by Victoria Tiegert

Created on: August 26, 2009   Last Updated: December 30, 2011

If you are infected with an STD (sexually transmitted disease) of any sort, dating will need to be done with extreme care, honesty, and responsibility. While going to dinner and a movie is not going to be dangerous for either of you, there may be some complications that you will have to take into consideration as the relationship progresses to a more physical level.

No matter how you've gotten an STD or who it came from, you have it now, and it is your responsibility to ensure that you aren't giving it to others who you are dating. There are many different types of STDs and they can vary greatly in contagiousness, severity, and the times or circumstances that you can transfer it to other people.

One of the responsibilities that you have is to be educated regarding what you have and what the implications are to your health, as well as to the health of others. Talk to your physician and they should be able to give you some direction as far as where to go for more information. They also might have some handouts, such as pamphlets, that are informational.

Do some research on your own to gather even more information. The Internet is full of websites that cover every health issue you can possibly have. There are support groups online where you can discuss your concerns and questions to people who will understand what you are going through, while still remaining anonymous.

You have the responsibility to be honest with the people that you are dating and may get involved long-term with. While this news may not be required, or even really appropriate, for a first date, it will become absolutely essential if the relationship even approaches something more serious. A casual date is one thing, but the chance for something deeper is always there, so be prepared to be honest and share the information regarding your health issue.

As a person who has an STD, you will need to be more alert and careful than others about where your hormones are taking you. Most people have a time in their lives when they do something seemingly without thinking. "Casual sex" should not exist for the person with an STD, but if a "one night stand" appears to be in the making, you will need to be ready to make full disclosure in an instant. Your partner should be totally informed and protected. That is only fair.

Once you have talked things over honestly with your partner and have come to an understanding together, you will need to ensure that you have protection available for the time that you do engage in a sexual encounter. Condoms are typically the way to go with most STDs, but there are some that will not be protected against in this way. For instance, a woman who has herpes will only be contagious during an outbreak, but when she is, the condom is not totally reliable for protection for her partner. She should abstain from sexual relations entirely during this time.

Find out what protection is actually going to protect your partner and use it, no matter what!

Having an STD is not the end of the world. It is not even the end of your romantic life. It is not the end of your sex life. It is, however, the beginning of some new habits and standards that you must adopt in order to ensure that this disease is not spread any further. Honesty, information, self-control, and protection are the most important components that you need to make a part of your life, both for yourself and for your potential partners.

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