Innovative Ways to Talk About STDs

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 110 million sexually transmitted infections among men and women in the United States. The majority of new cases are coming from young people.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 110 million sexually transmitted infections among men and women in the United States. The majority of new cases are coming from young people.

Discussing a sexually transmitted disease (STD) with a partner or potential partner can be awkward and embarrassing. How do you approach the subject? What do you expect the outcome to be? Now, new high-tech prevention tools can help.

One tool is the website Qpid.me. This “openness” type social network allows users to share verified tests for common sexually transmitted diseases including HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea. It shows when a person was tested and includes a disclaimer of when a user may have had sexual intercourse since then.

Sotheycanknow.org is another option that allows someone with an STD to warn their partner anonymously by e-mail for free. The site, created by volunteers in 2012, aims to fill in the gap when people aren’t willing to notify their partners in some other way.