Your stories

Do you have experiences relating to STIs and sexual health that you would be willing to share with others? Concerns? Triumphs? Challenges? Advice?

We (and other visitors to our site!) want to hear from you. Read the stories below to see what others are saying. You probably have insights that others would benefit from hearing, and we encourage you to send your remarks to us.

ASHA sincerely appreciates all submissions and each is confidential and anonymous. It is ASHA's intent to collect these comments for use in our patient advocacy work. All submissions are property of ASHA and can be edited for length and clarity. Due to the large volume of emails, we regret we cannot provide a response to each submission. If you are seeking information, referrals or materials, please utilize ASHA's other STI services. Questions about STIs can be posted on our message board.

Your stories

"I'm a gay man who was diagnosed with hepatitis B in 1999 . . ."

I’m a gay man who was diagnosed with hepatitis B in 1999. Fortunately I only experienced a short-term (or acute) infection and am fine. Hepatitis B can be really serious, though, and I know I’m fortunate. Each and every gay man should have the hepatitis B vaccine. I wish I had gotten it when I was younger. Learn from me, and get your hep B shots! Take an HIV test. Use condoms. Don’t depend just on what the medical community says to do, take control and do something!

"I'm 19 years old and I have chlamydia . . ."

I'm 19 years old and I have chlamydia. I was diagnosed with it last year, and have been treated. I feel like I was very stupid at the time I got it. I was 18, had a boyfriend who I thought loved me. I thought sex would make him treat me better. Big mistake. I cry every night and hardly sleep as I fear I let it go too far before getting treated, and I might not be able to have children.

"I found out I had HPV when I was 25 years old . . ."

I found out I had HPV when I was 25 years old. At first the doctors told me it was nothing to worry about, that it would probably go away on its own. I had no idea at the time what type of HPV I had nor did I know that some types of the virus are linked to cervical cancer. No one told me! I had normal Paps for 3 years after that and it did not seem like a big deal until at 28 I was diagnosed with CIN-3 [significant cervical precancer] and had a LEEP. That freaked me out big time. I went through all the common feelings of guilt and shame. I told potential sexual partners about HPV and I did not have one guy freak out on me. They were all really cool about it. It helps that since men don't have a cervix, there really is no real fear of cancer--the incidence of HPV-related penile cancer is extremely low.

At the end of the day, I don't know who gave me HPV and I don't really care anymore. What I do know is that in some ways HPV has been a very positive thing in my life. Having HPV taught me how to speak up and be honest, how to take care of myself better (stress is an aggravating factor) and most of all, to become my own advocate. To all of you out there struggling with this diagnosis, know that you are not alone. Millions of people have HPV, even if they don't talk about it. You are not damaged or defective in any way. You are perfect just as you are. Take some deep breaths and know that everything is going to be OK!