soelost

Do you mind telling me your age? I can definitely say you're not the first person to say that. Early on I got that from a handful of people, along with a few others asking what kind of information they'd have to share, and from there I decided to anonymize it based on HIPAA's Methods for De-identification.

It is your business and responsibility. I agree with you, but I just wish everyone else felt the same way and acted as though they did. But the number's tell a different story.

With that said, you can drive down the highway at 65 with your seatbelt on following all the rules. But if everyone else feels like driving against traffic then you're still at risk. And Im not saying to act reckless because everyone else is. Im saying to turn on your radio to listen to the traffic alerts.

My question for you is, are you dead set on your stance or is there something that could change your mind? Some of the people that were opposed at first didn't want to share their identities while others felt they owed it to their partners to call them. The reason I ask is because you gave an exception.

This also addresses InGodsName.

My solution is an app where we log all new partners and periodically log our on-going partners, and then update when we're tested, whether positive or negative. If positive, the app alerts all partners to the 4th degree. The 4th degree, in the event your partner cheats on you and that person ends up testing positive. The app could alert you and your partner at the same time. Its not about blame or shame but getting people tested and treated so they stop infecting others. If negative, then the app won't send you alerts from partners prior to your test date.

In certain African countries its estimated that HIV transmission between heterosexuals occurs .0009 and most rape would probably fall under that number so I doubt it would be a primary reason. The primary reasons would still comes down to not using protection and not knowing one's status(i.e. testing).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2978669/

Im glad to hear that. You're only the second person who's told me they got tested together or roughly the same time. Im often guilty of not doing it myself.

I looked him up as soon as you sent it but fell asleep while reading.

Good point. But why do you think that is?

Thanks!

Appreciate the comment and Im glad to hear you were tested. But if you don't mind, how often were you getting tested when you were single, do you know if your partner was also tested prior to entering the relationship? Did you get tested together or even consider it?

You are absolutely right! Just like, eat healthy and exercise. We both know its easier said than done.

I doubt people that come out of long relationships in their 20's or at any age actually think about getting tested.

Imagine you are now in a relationship with my ex. Before getting with my ex I unknowingly contracted Chlamydia. Over the course of our 3 year relationship I infected her, and now she may or may not have given it to you. My solution would make it so the person who infected me would be able to alert me, my ex, and possibly you if you haven't been tested or using condoms.

I am only talking about the US so I agree with you about the general population.

However, the problem is serious relative to the size of one of the high risk groups that you mentioned since they account for roughly half of all the infections. Though that risk decreases through age 40 we are still talking about millions of people in either age group.

As for MSMs, they do have a higher rate of incidence, especially when it comes to Syphilis and HIV, the 2 STDs with lowest overall infection numbers. Overall, MSM would be a subcategory within the larger age group.

I would also like to know what the test rate is for the <25 group, but Im not sure the rate for the MSM group matters anymore than the white group or the obese group. I am also curious about the bisexual rate and their affect if any, being that they are the go between.

My sample size was just over 30 people(laughable), most of which believed that no symptom meant no infection. It seems as though government and NGO's alike focus on awareness, of which testing happens to be a component. Not sure how successful they are.

The other side is that even if testing is high, the process is tedious, which I can personally attest to. A person gets tested, then waits 3-5 business days to get their results. If positive, they then contact their partners. Assuming they still have their information, neither have blocked each other, and they make it over the hurdle that is stigma or shame. At which point their partner goes through the same process, and so on. All the while, all those who have yet to be notified are out in the world infecting others. The time it takes to test and treat someone is considerably slower than the time it takes to infect others. This is all conjecture, but the facts are limited and the stats we have are high.

Due to the stigma associated with the topic its been tough getting people to talk so I honestly appreciate your response. After this I get the feeling that you'll be a critic of my idea, but hopefully a constructive one.

My idea is to improve partner notification by taking a network approach which looks at partners to the 4th degree, and alerts those that may have been exposed. My hope is this will get more people tested.

I understand the problems with my new partner receiving an alert that was set in motion by my ex, but if my new partner insists on condom use then we won't get alerts.