Go west …
I was 19 when I went for my first sexual health check-up. I can remember sitting in the waiting room, looking at people wondering if they were there for the same reason.
Being someone who was rather “busy” when it came to sex, either from meeting people off the internet, or randoms in clubs, there was just so much uncertainty. Am I going to have to tell them about all the people I’ve been with? And what’s going to happen when I’m in there? Is the doctor or nurse going to be a guy? What if he’s cute?
It was nowhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be. They asked a few questions, took a bit of blood, got me to pee in a cup and swabbed a couple of areas and I was right to go. Anyway to cut a long story short, I had nothing to worry about. I was given the all-clear, handed some condoms and lube and sent on my way.
All of us should test for STIs regularly, it doesn’t matter what suburb you live in, and it should be done every 3-6 months (depending on how sexually active you are). This month is Syphilis Testing Month and gay men who have lots of partners are encouraged to test for syphilis and share the results with their sexual partners. By everyone testing and treating at the same time we can get on top of STIs in our community.
Living in western Sydney doesn’t mean you have to travel into the city to get a sexual health check done. There are sexual health centres in Parramatta, Nepean, Katoomba, Bigge Park (Liverpool) and Campbelltown. It’s not going to cost you anything, you don’t need a Medicare card and it’s all completely confidential.
For more information on STIs and sexual health testing, visit www.whytest.org. You can set reminders to come to you via email or SMS to get tested every 3-6 months, just in case you forget. Also you can anonymously notify past sexual partners that you have had an STI and that they should go get checked out.
It’s October. Join me in getting tested.
If you’re wanting any information about groups, services, organisations or community events taking place in western Sydney, you can contact Matt Vaughan at ACON on 9206 2000.
Matt Vaughan is the Community Development and Liaison Officer for the ACON Western Sydney Community Development Team.
E: [email protected]
