You open your results and it says "positive". Your heart skips a beat, and the first thought is often a messy mix of shock, shame and "now what?". Breathe out first. A positive STI result is not a disaster and not a verdict, it is information you can act on. And in most cases what you need to do is surprisingly straightforward.
What we would most like everyone to take away: most STIs we test for are very treatable, and the bacterial ones such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea are often simply gone with the right course. The hardest step is usually not the treatment, but notifying your partners, and that too is more manageable than it seems once you know how.
A calm step-by-step
| Step | What you do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Arrange treatment | Take the result to your GP or the GGD. Bacterial STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis) are usually treated with antibiotics. | Treatment stops the infection and prevents later complications. |
| 2. No sex during the course | Hold off on sex until the course is finished and, where advised, the follow-up check is clear. | Prevents passing the STI on or catching it again. |
| 3. Notify partners | Alert recent partners so they can get checked too. This can be done anonymously if you prefer. | Breaks the chain and prevents back-and-forth reinfection. |
| 4. Retest where needed | Follow the advice on a control test or a retest after a few weeks. | Confirms the treatment worked. |
Step 1: arrange treatment
With your result you go to your GP or the GGD for treatment. According to Thuisarts.nl, bacterial STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis are usually treated with antibiotics, often a short course. With viral STIs such as HIV or herpes it is different: those cannot be "cured" with a course, but they are very treatable and manageable. With modern medication HIV has become a chronic, treatable condition. Important: a home test is a signal, not a prescription. Treatment itself always runs through a doctor.
Step 2: no sex for a while
During and shortly after treatment it is better not to have sex, even with a condom if that is advised against. This prevents passing the STI on or immediately catching it again from a still-untreated partner. Exactly how long depends on the STI and the treatment, so follow the advice of your doctor or the GGD.
Step 3: notify your partners
This often feels like the hardest step, but it is also the most valuable. By notifying recent partners they can get checked too, and you prevent the STI from circulating or you reinfecting each other. It does not have to be awkward: a short, factual message is enough. In some cases partner notification can even be anonymous, so your name does not have to be attached. We wrote a separate article about it: notifying your partner after a positive STI test.
Step 4: retest where needed
With some STIs a control test or a retest after a few weeks is advised, to confirm the treatment worked. If you get checked again with a new or untreated partner, a retest can also be wise. If you want a broad picture in one go, you could look at a chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomonas test. If you are unsure which test fits, read which STI test you need and when.
Watch out for the ping-pong effect
A common mistake: one person gets treated, the other does not, and then they pass the STI back and forth to each other. This "ping-ponging" is exactly why tackling it with partners at the same time matters so much. An STI is only truly gone from a relationship once everyone involved has been treated and there has been no unprotected contact during the course. So if you test positive again later, it does not necessarily mean the treatment failed: it can also be a new infection from a partner who had not yet been treated.
Is it okay for your body to be a bit shocked too?
Beyond the practical part there is the feeling. Shock, anger, or the urge to immediately work out "from whom" you caught it: it all comes with the territory. Yet it rarely helps to stay stuck in that last question. With many STIs it is no longer possible to trace exactly when or from whom the infection happened, because they can quietly linger without symptoms for a long time. The energy you put into blame is better aimed at the four steps above. If it feels heavy, you can also talk it through with the GGD, who have experience with exactly these situations.
And the shame?
Catching an STI says nothing about who you are or how "careful" you were. RIVM has shown for years that STIs are common in the Netherlands, including among people who behave responsibly. You got checked, you are dealing with it, and in doing so you are doing exactly the right thing. For questions or doubts you can always consult your GP or the GGD.
Sources
- Thuisarts.nl, treatment of STIs: thuisarts.nl/soa
- RIVM, STIs and testing: rivm.nl/soa
- Soa Aids Nederland, after a positive test: soaaids.nl/nl/soa-test
Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. Discuss treatment decisions with your GP.
Autor
Discreettest
Dr. Naimi, lekarz wpisany do holenderskiego rejestru BIG, nadzoruje standardy medyczne naszych treści i ocen. Przeczytaj naszą politykę medyczną
