How to Tell Your Date You Have an STD

There's no easy way to tell someone you have an STD, but these tips will help make it a little less difficult.

Step 1: Have the talk before you have sex, and don't wait until things have gotten hot and heavy.
Step 2: Break the news in person. Sending the news via text message or e-mail is inappropriate.
Step 3: Pick a good time and place to break the news – somewhere you can talk privately and without interruption.
Step 4: Approach the topic in a matter-of-fact way. Don't scare them with a long preamble about how you have something horrible to tell them and you don't know how to do it. Just tell them.
TIP: Stress how common STDs are, especially herpes, chlamydia, and HPV.
Step 5: Ask them if they've been tested. Many STDs are asymptomatic, so your date might have one and not know it.
Step 6: Take precautions and use protection to help prevent passing along your STD.
Step 7: If your date rejects you, accept it and move on. It just means they are not the right person for you.
FACT: Nineteen million new cases of STDs are reported in the U.S. alone each year.