BECOME INFORMED ABOUT SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS\; ARNIE’S STORY
Arnie was still feeling blue after his separation from his lover following a relationship that had lasted for several years. After the breakup, Arnie decided that he didn’t want to date for a while and that he would concentrate on other aspects of his life—his job and friends and family. A few months later Arnie’s friend Alex invited him to a party. Not expecting to meet anyone new, Arnie was pleasantly surprised to meet Kyle, who was new in town. Kyle made Arnie laugh, which he felt he hadn’t done enough since the breakup.
After a few dates, things started to get serious, and after one romantic evening Arnie sensed that they were moving toward a sexual relationship. He told Kyle that he thought it would be a good idea if they used condoms when they had sex. Kyle was offended. “Why do you want to use condoms? It spoils the pleasure. Do you think that means I have an STD?” Arnie had always been very careful in the past, and he had never had a partner complain about condom use. He knew that even people who look and feel healthy can still be infected with an STD, and he worried that if Kyle was willing to have unprotected sex with him, it probably meant there had been unsafe sexual encounters in the past.
Kyle and Arnie decided to end the evening without becoming intimate. When they met for lunch the next day, Arnie explained what he knew about sexually transmitted infections and condom use, and how it meant that he cared enough about himself, and Kyle, to want to be safe. Kyle’s earlier comments, Arnie realized, indicated that Kyle had incomplete knowledge about STDs, but Kyle was willing to listen to the information Arnie provided. They decided to go to a local STD clinic and be tested for infections before becoming intimate.
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Tags: Erectile Dysfunction, Men’s Health