Dear Pregame is a letters column about navigating sexual health honestly. Real questions, considered answers, no shame and no euphemisms.
Getting tested before you're physically close to someone new is a reasonable thing to do. Not because something is necessarily wrong, but because a lot of STIs can be present without obvious symptoms.
Read the letter →Letters are edited for clarity and length. Dear Pregame provides editorial commentary, not medical advice. For symptoms, exposures, or positive results, contact a licensed healthcare professional.