Getting Tested and Staying Healthy
About nine years ago I got my first paid gig as an actor. It was for a commercial for Planned Parenthood encouraging teens and millennials to get tested and to practice safe sex. At the time I was twenty-two and married to my first wife who was my second sexual partner ever. Neither of us had ever been tested and even after that I still didn’t go. It would take nine years, two divorces, a pandemic and lock-down, two months of therapy; after which I felt okay to date again, for me to finally get tested for the first time after seeing a few other women. And only because I felt like I had stuffed two ghost-peppers up my penis. Yeah, I had gotten chlamydiae, and it sucked. Fortunately it’s a quick infection to get rid of. However had I used proper protection every time, even if the woman said she had a copper IUD or had her tubes tied, I could have possibly avoided this. However that doesn’t mean I should have gone so long without being tested.
Now, I’m not embarrassed about this. I’d have to be embarrassed about getting the common cold for this to make me feel ashamed. However it goes to show you that if you’re dating multiple partners, get tested regularly. Let your doctor know about your sexual health. If you don’t have a doctor, visit Planned Parenthood or similar non-profit health centers. Even if you are married or entering into a committed relationship with a single individual, I still believe that you should get tested to know where you stand. As my doctor suggested as well, as I stated above, even if your partner has some form of protection, it’s in your best interest to protect yourself as well.
For the most part, fear played a big part in why I hadn’t gone to get tested. Just like the commercial that I did says actually. A lot of people are just unaware of what takes place in getting tested for STDs. Just ask your doctor or someone you know who has gotten one done. It’s not a big deal. Seriously.
To me it’s a bit funny that it took me so long for all this to sink in. To others I may seem idiotic, slow or even dimwitted. I want to tell you that we are both right! Maybe. Whatever, either way. Always use proper protection. Get tested when changing relationships or having multiple sexual partners. Don’t fear talking about this with your partner, with your doctor, your bosom buddies at the bar. It’s not a big deal. You know what’s a big deal? Cannibalism. You’re not a cannibal, right?
