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Editorial Photoessays The Safe Sex Card
Editorial Photoessays The Safe Sex Card
| The Safe Sex Card |
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| Frontpage - Sex Activism & Discussion | ||
| Written by Peter Baltensperger | ||
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STFree Services STFree realizes how important it is for everyone to know his or her status. Important as this is, people must also understand that HIV has a window period of 3-6 months, during this period the HIV virus may not be detected. Sexually active individuals need to be tested regularly in order to truly know their status. However, studies have proven that most people who get tested don't return for a follow-up test. So the question is (even for individuals who do get tested), do they effectively know their status after their initial test? STFree Services: Storage of 1-year’s worth of STD testing information Confidential verification ID (SSL) 24/7 nation wide access to testing history via phone 24/7 nation wide online access to testing history Verification of testing information Notification of scheduled testing appointments The Safe Sex License The Safe Sex License (SSL) is the card that gives its users instant access to their STD testing information. This is how it works: Member dials the toll free number on the back of the SSL Member enters their Membership number located on the front of the card Member enters their personal pin number Members will then have four menu options Press 1 to hear detailed instructions on how to properly use of the SSL Press 2 to hear about the HIV window period and other important STD information Press 3 to hear members HIV and other STD testing history Press 4 to change password The SSL allows its users to instantly and confidentially Prove to another individual their STD testing history Educate themselves and others on important up to date STD information Educate themselves and others on proper use of this new form of prevention Encourages other forms of STD prevention The SSL has been proven to be very effective by respectfully encouraging healthy conversation about STD prevention, awareness and utilizing safe sex techniques. Waiver: The STFree Safe Sex License provides instant verification of our members recent HIV testing status, the Safe Sex License should not be used to guarantee the HIV status of our members. The Safe Sex License was developed to help our members and others make better-informed decisions regarding potential or current sexual partners. STFree strongly recommends the use of alternative STD prevention methods such as condoms in conjunction with our service. © 2006 Stfree certifications 2. Commentary Is the Safe Sex Card a pass to condomless sex? by Em and Lo, The Daily Bedpost, on Wed Aug 6, 2008 8:05am PDT We're usually all for anything that encourages safer sex. And in theory, the STFree Safe Sex License (recently reported on by New York's Daily News) is a great idea: Test people--especially those in high-risk communities--for STDs (mainly HIV), give them a card with their picture and an ID number. They can then give that card to potential sex partners, who can call to confirm the results. The idea is to encourage honest discussion about sexual history with partners, as well as regular testing. But here's why we're not 100 percent gung-ho: They test mainly for HIV (which admittedly is the mutha of all STDs), though the card's name would suggest that all STDs are covered. Regarding testing for other STDs, the website says, "Those Safe Sex Licenses require an extremely frequent amount of testing. It is mostly used in the adult entertainment industry, but can be provided to any user who requests one." Which kinda sounds to us like they don't do them that much. On top of that, there really isn't a viable men's test for HPV, one of the most common STDs out there. HIV doesn't show up for three months (in most cases) to six months (in rare cases) on tests, so you could get negative test results but still be infected. Plus, if you get tested and then have sex the next day, you could contract anything that person had and it won't show up on the card, of course. It's the better-than-nothing approach: Planned Parenthood does the testing, so we're sure they use it as an opportunity for community education on safer sex. And the website says, "STFree encourages its members to always use condoms in conjunction with our service. We also inform our members that individuals can contract the virus after being tested." But the site also says, "Studies have proven that most people who get tested don't return for a follow-up test." We worry a card like this can give people a false sense of security. The company name itself is a bit of a misnomer, automatically suggesting that cardholders are STD-free; besides, what does "sexually transmitted free" mean exactly anyway? And what's to prevent the more unscrupulous from using it as merely a free pass on condoms: "Call this number, you'll see I'm negative, that means we don't need to use a condom." HIV prevention is a noble and important crusade--this just seems like it might be at the expense of other, more common STDs, and perhaps even unplanned pregnancy.
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Peter Baltensperger is a Canadian writer of Swiss origin and the author of ten books of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. His stories, poems, essays and articles have also appeared in several hundred publications around the world. His erotic writing has been published most recently in The International Journal of Erotica, In the Buff, Erotic Tales and My Wife and Her Lovers, and is forthcoming in The Mammoth Book of Erotic Confessions. He makes his home in London, Canada with his wife Viki and their two cats and a tortoise.
Comments (1)
Safe Sex Cards
1
Monday, 15 December 2008 10:33
Karol
I am a strong supporter of the card. Without it, you are just interviewing your potential partner and hoping that their knowlege of themselves and other partner are as accurate as they think they are. It is true that you still have to rely on "the interview" from the test date until the date you engage in intercourse with that person, but which do you prefer: "I've been with # people since October", or "since I was born. It is also a testomony to the character of the person as they are typically more responsible with condom usage and partner selection. If you have ever felt anxious before recieving the results of your test you will make a point to protect yourself. I personally am a member of a sexualy active community and encourage all of my friends and partners to stay safe by using the card in conjuntion with fluid barriers. Fact is if you are not confident in the the results of your next test, why should someone else risk being with you?
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1. From: STFree Certifications (
