I Tested Positive for an STI. Now What?

First things first: breathe.

A positive STI test does not make you bad, dirty, careless, irresponsible, or doomed to wander the earth under a cloud of shame. It means you have information. And information gives you options.

STIs are common. Many are treatable. Some are curable. With the right care, most people move through diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, and partner communication just fine.

So put down the shame chalice and pick up the practical fan.

Step One: Listen to the Provider
Your next step depends on which STI you tested positive for. Some STIs are treated with antibiotics. Some are managed with antiviral medicine. Some require follow-up testing. Some require partners to be treated too.

Follow the provider’s instructions exactly. Take all medication as directed, even if symptoms go away quickly. If you have side effects, questions, or trouble getting the medication, contact the clinic or pharmacy rather than simply stopping.

The CDC’s STI treatment guidance is written for healthcare providers and emphasizes diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and follow-up based on the specific infection and clinical situation.

Step Two: Pause Sex Until You Know It Is Safe to Resume
This part is not always glamorous, but it matters.

Depending on the infection and treatment, your provider may tell you to avoid sex for a period of time. That can include oral, anal, vaginal, front-hole, or other sexual contact.

Follow the instructions you are given. Having sex too soon can increase the chance of passing the infection to someone else or getting reinfected. If your partner also needs treatment, they may need to complete treatment before sex resumes too.

Yes, waiting can be annoying. But reinfection is even more annoying, and nobody needs a sequel that could have been prevented.

Step Three: Tell Partners Who May Need to Know
Partner notification can feel intimidating, but it is an important part of community care. It gives other people the chance to test, treat, and avoid unknowingly passing an infection on to someone else.

You do not need to deliver a dramatic monologue beneath a spotlight. A simple message can work:

“Hey, I wanted to let you know I tested positive for [STI]. My provider said recent partners should get tested and possibly treated. I’m taking care of it, but I wanted you to know.”

Or:

“I got a positive STI result. I know this can feel awkward, but I wanted to let you know so you can get checked.”

Keep it clear, calm, and factual.

If telling a partner could put you in danger, talk with a provider, clinic, or local health department about safer options.

Step Four: Ask About Partner Treatment
For some infections, partners need treatment even if they feel fine. The CDC describes Expedited Partner Therapy, or EPT, as a practice where sex partners of patients diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea may receive prescriptions or medications without first being examined by a provider, where legally and clinically appropriate.

Not every STI qualifies, and rules can vary, so ask your provider what applies.

Step Five: Ask About Retesting
Some STIs can return due to reinfection. That does not necessarily mean treatment failed. It often means someone was exposed again, sometimes by a partner who was not treated.

For chlamydia, CDC guidance recommends retesting approximately 3 months after treatment, regardless of whether the person believes their sex partners were treated.

Ask your provider whether you need retesting and when to schedule it.

Step Six: Update Your Prevention Plan
A positive STI result can be a good moment to revisit your sexual health plan. Consider asking:

• Should I test more often?
• Should I use condoms or barriers more consistently?
• Should I consider PrEP?
• Should I know about PEP for emergencies?
• Are vaccines like HPV, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, or mpox relevant for me?
• How should I talk with partners going forward?
• Do I need throat, rectal, vaginal, cervical, or urine testing based on the sex I have?

Orlando Sacred Spaces and Local Support
If you are in Central Florida, the Orlando Sisters’ Sacred Spaces may be helpful starting points for testing, treatment, prevention, referrals, or support.

26Health lists HIV, Hep C, and STI/STD screening and treatment, along with PrEP and PEP services.

Hope & Help offers confidential rapid HIV, STI, and Hepatitis C testing, treatment, prevention, clinical services, and support.

The Center Orlando offers walk-in HIV, Hep C, and STI testing, including HIV and Hep C testing at $0 and paid STI testing options for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.

OIC offers sexual health and infectious disease care, including HIV, hepatitis, STD care, PrEP, PEP, DoxyPEP, and prevention services.

Check directly with each organization for current services, hours, cost, eligibility, and appointment requirements.

A Sisterly Blessing
An STI diagnosis is not a moral failure. It is a health issue.

Handle it. Treat it. Communicate about it. Learn from it. Then keep living your life.

You are not ruined. You are not alone. You are not the first person to get that phone call, and you will not be the last.

Take your medicine, take your follow-up seriously, and take the shame right out with the trash.