestingkits.org) Are these home kits reliable? How do you handle testing for something like genital herpes where blood test is unreliable and only certain tests are when lesions are in eveidence and can be swabbed?
Is it the same test for HIV, chlamydia, syphillis etc etc or is it a different test for each one? Are the tests expensive? Do you take them every time you meet a new potential sex partner?
How long do the tests take?
If you do both get testing, what is the process, do you sit down and show each other all the results of a clean billing or what?
I'm really interested in the practicallities of such an approach.