The Bachelor’s Abbie Chatfield is on a mission to reduce the shame and stigma around taboo sexual topics.
After bravely detailing her personal experience with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) on her podcast, the star has now openly discussed the topic on radio.
The 24-year-old appeared on KIIS FM’s Kyle And Jackie O show on Tuesday, where she spoke candidly about being treated for chlamydia.
‘I get regularly tested’: The Bachelor runner-up Abbie Chatfield, 24, has revealed which STI she’s been treated for in the past
An STI is an infection passed from one person to another through sexual contact.
Examples of STIs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), syphilis, and HIV.
About 16% of Australians report having a sexually transmitted infection in their lifetime, while over 23,000 Australians currently live with HIV, according to the Australian Government Department of Health.
‘I think there’s a lot of shame about STIs in general, I just want to break down the stigma,’ Abbie said to hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson.
With the reality TV star being so forthcoming with personal details, Jackie asked Abbie to explain which STIs she’d had in the past.
‘Chlamydia,’ Abbie responded, claiming that she had actually caught it from an ex-boyfriend who had cheated on her.
‘I just want to break down the stigma’: With the reality TV star being so forthcoming with personal details, Abbie chose to reveal she once had chlamydia
‘I didn’t have any symptoms’: Abbie said it was important for sexually active people to get checked and to talk about their sexual history openly
‘[Chlamydia] is the most common [STI] in Australia and cases are rising because of lack of education and stigma,’ Abbie explained.
In most Australian states, if you have certain STIs, you are legally obliged to inform your sexual partner/s so they can get tested and treated.
‘I get tested regularly, because you can get chlamydia even when using a condom… or herpes through skin to skin contact, I haven’t had that [herpes] though.
Speaking of her own experience with chlamydia, Abbie continued: ‘I didn’t have any symptoms, but it does cause infertility in women. It’s important to get checked and to talk about it.’
‘I have had STIs in the past’: Abbie shared intimate details about her sexual history in an episode of her It’s A Lot podcast this month
‘When I stopped counting it was like 50’: Abbie also revealed about the number of people she’s had sex with on her podcast
Public dumping: Abbie was left heartbroken when Matt Agnew (pictured) broke up with her during the season finale of The Bachelor last year
Abbie, who has the word ‘feminist’ tattooed to her arm, recently revealed the number of people she’s had sex with in her It’s A Lot podcast this month.
‘I used to have a list of people that I’d slept with. When I stopped counting it was like 50,’ said Abbie.
Meanwhile, Abbie was left heartbroken when Matt Agnew broke up with her during the season finale of The Bachelor last year.
Speaking to Punkee in December, Abbie admitted she went ‘went on a d**k spree’ shortly after she was dumped, sleeping with people who ‘wouldn’t know her’ and adopting a fake name to avoid spoiling the show’s ending.
While she is slated to appear on the upcoming season of Bachelor In Paradise, sources claim she was booted from the show within the first few days.
Free at last! Speaking to Punkee in December, Abbie admitted she went ‘went on a d**k spree’ shortly after she was dumped