BMC Public Health 2009, 9:311 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/9/311 For about a year before I had been going through a really bad time, I went out with a few different guys and stuff and just when I came through that I was kind of looking back on some of the crazy stuff that had happened in the previous year and I just wanted to completely cleanse myself of everything that had hap- pened. I just thought, OK I suppose a part of that is going to have to be making sure that everything is OK. I don't know, I just wanted to cleanse myself of every- thing that had happened in that year. Just be able to close the chapter. Gone. (F/STI/mid 20 s/-). I wasn't in a great position in my life and didn't really care too much and there was one or two times where I didn't use protection. There was a month or two where I just kind of realized the direction I was going and fig- ured that if I wanted to make anything of my life I needed to cop myself on and start focusing on what I was doing. One part of it was to get checked out and start moving on from there. So that was what got me in the mentality of getting it done. I think that was the fundamental part of it to me. That it would help me start again. (M/SH/mid 20 s/-). The second reason that respondents went for STI testing was that they had unprotected sex with an unknown part- ner. I just had a one night stand with somebody and I didn't use protection. And I just wanted to make sure. Cos like you never know. I don't know anything about that person or, you know. (F/GP/mid 20 s/-). I'd had unprotected sex and just thought I should get checked. I didn't have any symptoms but I still kind of worried about it. (M/SH/early 20 s/-). Respondents (especially female respondents) typically experienced unprotected sex with an unknown partner as a catastrophic event, triggering strong feelings of anxiety, shame and guilt. Unprotected sex undermined respond- ents' identities, their sense of who they were as individu- als. One respondent for example noted: I just did this [had unprotected sex], my God, what kind of person am I? (F/GP/early 20 s/-). Unprotected sex catapulted several respondents into a state of vulnerability, triggered by uncertainty over the body's risk status. I was quite nervous cos like you don't know. I wasn't sure like, had I got anything, had I not got anything. Any other times I've gone since I've known I've been safe but that time because I knew I'd had unprotected sex I was quite unnerved by the fact that I could have something. (Female/GP/early 20 s/-). STI testing provided emotional reassurance, and a means of stitching a 'respectable' identity back together by ena- bling respondents to feel that they were risk-avoiding responsible individuals who looked after their bodies. Interviewer: And how did you feel about yourself after you had the test? R: Better. Like I was someone who had done some- thing right (F/GP/early 20 s/-). The third reason for going for testing was the presence of unusual symptoms in or near the genital region. Respond- ents were often unsure of what these symptoms were, and sometimes did not expect them to be symptoms of an STI. As such these respondents did not necessarily attend health services for STI testing. Most of the symptoms that respondents reported were described as being 'marks' or 'spots'. Symptoms that would indicate discharge from the vagina or penis were rarely mentioned. I kind of had a mark down there and I was unsure of it you know. (M/GP/late 20 s/-). My background would have been that it was symp- toms in the genital area so that's why I decided. I hadn't a clue. (F/STI/late 20 s/+) Obviously they came up like spots down there. I got sore and red. I actually didn't think it was going to be an STI. I'd never really heard about them. I thought it was just a rash so I said it to my sister and my mum not really thinking much about it. (F/GP/early 20 s/+). I had symptoms that I would attribute to an STI like increased frequency of weeing or stuff like that. (F/SH/ late teens/+). The final reason for attending a health service for STI test- ing was being required to by an employer or by a state. Of the four reasons provided here for attending a health service for STI testing this was the most meaningless for respond- ents, as it was the most disconnected from their personal practices, biographies and emotions. I just went into the doctor and I said I need a visa for working abroad, can you give me a HIV test. I didn't see that test as having any personal significance. It was just a piece of paper that I needed. (F/STI/mid 20 s/-). Most respondents who sought testing wanted to receive a 'full screen', that is to be tested for all of the most common Page 4 of 10 (page number not for citation purposes)