There’s a lot of shame and stigma towards STI patients. But did you know? STIs are more common than you think! In fact, WHO discovered that more than 1 million STIs are acquired daily worldwide. So, before we learn how to tell your partner(s), it’s important to remember that having an STI doesn’t make you dirty or a bad person, as STIs are very common.
Telling a partner about STIs might be frightening, as you might feel embarrassed, afraid of discrimination, or even losing a relationship. Although notifying your partner is not a mandatory practice, there are some benefits of telling your partner:
- Break the chain of transmission and prevent re-infection
- To promote safer sexual behaviour
- To identify people that have already been infected and offer them early treatment (including asymptomatic contacts) to:
- Prevent complications
- Obtain total cure (for curable STIs)
- Reduce viral load and future spread of disease (for incurable STIs)
What is Partner notification?
It is a process by which healthcare providers, with patients’ consent, identify STI patients’ sex partner(s) and offer help for partner evaluation and treatment.
It is voluntary, based on patients’ awareness, and needs to be performed concerning human rights, social-cultural and religious beliefs.
In Indonesia, there are 4 ways to notify a partner:
Patient Referral
You are in charge of notifying your partner(s) directly by yourself or indirectly by using a referral letter.
Provider Referral
You’ve decided to have your healthcare provider notify your partner(s).
Dual Referral
You’ve decided to notify your partner(s) together with your healthcare provider.
Contract Referral
You agree to notify your partner(s) in 2 weeks. If you still haven’t told your partner(s) after two weeks, your healthcare provider will be responsible for informing your partner(s).
If you’ve decided to notify your partner(s), here are some tips!
- Understand the disease, and explain to your partner(s) with the knowledge you have. Your partner(s) surely cares about you; they’re just afraid because they don’t know what everything means.
- Be respectful and undefensive. It is normal for your partner(s) to be judgy, confused, or even walk away. You can tell them, “I don’t expect you to like anything I say today. It’s fine. Take your time. I understand that it’s a lot for you to digest.”
- Be open and honest. Try to put yourself in your partner(s) shoes. If your partner(s) has an STI, you’d want them to tell you, right?
No Matter what your choices are, your healthcare provider will
- Never share your STI result without your consent with anyone else, including your partner(s).
- Never notify your partner(s) without your consent.
- Always give the utmost care regardless of whether you decide to notify your partner(s) or not.