Frequently Asked Questions 

This is a very common question that many people struggle with. First, remind yourself you are doing the right thing. While it can feel hard to discuss, informing any impacted sexual partners is important for their health and your relationships. 

Here are some tips about what you may want to say during this conversation 

1. Be clear. Tell them which STI(s) you tested positive for. They may have questions about the impact of this for themself and being clear about what the tests results are helps ease confusion.  

2. Discuss next steps. For you this may be what you are doing with your medical providers to address the STI, or how you want to move forward until you have STI management in place. For them, it could be offering to accompany them to their testing or discussing how they feel comfortable moving forward with your relationship. Working together on what comes next is an important step for everyone to feel supported and respected. 

3. Have resources in mind. This news can be overwhelming for many people, think about how you felt when you got your test results. Having resources ready related to testing and on and off-campus support can make everyone feel more prepared to handle this new information.

Things to keep in mind:

• Be prepared for different reactions. Some people may not be upset, but grateful for the information, while others may be worried, sad, or angry. Try to remember that you are doing the right thing by telling them 

• Having an STI does not make you a bad person. 

For those who are struggling with how to have this conversation, more information can be found at Tell Your Partner including an anonymous texting service.