How often do you test for STDs?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2003
How often do you test for STDs?
7
Mon, 08-13-2007 - 2:51am

Given that:
* Condoms are good but not

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2007
Mon, 08-13-2007 - 8:56am
Good things to thing about here. What do you do? Since I haven't been with anyone, I don't think there is a need to be tested. I'm sure I've been tested for HIV for insurance purposes and whatnot. Since I was married for 14 years, I feel pretty certain that I don't need anything else. Haven't met anyone to become intimate with... (sigh)
Avatar for mom2maggie
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-29-2003
Mon, 08-13-2007 - 11:04am
Just once for me so far because I'm only with my second partner and we are exclusive. I probably wouldn't have felt the need to test myself if my ex-H hadn't been cheating. We tested before the condom came off. If our first time hadn't been such a surprise we probably would have been tested before having sex.
Avatar for myprecioustwo
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Mon, 08-13-2007 - 12:19pm

I have a test after every partner. So it could be once every 3 months or longer. If it is really long then I will have one in between because I still also check for cervical and uterine cancer. I always get nervous that it could come back. So the longest I have waited in between the TOTAL check is about 9 months.

I discuss things with my partner and I usually have a very clear indication regarding if he is a serial dater or what sort of person he is. Most of my guys since I moved here are very nerdy geeky types or major long termers that haven't had many partners. I ask them and I know some HAVE had a physical due to this or that, but I have never asked them to PROVE it.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-08-2006
Mon, 08-13-2007 - 7:42pm

When I was dating, there was no such thing as condom-less sex. I got tested roughly every six months.

When funnyguy and I became exclusive, we were tested before becoming intimate.

I know women my age (mid twenties) who've never been tested, and women older than I am who get tested much more often than I did.

If funnyugy and I were to break up, I'd go back to condoms and regular testing, but as we've both tested negative- and it wasn't strictly for HIV alone- I don't feel there's a need.

Moody, who hasn't ever failed a test ;-)


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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-13-2005
Mon, 08-13-2007 - 8:01pm

I had asked my doctor these questions. She says you should always use a condom. So for now that is what I plan to do - although I would think that if you did get tested initially you could wait 6 months and get tested again and that would be safest due to the 6 month window. And perhaps every year to be safe at exam time, too. My doctor recommends this as well.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-23-2007
Mon, 08-13-2007 - 11:05pm

I totally agree. I'm a safety girl - always been one. My former husband is the only one I didn't use a condom with and that was 6 months after we were both tested. Then I got tested after I found out about his affair. Going forward, it is condoms or nothing (I mean no sex not no condom).

My gyno also read me the riot act about how many women he sees in my position (recently divorced) who think "he's a nice guy, we're exclusive" only to find out he had some latent no symptoms STD. So safety-girl I'll be!

And still get tested - because condoms are not 100% - remember it is safER sex not safe sex!

Avatar for myprecioustwo
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Tue, 08-14-2007 - 2:20pm
Condoms don't work against some VD's. Like HPV which is what most people have (85%). I find testing to be MUCH more important. As for the exclusive thing. You can NEVER be sure if the guy is carrying around something or not or if he is telling you the truth about having been tested. I have never asked for papers, I have only asked if they have been. Maybe I need to start looking at the documentation. :) Heck, my X husband had an affair (actually several) and gave me something. Thank goodness I was able to have it cleared. The same thing happened to a close friend of mine and her husband, but hers will be with her forever. But I know I never dreamed of having to use a condomn while I was married. Being careful is a good thing and being tested is a good thing, but really, sometimes you just never know and at some point you want to feel like you can trust your partner. Truly: Men hate them and really don't want to use them. I have had few cases where men are ok with it. Usually it's a battle.