Safe Sex Passport

Filed in archive on December 5, 2007

If you're dating in the modern world, you're probably familiar with the "safe sex" conversation. For some people, the conversation happens even before the first date and consists of something like, "when was the last time that you were tested for STD's and do you always use condoms?" For others, the transition to getting this information is more subtle. And for an unfortunately high number of people, the conversation is still too uncomfortable to have.



Now you can get a "safe sex passport" to prove to people you're meeting online that you've been recently tested and are free of STD's.



Here's how it works:



- You register with the newly-launched site (see links above).


- You go get STD testing done at one of the approved locations. You'll be tested for five different STD's: HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and herpes.


- You get your test results and an activated membership card.


- You can now give these results to people that you meet online in order to prove that you tested clean.

This can be done confidentially by giving them a number and code to call to get your results. It can also be done openly by taking the "virtual health certificate" that you receive and posting it on your online profile.



Of course, this also means that you can ask for proof that someone is STD-free in the same manner. And you don't have to take their word for it. You do, however, have to consider that they may have had unsafe sex in the days or weeks since the testing has taken place. It's always wisest to use condoms even if someone does claim to have proof that they tested clean.



Question of the Day: Would you get a "safe sex passport"?