Date Night China: STDs, STIs, & Getting Tested in Beijing
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This article comes from Date Night China (WeChat ID: datenightchina), your guide to dating in China, from love to lust, first dates to worst dates, hilarious stories, and top tips to avoid (or steer into) disaster. Single in the city? Listen to their podcast: anchor.fm/datenightchina.
Discussing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be a highly stigmatized - or even an awkward - conversation topic, but it's extremely important to be mindful of STDs and STIs, especially if you are going on dates!
Joshua Hiller has lived in China since 2007 and currently works at the OASIS International Hospital in Beijing. He shares the differences between STIs and STDs, how often you should get tested, and how/where you can get tested in Beijing.
Questions of your sexual health may not seem a topic for polite conversation, but it certainly is one to consider. Sexually transmitted diseases and infections are more common than you might think and can cause irreversible harm if left untreated.
To differentiate between these two terms STD and STI, the former refers to the disease itself, which is usually when symptoms occur, whereas the latter refers to the infection which may be present even without any symptoms. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is an STI and there are more than 25 other STIs that can be transmitted through sexual contact. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that more than one million people get an STI every day.
Left untreated, STIs can cause serious health problems including cervical cancer, liver disease, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility and pregnancy issues. Some of the most common STIs are chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital warts, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, herpes, HIV, and syphilis.
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One of the biggest barriers to testing for these infections and diseases is the fear of being judged by our peers and those around us. Disease, in a word, has always gone hand in hand with stigma, just like the recent pandemic of COVID-19 where some people have lashed out at certain populations in blind belief they are doing what is right for public health.
Shame and stigma is a powerful weapon of control that has been used throughout history to marginalize people. The language we use surrounding the topic of disease and infection, particularly STIs and STDs in this case, should be non-judgmental. Words such as “clean” when referring to a negative test result should be refrained from use, as “clean” on the flip side infers those with a positive result are “dirty”.
Changing our own view and opinions on this subject and shifting terminology away from “purity” language of clean and dirty can not only remove the sting of stigma, but help those find the courage to talk honestly with a medical professional and get the help they need.
There are many things to consider when it comes to reproductive health, and STDs are not to be overlooked!
The Center for Disease Control recommends:
All adults and adolescents from ages 13 to 64 should be tested at least once for HIV.
All sexually active women younger than 25 years should be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year. Women 25 years and older with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners or a sex partner who has an STD should also be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year.
All pregnant women should be tested for syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B starting early in pregnancy. At-risk pregnant women should also be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea starting early in pregnancy. Testing should be repeated as needed to protect the health of mothers and their infants.
All sexually active gay and bisexual men should be tested at least once a year for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Those who have multiple or anonymous partners should be tested more frequently for STDs (i.e., at 3- to 6-month intervals).
Sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from more frequent HIV testing (e.g., every 3 to 6 months).
Anyone who has unsafe sex or shares injection drug equipment should get tested for HIV at least once a year.
Reasons to get tested:
Symptoms are not always present.
Infections left untreated could cause serious health issues.
Testing is quick and easy.
Consult openly with your physician, not all STD screenings may be necessary.
STD tests are readily available, and results are fast.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a colossal viral system with over 130 subtypes identified. Each strain has a different virulence and can be divided into low-risk and high-risk types that can cause warts in mild cases and cancer in severe. For example, HPV-6 and HPV-11 can cause abnormal growths in the genital areas, such as warts. These are not carcinogenic. However, HPV-16 and HPV-18 are the main pathogenic types of cervical cancer.
This highly contagious virus lives dormant in males and females and is most commonly spread during sexual intercourse. The rate of infection increases rapidly past a person's first experience and has a cumulative rate of infection increasing annually.
Most HPV infections clear without any intervention within 2 years and are medically referred to as "transient infections". A small proportion of infections with certain types of HPV can persist and progress to cervical cancer. Although low-risk HPV strains are almost never cancerous, prolonged infection can lead to genital warts or very subtle changes in cervical cells, thus, are still dangerous regardless with persistent infection.
The main reason to vaccinate against HPV is to prevent infection, so consider adding it to your to-do list in addition to regular STD and STI testing.
Images: Benedikt Geyer (via unsplash.com), OASIS hospital, Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition (via unsplash.com)
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