A lot of people find it hard to talk to their partners about sex in general. But discussing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) specifically can be even more challenging. It is such a fraught topic that many people who have STIs don’t even tell their partners. That’s why I’ve put together a two-part series for you on STI disclosure. In today’s show, we’re going to discuss how to tell your partner you have an STI. In the next episode, we’re going to explore what to do when your partner tells you they have an STI. My guest today is Dr. Kayley McMahan, a sexual health scholar and educator. She serves as a research and evaluation specialist for the Substance Misuse & Addiction Resource for Tennessee (SMART) Initiative at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Kayley recently co-authored a comprehensive review article in the Journal of Sex Research focused on STI disclosure. Some of the topics we cover in this episode include: At any given point in time, how many people have an STI? How many people who have an STI actually disclose this information? What are the main reasons people with STIs don’t tell their partners about their status? When is the right time to tell a partner that you have an STI? What are some strategies for bringing up the subject of STIs with a partner? You can connect with Kayley on LinkedIn here. Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology. *** Thank you to our sponsors! Whether you’re just a few dates in or have been together a long time, it’s time to lighten the mood and have fun with your partner by using Paired. Head over to paired.com/justin to get a 7-day free trial and 25% off if you sign up for a subscription. *** Want to learn more about Sex and Psychology? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, or Reddit to receive updates. You can also follow Dr. Lehmiller on YouTube and Instagram. Listen and stream all episodes on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Amazon. Subscribe to automatically receive new episodes and please rate and review the podcast! Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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