Why Married Black Women Need to Get Tested

As part of our on-going campaign to get folks tested, especially women of color, Dr. Monica Sweeney explains why it’s important for all women to get tested but specifically married Black women.

There is only so much time in the day and there is no way you will always know where your partner/boyfriend/husband is. And you shouldn’t need to know and more than likely they are faithful and trust worthy.  But if you suspect differently, then you have to decide where your relationship goes from there. More women except sex outside their relationships, even if it’s not a mutually acted on situation, then you would believe. And they may or may not consider it an “Open Relationship,” but if you are in committed relationship and one or both are having sex outside the relationship, then it’s open.  Now, there are women who have no idea that their significant other is having sex outside the relationship.  Maybe, they suspect it or maybe they don’t. In either of these scenarios, you have to act. Having open and frank discussions about sex outside the relationship, is extremely difficult, but necessary. These discussions bring up a lot of anger, hurt and distrust but it’s the first step to changing your sexual behavior in this and future relationships. Both partners need to protect themselves; both partners need to get tested. If you can’t be guaranteed these two basic things then you need to reconsider the person you are sleeping with.

As Dr. Sweeney notes in her article, we need to start talking about how women are getting infected. You need to know your status and protect yourself!

Posted by admin on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 11:30 AM