Everyone's Body Is Different

I got a phone call from a woman I had sex with. She said that she tested positive for syphilis. I was in shock and a bit upset, to be honest. We were friends, and having sex was unplanned. Before we were fully intimate, I asked her if we needed to use a condom. She said the results of her last HIV and STI tests were all negative. We did still use a condom for vaginal sex to prevent pregnancy, but no protection during oral. A million things were going through my mind when she told me that I may have been exposed to syphilis. It felt like my trust had been broken.

She explained that she was in just as much shock as I was. I always get tested between partners and have never had an STI before. I really prioritize my physical health. She told me of a local clinic where she got tested. I had to wait a couple of days before I was off work and available to go. During that time, I looked up information on HIV and STIs. I learned that there is a window period for them, which is how long it takes for a positive test result to show. There’s also an incubation period, which is how long it takes for symptoms to show. Some of them may not show symptoms for several weeks after infection.

I went to the clinic to get tested. It was free, and I only had to wait maybe 25 minutes. I got my results within a couple of days through an online portal. They went ahead and gave me a shot of Penicillin since I was exposed. I hate needles, but it really wasn’t that bad. My test results came back negative, and I was grateful. I learned that STIs aren’t a black-or-white issue. Everyone’s body is different. The most important takeaway for me is that both my partners and I need to get tested before and after every new partner. I need to see the test results, not just accept people’s words. Is unplanned sex sometimes hotter and heavier than planned? Sure, but knowing 100% that my body isn’t at risk is more important.