Are you a slag if you get an STD?

No. Getting an STI doesn't make you a slag, or anything else. It means you caught an infection. That's all it means.

STIs are really common. You can catch one even if you've only had sex once, and even if you use protection. STIs have nothing to do with how many people you've slept with.

Calling someone a slag for getting an STI is like calling someone stupid for catching a cold. It doesn't make sense. It's just a way of shaming people for having sex, and it stops people from getting tested or talking about it openly, which actually makes the problem worse.

The word "slag" gets thrown around a lot, and almost always at girls. Boys who have sex are rarely shamed for it the same way. That double standard isn't worth paying attention to.

If you think you might have an STI, the most useful thing you can do is get tested. It's free, it's confidential, and most STIs are easily treatable. A sexual health clinic won't judge you.

And if someone is calling you a slag, for this or for anything else, that says nothing about you.

No. Getting an STI does not make you a slag. It means you caught an infection. That is all.

STIs are very common. You can catch one even if you have only had sex once. You can catch one even if you used protection. It has nothing to do with how many people you have slept with.

Calling someone a slag for getting an STI is unfair and it stops people from getting tested. That makes the problem worse, not better.

If you think you might have an STI, get tested. It is free and private. A sexual health clinic will not judge you.