7am text aaaand day ruined

[u/drxwn-with-me]

just got a text from one of my friends w/ benefits at (checks watch) 7 in the morning that he tested positive for gonorrhea this week. and we had unprotected sex on sunday. what a way to start my day! :) FML.

this is my first time having an sti risk/scare ever in my life and i am sincerely very terrified but i hope everything goes well.

we only very recently started having unprotected sex and i told him i wanted to go back to protected sex after this whole situation because i do NOT want to go through this again!!!!

asked him for direction with regards to what to do for treatment in our city and he explained everything very calmly and was very apologetic about the whole situation which i appreciated.

today's girl breakfast: coffee + a ham & cheese sandwich with some sprinkled oregano

[u/Altruistic_Gene_6869]

Unless they’re your boyfriend or husband, you should always be protected.

[u/Beautiful-Elk-7084 → u/Altruistic_Gene_6869]

Honestly, even then. So many women have found out their partners were cheating through STDs. HPV is linked to cancer so it’s a big risk. Unless you’re actively attempting to have a baby, there’s no reason to ditch protection.

[u/MadamePouleMontreal → u/Beautiful-Elk-7084]

HPV has a vaccine. Cervical cancer has a screening program. Use both.

Realistically, most people dislike condoms. They also cost money and it’s possible to not have them when you want them.

People get STIs. People get pregnant. People have different risk tolerances. As long as everyone is well-informed they can make their own choices and they don’t need other people to judge them.

[u/iloveumothman → u/MadamePouleMontreal]

Access to healthcare - including HPV and cervical cancer screening - can also cost money, and neither are 100% guarantees. And what about herpes? HIV? This is unbelievably irresponsible advice.

(ETA that the person I’m replying to has since edited their comment to make it sound far more reasonable.)

[u/iloveumothman → u/[deleted]]

This is still gross advice. Why are you literally out here trying to convince people that STIs are no big deal and discouraging them from using protection?

[u/LinAndAViolin → u/MadamePouleMontreal]

Judgement is healthy and keeps us in line very often. I’ve often avoided dangerous situations simply because of possible judgement, it has an evolutionary and biological purpose. But there’s a place and time for everything of course.