Getting therapy led me to get tested. I found out my boyfriend cheated on me, and I was devastated. We had been together like 4 years. I just couldn’t believe he would break my trust like that. Thankfully I ended things with him, but I was very traumatized by the experience. A friend told me I could get free therapy at this local nonprofit, so I called. I met with an intake person and got the process started pretty quickly. When I told my therapist I was cheated on, she asked me if I had been tested for STIs or HIV.
I told her I hadn’t been. I honestly didn’t think about getting tested. We had been together for a while, so I had only been tested once before I got with him. She told me that they have free testing services at the same place where I get my therapy. I was relieved because it made it easier for me to get both services at once, since I don’t have my own transportation. I went in a bit earlier one day before my therapy appointment. I didn’t need a formal appointment; my therapist just told me to show up 30 minutes early. I did, and I was seen quickly.
The person that did my test was really nice and not judgmental of my situation. They actually made me feel okay about only having been tested once before. It felt good to have two people to talk to about what I had experienced. They explained to me about the different STIs and HIV and how I can contract them. They explained that by my partner having an external affair, I could have been exposed. They talked to me about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP), which are both preventative medications for HIV. It was too late for me to take nPEP (must be taken within 72 hours of exposure), but they gave me information and linked me with an appointment to get on PrEP. I will go to that next week. Moving forward, I’m getting tested at least once a year, regardless of whether I’m in a relationship. The only person that can control my sexual health is me. I’m just grateful that I felt the willingness to get therapy, share my story, and get tested. You don’t know what you don’t know!
