So when were you last tested?

You would think that the concept of "My body. My Rules" would be a UNIVERSAL LAW or at the very least an UNDERSTANDING amongst men and women. But NOPE! This very common basic sense of RESPECT seems to grow even THINNER and translucent as TECHNOLOGY and the OVERWHELMING demands and expenses of DAILY life increases. And people are simply losing touch with many parts of their humanity towards themselves and towards others when it comes to their SEXUAL NEEDS.

I WISH that I could tell you that I know EXACTLY how many times I have seemingly great conversations through both TEXT and VERBAL via phone - conversations with my MALE counterparts that went completely sour as soon as the topic of "Sexual Health" comes up. And when they had been last tested for STIs. Quite frankly the number is I can assure you in the TRIPLE digits. At age 30 - there are no exceptions to myself as a FEMALE with no CHILDREN to have sex with ANYONE that is unable to even comprehend my point of view when it comes to the IMPORTANCE of getting a regular STI screening REGARDLESS of any CURRENT relationship or lack thereof STATUS.

"Oh - I use condoms all the time." - Some GUY

Oh really Buddy? Then how come you do NOT know that CONDOMS before ANYTHING ELSE were invented with the INTENTION of preventing PREGNANCY and that they may ASSIST or help with the prevention of SOME STIs?

"I have never been tested. I have only had long term partners." - Some GUY

Okay? What is your point? The entire REASON for getting tested is because STIs are PREDOMINANTLY ASYMPTOMATIC. It is WHY you go get tested. DUH! And LOL - do you know how many people find out that they are being cheated on or come across other health issues simply by going for an STI screening? It is a PERSONAL RESPONSIBILTY and OBLIGATION to yourself and a sign of respect to your PARTNERS to get STI SCREENINGS regularly and as necessary if you are a SEXUALLY ACTIVE person. The ONUS is on YOU.

My FAVOURITE part is when MANY people try to make it seem like THEY should be worried - BECAUSE you are the one who feels the "NEED" to get STI screenings done. As IF your GOOD treatment of yourself and your SEXUAL HEATLH is now - the concern. And not they FACT that they have NEVER been tested PERIOD.

SEXUAL HEALTH should be something you can talk to any potential FUTURE or CURRENT sexual partners about freely and without unnecessary JUDGEMENT. And if you CAN'T - Don't have sex with them!

Set your standards for your OWN body and HEALTH and recognize that many STIs still have NO treatment or cure and are LIFELONG conditions.

And while the INTENT of this clarification is not about denying yourself FUN or being in the moment or being overly CAUTIOUS - It is 100% about meeting individuals who holds the same VALUES as you do regarding sexual health. And SEX as a whole. Can you really depend on sex with someone NEW being good or them even CARING about YOUR needs and ORGASMS - if they can't even bridge the responsibility of their own SEXUAL HEALTH towards themselves first?

My own personal standards for meeting ANYONE for casual sex is that they needed to have been TESTED within 6-3 months. It is not about their BODY COUNT or when their most RECENT encounter was - it is to gauge their OWN mentality when it comes to themselves and to their partners - whether that interaction is simply a 1 night stand or more.

We need to address the stigma and distorted reality that "SEX" and "SEXUAL HEALTH" means between the different GENDERS. Regardless of your choices in this department of your life - whether you are sexually ACTIVE or NOT - value knowing that YOU can with full HONESTY be transparent when you do meet someone that you would like to pursue a physical relationship with. It is really NOT that hard to go pee in a cup and get an STI screening done. And here in CANADA it's FREE!