What to do if you receive a positive result for STI

Center for Campus Wellness offer regular mobile STI testing clinics for our students. This is—and always has been! — a popular service with our students and we’re proud to continue offering them.  

At our mobile clinics, we test for chlamydia and gonorrhea, two of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among college-aged individuals. That’s right: these infections are transmitted sexually, which means you can’t pick them up from a toilet seat. You are at risk for an STI through unprotected sex, including oral, vaginal, and anal sex, as well as sharing sex toys. Here are some quick facts about STIs. (Note: Center for Campus Wellness chooses to use the term “sexually transmitted infections” versus “sexually transmitted diseases” to decrease any negative stigma associated with treatable infections.) 

So how can you keep yourself and your partners safe? Since it's possible for folks with chlamydia or gonorrhea to not experience symptoms, it’s a great idea to practice safe sex (using barrier protection) and regular testing. Both will keep you and your partner from unknowingly transmitting an infection to one another. 

So, let’s stay you attend one of our clinics and find out you’re positive for chlamydia or gonorrhea. What should you do next?  

Well first, please do not panic! Chlamydia and gonorrhea can be easily treated and cleared after a short round of antibiotic treatment (and a short break from any sexual activity). Plus, they’re very common, so please do not feel ashamed about getting an STI.  

Once you receive your results, you should follow-up with your testing clinic for STI treatment or referrals. To keep things simple, we suggest following the DARN steps: 

• Drug, treat the infection with antibiotics. 
• Abstain from sex for 7 days following the antibiotic (or how long the antibiotics are prescribed). 
• Repeat the test in 3 months (Follow us @UofUWellness or check out our website for testing options). 
  Notify sexual partners (vaginal, anal, and oral) from the past 60 days and tell them to get tested. Watch these relatable, entertaining videos for tips on how to do this - starting at 00:47 seconds. Note: a simple text message is totally OK! 
  Your safety and health are very important, so please take care of yourself throughout the testing, treatment, and communication process. If you feel communicating your status to your partner(s) presents a safety concern, arrange for a trusted mediator who can help encourage your partners to get tested.  

Here at the Center for Campus Wellness we value providing sex-positive education and services. In addition to our mobile STI testing clinics, we also offer free rapid HIV testing.

If you are seeking testing options for oral and/or rectal STIs, please refer to the resource list below for free or lower-cost testing and treatment. 

• Utah Aids Foundation

Confidential, Sex Positive HIV STI Testing & Counseling  
1408 South 1100 East, Salt Lake City, Utah
Test Site Hours: Monday and Thursday evenings 5:00pm – 7:00pm excluding holidays. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. 

• • HIV – Oraquick ADVANCE Rapid HIV ½ - Oral Swab – Free 
  • Chlamydia/Gonorrhea  
                           Urine - $25 
                           Throat Swab - $25 
                           Rectal Swab - $25 
• Salt Lake County Health Department STD Clinic 610 South 200 East, 2nd Floor Salt Lake City, UT 84111 
  Call 385.468.4242; walk-ins and appointments 
  Monday-Friday, 8:15AM to 4:00PM
• Planned Parenthood Salt Lake Health Center of Salt Lake City, Utah 

 

Take care of your sexual wellness and get regularly tested!
More pleasure to you and your partners, when you know your status.