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Originally Posted by sweet_tna  5) Tests, even if accurate, are only good for the day they're taken. While the going theory is that folks who test regularly are less likely to have any STD's, it's still just that--a theory |
No test is 100% accurate. What testing does is provide different odds of STD tranmission -and how much better those odds are compared to doing nothing degrades gradually over time. Now just how different those are, I don't know, but the rules I'm using are basic statistical sampling rules.
The statistical odds of someone who has tested negative for a range of STD's acquiring one over a year is _different_ than someone who has never been tested(and for that matter someone who has tested positive and gotten treatment). For that matter the odds of someone who has just gotten tested and tested negative but has no plans of getting retested are going to be different than someone who knows another test is coming up.
Also, a record of negative tests that goes back _years_ has different statistical significance than a single test result.
We are not talking individual testing here-we are talking the testing of an identifiable group--and testing for multiple STD's. There is a potential synergy there because some STD's can act as warning signs for others(i.e. if someone gets chlamydia, they'd sit out and get a complete retest in a few weeks before joining the party again). Also, someone who is playing in a tested group has a different profile than someone who is playing in an untested group. Now would testing create a false sense of security and promote risky behaviors? Well that is question for the data. I think the exact opposite would be the case based on looking at groups like Lafayette More House that did regular STD testing of a membership group.
Anyhow, there is more than just theory here. It is clear that a program of regular testing in the Adult film industry did reduce STD's there markedly. The question is
a) how does this apply to swingers? Swingers are a different population than porn actors-their mileage may vary. I think the experiment of a tested club is worth doing and getting real data here.
b) is it worth the extra expense and effort? I honestly think that is going to vary from person to person. For some folks getting HSV or HPV isn't that big a deal. They may never notice or deal with going on anti-viral medications and having a couple weeks a year of discomfort and get on with their lives. For some folks it is a much bigger deal.