Most STIs don't give you a heads-up before settling in. That is precisely why regular screening matters more than waiting for symptoms.
Talking about screening is still associated with the idea that you first need to "have a reason to worry." In reality, most sexually transmitted infections show no visible signs.
Silent, but not without consequences
Chlamydia, the most frequently diagnosed bacterial infection in France, is asymptomatic in the majority of cases. Without screening, it can go completely unnoticed for months, all while remaining transmissible and potentially affecting fertility if left untreated.
In France, the chlamydia screening rate is twice as high among women (67 per 1,000) as it is among men (31 per 1,000), according to 2024 data from Santé publique France. This gap does not reflect a difference in biological risk, but rather highly unequal access to and habits regarding health check-ups based on gender.
Why it's easier than you think
In recent years, several initiatives have been implemented to remove the classic barriers to screening: tests reimbursed without a prescription in many laboratories, free services like VIHTest, and anonymous screening centers (CeGIDD) throughout France. It is no longer necessary to justify a specific worry in order to get tested.
Getting screened as a couple together, before stopping condom use in a new relationship, removes any individual emotional burden from the process: it's no longer "I suspect you," but rather a shared step.
What helps make it a habit
Common misconceptions, once and for all
"No symptoms, so no need for screening"
No: most of the most frequent bacterial STIs are asymptomatic in a vast majority of cases.
"Asking your partner to get screened is accusing them"
No: proposed as a shared and systematic approach, it implies no specific suspicion.
"Screening necessarily requires a prescription"
No, several options (VIHTest, laboratory tests without a prescription, CeGIDD) allow for direct and often free access.
Getting screened is not an admission of worry: it is an ordinary health practice, just like a dental check-up.
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