Posted by Julia | 7 min read
Alright, let's dive into the topic everyone gets weird about but absolutely needs to hear. Sexual health. STDs. Testing. All that fun stuff that makes people squirm in their seats.
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I'm gonna be brutally honest with you because sugar-coating this stuff helps nobody. And trust me, I've learned some things the hard way that I wish someone had told me earlier.
My Wake-Up Call at 22
About a year ago, I went for my regular testing and got a call I wasn't expecting. "Julia, you need to come in to discuss your results."
My heart literally stopped. Like, I'm pretty sure I forgot how to breathe for a solid thirty seconds.
Turns out it was chlamydia. Totally treatable, caught early, no big deal medically speaking. But emotionally? I was a mess. I spent the entire drive home crying and beating myself up, even though my doctor kept telling me it happens to sexually active people all the time.
The thing that really got me was trying to figure out where it came from. I use protection religiously, get tested every three months, the whole nine yards. But stuff happens anyway sometimes.
That experience taught me something important though – having an STD doesn't make you dirty or careless or stupid. It just makes you human.
Testing: More Complicated Than You'd Think
Most people think STD testing is just one simple test, right? Wrong. It's like ordering at a restaurant with a menu that has fifty different options, except the consequences of not ordering the right thing can mess up your life.
There's the basic panel that tests for the common stuff – chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis. Then there's herpes testing, which weirdly isn't included in standard panels even though it's super common. HPV testing for women. Hepatitis B and C. The list goes on.
I remember my first time walking into Planned Parenthood, completely overwhelmed by all the options. The nurse was amazing though – she sat down with me and explained what each test looked for, how often I should get them, and what the results would mean.
Now I have it down to a science. Every three months, I get the full panel plus herpes testing. Every six months, I add hepatitis screening. Once a year, I get everything, including the tests for the weird stuff most people never think about.
It's expensive as hell, even with insurance. I probably spend more on testing than most people spend on coffee in a month. But it's worth every penny for the peace of mind.
The Awkward Conversation Nobody Prepares You For
Here's something they don't tell you – having to contact previous partners when you test positive for something is absolutely mortifying.
When I got that chlamydia diagnosis, I had to think back through everyone I'd been with in the past few months and let them know they should get tested. Talk about uncomfortable phone calls.
Some people were cool about it, thanked me for letting them know, got tested right away. Others... not so much. One guy literally hung up on me. Another one tried to blame me for giving it to him, even though there's no way to know who gave what to whom.
The worst part was this one client who got really nasty about it, started calling me names and threatening to leave bad reviews. Like, dude, I'm trying to do the responsible thing here and you're acting like I personally attacked you.
That's when I learned to be more selective about who I work with. Someone who can't handle a mature conversation about sexual health isn't someone I want to be intimate with anyway.
The Prevention Game
Everyone always talks about condoms like they're this magical force field that prevents everything. And don't get me wrong – I'm Team Condom all day, every day. But they're not perfect.
I use condoms for everything, and I mean everything. Even for stuff most people think is "safer." Because here's what I've learned – there is no such thing as completely safe sex, only safer sex.
But condoms are just one part of my prevention strategy. I also limit the number of partners I work with, I'm super picky about screening, and I pay attention to visual cues that might indicate someone has an active outbreak of something.
Plus, I got the HPV vaccine as soon as I could, even though I was older than the recommended age. My doctor had to fight with insurance to cover it, but it was worth it. I also got the hepatitis B vaccine series.
It's like building a fortress with multiple walls instead of just trusting one barrier to keep everything out.
The Mental Health Side Nobody Talks About
The anxiety around sexual health in this work is real and it's exhausting. I know girls who test every month because they can't handle the stress of waiting three months between tests. I know others who've developed panic attacks around testing time.
There's also this weird guilt thing that happens. Like, even when you're being super careful and responsible, there's this voice in your head telling you that if something happens, it's somehow your fault for doing this work in the first place.
I had to learn to shut that voice up because it was making me crazy. STDs are a risk of being sexually active, period. Married people get them from cheating spouses. College kids get them from hookups. It's not karma or punishment – it's just biology.
My therapist helped me reframe it as just another part of taking care of my body, like going to the dentist or getting an annual physical. Not fun, but necessary.
Finding the Right Healthcare
This part is tricky because not all doctors are cool about sex work Asian escorts. I've had some really uncomfortable experiences with healthcare providers who made me feel judged or who clearly didn't understand the realities of my work.
I finally found a clinic that specializes in sexual health and has experience with sex workers. The difference is night and day. They don't bat an eye at my testing frequency, they understand why I need certain tests that other people might not need, and they're knowledgeable about the specific risks I face.
Plus, they're connected with other resources I need – mental health support, legal advice, harm reduction programs. It's like having a whole team instead of just one judgmental doctor who makes me feel terrible about myself.
The Real Talk About Money
All this healthcare stuff is expensive, and it adds up fast. Between regular testing, birth control, vaccines, and occasional treatment for minor infections, I probably spend a couple thousand dollars a year on sexual health alone.
That's money I have to factor into my budget alongside rent and groceries and student loans. Some months it means choosing between comprehensive testing and other things I need.
I wish there were better options for affordable, comprehensive sexual health care for people in this industry. There are some free clinics and programs, but they're not available everywhere and the wait times can be brutal.
It's frustrating because taking care of sexual health should be accessible to everyone, regardless of what kind of work they do or how much money they make.
What I Wish More People Understood
The biggest thing I want people to understand is that most of us in this industry are way more careful about sexual health than the average person. We get tested more often, we're more educated about risks and prevention, and we're more proactive about treatment.
We have to be. Our health is literally our livelihood, and we can't afford to be careless about it.
So when people act like we're walking disease factories or assume we're irresponsible about protection, it's both insulting and completely wrong. We're probably more informed about sexual health than your average college student or married suburban mom.
Taking care of sexual health isn't glamorous or fun, but it's part of being a responsible adult. And in this work, it's absolutely non-negotiable.
Stay safe, get tested, and don't let anyone shame you for taking care of yourself.
Julia
For sexual health resources and testing locations, visit your local Planned Parenthood or search for sexual health clinics in your area. Many offer sliding scale fees based on income.