STI's and stigma

Health Nurse

Supporting Member
Nov 24, 2004
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People have been talking about STI’s and stigma so we decided to do a post on that topic

Stigma can be defined as an attitude or behaviour which discredits another. It causes someone else to be classified as undesirable and abnormal.

One of the things we hear people say is that they want to be tested to know they are “clean”. Actually none of us are “clean” because there are many organisms (bacteria, viruses etc.) in and on our bodies at all times. Some of these can be passed to other people but many of them don’t usually cause a problem and we do not try to get rid of them.

It seems that in our society we have issues with sex and some people see sex as “dirty”.
Therefore things associated with sex, like STI’s, are also considered dirty and have stigma attached to them. People who get an STI may be considered promiscuous, loose, slutty, easy - you get the picture.

It is possible to be careful and still come in contact with an STI. Herpes and warts (HPV) are good examples of that because they can be passed by skin to skin contact. Someone may be wearing a condom but there is still contact. Those people were being responsible and still there is a chance of infection.

Herpes and warts are good examples of infections that are not serious and usually don’t cause any problems. But we have attached great stigma to any types of them that are associated with our genitals. The greatest harm is not usually from the infection but the judgment that is associated with having that infection. So while there may be pain associated with a herpes sore, often the emotional/psychological impact is the greater source of pain.

Why is a cold sore OK but genital herpes not OK?
Why is a wart on the finger OK but not on the genitals?

Is this about our society’s issues around sex and sexuality?

What can we do to reduce stigma around sex and STI’s?

HN
 
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