STI tests

STI’s (Sexually Transmitted Infections) are a fact of life in the modern age. It’s great that we can choose to have sex with whoever we like, but we have to be careful because there are some nasty diseases we can catch from bumping uglies without protection.

abbywinters.com shoots are a fantasy for our customers, and no one fantasizes about using dental dams or condoms (well, ok, some people do, but that’s not what we cater to).

We’re concerned about the health of our models (and we hope you are, too!) so we have some pretty strict requirements for appearing in shoots that have unprotected sex.

“I felt very comfortable knowing my partner was sexually healthy. I would even say I found it very sexy…I like having sex with new people but there is always a possible risk and you’re quite restricted in what you can do regarding fluid exchange…So this was really free and carefree and I really enjoyed it” (Flo, Apr 2021).

How it works

When you’re booked for a girl-girl sex shoot, after we have set a date for the shoot with you and your partner, we ask you (and separately, your partner) to visit a clinic and get tested for a bunch of STI’s.

A few days later, you get a copy of the results (if they are all negative – if there are any positive results, you’ll likely be asked to make an appointment to see the doctor to discuss treatment). We reschedule shoots with models who test positive for an STI. Most infections can be treated, and you’d get re-tested after treatment. No problem! 😊

You ask for a receipt/invoice for the test costs (some places do it for free, some will require payment). We’ll always reimburse you (give you the money you spent on the test back) for your out-of-pocket test costs, if:

  • The complete and unambiguous STI test results are provided to us, with the test date and model name;
  • The test results are provided to us by the date specified (as defined in the shoot booking email) and;
  • Upon presentation of a dated official receipt / Tax Invoice

You send the STI test results to us, and we check:

  • That the name on the test matches your name
  • That the test date means you’ll still be covered for the date of the shoot
  • That the test results appear to be unedited and original
  • That all STI’s we list, have actually been tested for
  • That you test negative for all tests (more detail below)

We keep the test results securely, on file. Your partner goes through the same process.

We provide the STI test results to your Shoot Producer the day before the shoot. On the shoot day, you’ll have a chance to review your partner’s STI test results, and they yours.

There’s still a risk

We must acknowledge that while STI testing is effective, it’s not 100% safe. There can be errors in sample collection, some infections may not show any evidence at the time of testing, you may become infected after testing, you may have an unusual disease we do not test for.

On the shoot day, you and your shoot partner sign a form indicating you’re comfortable that you have seen and understand your partner’s STI test results, and that yiou understand STI testing is not perfect.

Once signed, the shoot goes ahead.

STI’s we require models to be tested for

Chlamydia trachomatis

Common name: Chlamydia. On Wikipedia.

Summary: Bacterial infection, symptoms may include vaginal discharge or burning with urination. But, may not cause any symptoms in 70–80% of cases of women. If un-treated, can cause more serious consequences, including infertility and blindness. Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide affecting about 4.2% of women.

Test: On urine, or a swab of the cervix, vagina, or urethra. Rectal or mouth swabs are required to diagnose infections in those areas.

Named on test as: “Chlamydia trachomatis”,

Expected result: Negatief, Negative, Negativo, No se desarollan, nem található (not detected)

Treatment: Chlamydia can be treated by a course of antibiotics.

Syphilis Treponema pallidum

Common name: Syphilis. On Wikipedia.

Summary: Bacterial infection, symptoms may include a single “chancre” (a firm, painless, non-itchy skin ulceration) but there may be multiple sores. In secondary syphilis, a diffuse rash occurs, which frequently involves the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. There may also be sores in the mouth or vagina.

Test: Blood test.

Treatment: Syphilis can be treated by a course of antibiotics.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Common name: Gonorrhea, “The Clap”. On Wikipedia.

Summary: Bacterial infection, symptoms include burning with urination, vaginal discharge, vaginal bleeding between periods, or pelvic pain. Half of the women infected have no symptoms (but are contagious). In women, the most common result of untreated gonorrhea is a pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Test: Cervical swab.

Treatment: Injected antibiotics.

HIV/AIDS

Common name: HIV

Summary: Viral infection. Following initial infection, one may not notice any symptoms or a brief period of influenza-like illness. Typically, this is followed by a prolonged period with no symptoms. As the infection progresses, it interferes more with the immune system, increasing the risk of common infections and tumors that rarely affect people who have working immune systems. These late symptoms of infection are referred to as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Test: Blood test

Expected result: “Nonreactive to HIV antibody”, or “Negative”

Treatment: There is no cure or vaccine; however, antiretroviral treatment can slow the course of the disease and may lead to a near-normal life expectancy.

Hepatitis A

Common name: “Hep A”. On Wikipedia.

Summary: Viral infection of the liver. When symptoms occur, they typically last eight weeks and may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, fever, and abdominal pain. In the developing world, about 90% of children have been infected by age 10, thus are immune by adulthood.

It is usually spread by eating food or drinking water contaminated with infected feces (poo) but can be spread by sex, more likely for anal-oral sex.

Test: Blood test.

Treatment: Most people under 25 have been vaccinated against Hep A when they were children (considered standard in most western countries). Unvaccinated people who have been exposed recently (within 2 weeks) to the hepatitis A virus should get the hepatitis A vaccine to prevent severe illness.

Hepatitis B Virus/Infection

Common name: “Hep B”. On Wikipedia.

Summary: Viral infection. Many people have no symptoms during the initial infection. Some develop a rapid onset of sickness with vomiting, yellowish skin, tiredness, dark urine and abdominal pain.

Test: Blood test.

Treatment: Many people are already vaccinated against Hep B (in the first day of birth). Acute hepatitis B infection does not usually require treatment and most adults clear the infection spontaneously.

Hepatitis C

Common name: “Hep C”. On Wikipedia.

Summary: Viral infection. During the initial infection people often have mild or no symptoms. Occasionally a fever, dark urine, abdominal pain, and yellow-tinged skin occurs. Over many years, however, it often leads to liver disease.

Sexual transmission of Hep C is rare (it’s a blood-borne virus), but is more common in those who practice anal sex (from small tears around the anus).

Test: Blood test.

Treatment: The course of antiviral medications is very effective.

Herpes simplex

Common name: Herpes.

Summary: Oral herpes involves the face or mouth. It may result in small blisters in groups often called “cold sores”, or may just cause a sore throat. Genital herpes, may have minimal symptoms or form blisters that break open and result in small ulcers. Tingling or shooting pains may occur before the blisters appear. Herpes cycles between periods of active disease followed by periods without symptoms.

There are two types of herpes simplex virus, type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). HSV-1 more commonly causes infections around the mouth while HSV-2 more commonly causes genital infections.

Herpes is transmitted by direct contact with body fluids or lesions of an infected individual. Transmission may still occur when symptoms are not present.

Worldwide rates of either HSV-1 or HSV-2 are between 60% and 95% in adults. HSV-1 is usually acquired during childhood.

Herpes is contracted through direct contact with an active lesion or body fluid of an infected person.

Test: Tests are only made if lesions (sores) are present around the mouth or vulva.

Treatment: No method eradicates the herpes virus from the body, but antiviral medications can reduce the frequency, duration, and severity of outbreaks.

Infections we do not test for

We do not test for some relatively minor infections (sexual and otherwise), because they are so pervasive (many people have them, perhaps in a dormant state, and most people have mild or even no symptoms when infected and appropriately vaccinated). Examples include but are not limited to;

If you choose to get tested for these infections and you’re tested positive, we will not make a shoot with you until you provide a clear / negative test, at your own expense. While we categorise these infections as low enough risk not to test for them, we cannot ethically pair models we know to be infected.