Some people see an STD as some sort of punishment for a sexual encounter they already feel guilty about. This is particularly the case when sexuality crosses over into religious or moral conflict. The stigma grafted onto STDs is unlike any other infection. If someone gets chicken pox because they have inadvertently exposed themselves to an infected person, there is no big fuss and bother. Chicken pox is caused by a herpes virus. Its official name is herpes zoster. We diagnose the problem, relieve the symptoms and take steps to make sure that other people are not exposed until the contagious phase passes. No shame. No recriminations. It is not seen as a punishment for enjoying yourself too much with the other children at kindergarten. In a strictly medical sense, doctors would like to be able to take the same pragmatic, no-nonsense approach to STDs too. ‘This is the problem and here are the solutions.’ But the reality is usually far more complex. The advice for treatment depends not only on taking a course of the right medicine, it also generally involves finding out how you got the infection. Only then can you work on suggestions for modifying sexual activity so that you don’t get infected again or put anyone else at risk. The next step is treating any known contacts. All of this can be pretty threatening, especially if you don’t want anyone to know what you’ve been up to.
Most STD counsellors will tell you that shame or guilt about sexual behavior is by far the most psychologically damaging aspect of STDs but if we take a closer look at the situation, it becomes clear that, for some people, finding out they have an STD is the first time they have really been forced to take stock of their sexual behaviors. They may not have been prepared up until this time to acknowledge their extramarital activities or come to terms with secret homosexual liaisons.
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