Nothing Says “You Might Have The Clap” Like An E-Card

There’s nothing worse than coming home after a weekend of partying and discovering you left with more than you arrived with. In an ideal world, your potential sexual partner would tell you about any surprise diseases they might have, or better yet, be forced to wear some sort of sign. But this isn’t an ideal world, and people are known to lie. With a greeting card from inSpot.org you can tell the truth and still keep your dignity. Since 2004 the free website has been offering an e-card service dedicated to informing partners about the possibility of sexually transmitted diseases. When statistical reports show that over 15 million new cases of STDs are reported in the US alone each year, a service like this can definitely be a blessing.

The cards add a light-hearted feel to a somber message like “Got laid. Was happy. Got tested. Wasn’t healthy. Better get your own STD checkup soon.” Or “I got screwed while screwing, you might have too. Get checked for STDs if you haven’t recently.” Each card gives you the option to add a personalized message, and you can send them anonymously or through your own email address. It’s definitely a sight better than an “oh by the way, I have herpes” conversation, and for some people, it’s an opportunity to stave off embarrassment.

“It’s not like you get a card and it’s, ‘Oh no, it’s a dead end,’” said Deb Levine, executive director of Internet Sexuality Information Services, a nonprofit organization. “The card leads you to regularly updated information about what you may have been exposed to.” The site started in San Francisco and has spread to 10 cities such as New York and Chicago, Illinois. It also has taken root in Canada and Romania, and is being translated into French and Russian.

The creators said they are aware of the possibility of misuse, but fewer than 10 recipients have reported that they received the cards in error. “Our percentage of complaints is very low,” Levine said. “It’s extremely low compared to the number of cards that are sent.” Since inSPOT’s launch, more than 50,000 e-cards have been sent, according to an report in the journal PLOS Medicine this week.

In many locations across the country, patients diagnosed with reportable diseases like syphilis may or may not get a call from the local health department. Even if they do, and agree to identify partners, many agencies do not have the manpower to contact those people. Often, it is left to the diagnosing doctor to urge partner notification. Now, such a doctor can simply hand the patient a palm card with inSPOT’s Internet address.