However, “how to bring it up is tricky because any topic related to sexual health is so taboo and so value-based,” Brito said. But regardless, “it’s important for you to be assertive about your own health,” Brito said, especially as rates of STIs have been rising over the last several years. Whether it’s due to shame or selfishness, not everyone is forthcoming about their sexual health status. Additionally, it’s easier to be proactive and prevent contracting STIs than it is to have to handle a health problem. “There are many … STIs that have really bad stigmas that actually don’t cause any long-term problems,” Earle-Cruickshanks said.

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Persons: CNN — You’ve, haven’t, Janet Brito, ” Brito, “, Germaine Earle, Cruickshanks, — won’t, Earle, you’re, ” Earle, Brito, —, you’ve, I’m Organizations: CNN, Hawaii Center, Sexual, Health, Mount Auburn Hospital Locations: Honolulu, Cambridge , Massachusetts