Online Dating has been around pretty much as long as the internet itself. But only in the last few years has the ease and efficiency of meeting someone online been improved by leaps and bounds. Apps like Tinder and Grindr match you with thousands of people in your city. Tens of millions of people meet through these apps every year, and many of those “hook up”.
But there’s a dark side to meeting someone new and interesting as often as you like. It’s never been easier to become infected with one or more STDs. And the statistics show that very few people talk about the risk of STDs before becoming intimate.
This is a big reason the United States has the highest rate of STDs in comparison to other countries, and why 62% of new infections are under the age of 25.
But how can you know for sure that a match has an STD or not? Are all online dating apps “bad”? Can you still protect yourself even if you have lots of sex? Yes you can. We’ve put together three simple tips that you can use when meeting someone.
Tip #1: Use a Condom. Yep, you’ve heard it a million times before. But you’ve heard it because it works. Proper condom use should protect you from Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Hepatitis, and HIV. And it lowers the chance you catch the others, sometimes by up to 70%.
If you’re serious about protection, you need to wear a condom during every sex act, even oral sex. You may have heard oral sex is the safest kind of sex — but you can still get gonorrhea, chlamydia, HPV, and herpes from unprotected oral sex.
Tip #2: Ask your partner first. We get it, it’s kindof an awkward conversation to have. Your partner might even get offended that you don’t trust them. But think about it — if dinner doesn’t go well and you decline to have sex with them later, they have to respect your wishes, right? So shouldn’t you demand the same respect when it comes to your sexual health?
Just a simple text: “Are you clean?” is all it takes. And if something seems off, don’t be afraid to ask for their results on paper. Of course, you should never ask your partner about their sexual health if you haven’t been tested or aren’t ready to be honest yourself. They deserve clear answers just as much as you do.
Tip #3: Avoid sketchy people. This one’s tricky to list as bullet points. But you know that gut feeling, that natural intuition? Trust that. If something isn’t adding up on your date — if your partner doesn’t seem entirely honest or trustworthy, or if the vibe doesn’t feel quite right — don’t take things to the next level. If your match is a sketchy person, that means they’ve probably slept with OTHER sketchy people. Imagine 50 other seedy partners giving you a taste of whatever they have.
We get it, in the heat of the monent it can be difficult to back out of sexual pleasure. But when the cloud of passion has faded, you’re going to be thanking yourself.
If you want a 100% solution, there’s only one: Don’t have sex. However, with proper condom use, open and honest communication, and a smart choice of partners, you can DRAMATICALLY reduce your risk of STD infection.
And never forget to GET TESTED REGULARLY! Private Testing Center offers affordable and convenient testing, in a constant effort to prevent the spread of Herpes, HIV and other STDs. Same Day appointments are available and with over 1500 locations nationwide, your closest location is only a short drive away. We understand your privacy is of the utmost importance and we assure confidentiality for every one of our customers. Call 888.248.9002 or Schedule Your Test today.