Innovative new method for keeping multi-partner relationships emotionally and physically healthy
The brainchild of London-based developers Bianca Bunn and Georgia Di Mattos, the Zults smartphone app aims to fill the important need for people in non-monogamous relationships to securely share their Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) status among their partners.
Speaking to The Standard, Dunne described the app’s impetus, “We can’t deny that STIs have increased due to hook-up culture and online dating. Plus, when you meet someone online, you’re probably less likely to have the confidence to ask them about their sexual health because of the type of relationship you’ve built.”
Group sex experiences which may not address sexual wellness concerns can also be problematic, as Dunne added, “Sex parties don’t want to acknowledge the existence of STIs. Yes, they have condoms, but that is only one form of protection, which prioritises men. What about women having sex with women, or infections transmitted orally?”
Easy, secure, and crucial
Though Zults leaves the actual testing to their partnered medical facilities like NHS Sexual Health London (SHL), which can either be done on-site or with an at-home self-testing kit, the tap of a single digital button is all that’s needed to send the certified results via Weblink, Bluetooth, or QR code.
Di Mattos further explained Zult’s origins during a conversation with Dunne, giving an anecdotal example, “See, someone’s just sent me their results from Sexual Health London. It’s a screenshot—how can I validate that that’s real? People learned to falsify test results during Covid, we all know how to photoshop nowadays, you know?”
RECOMMENDED READ: Somewhere Over the AI Rainbow: The Promise of Queer-Inclusive Sexual Health Tech
Zults digital result card also includes information on what sexual infections were tested for and when, demonstrating the presenter’s current status—or if the dates haven’t been updated for a while, that they might be due for a re-screening.
A lot, but not all is covered—for now
Dunne and Di Mattos are well aware of how certain conditions, most notably herpes, tend to test positive, “We’re working on a feature to signal that an infection is untransmittable—for example, if you have HIV and are taking antiretrovirals [drugs which stop HIV replicating in the body], we want you to be able to signal your viral load.”
Not so much an issue with Zults as it is with STI screening as a whole, particularly the social stigma and stress positive test results can have on a person. Some may either not feel comfortable or emotionally safe enough to share their status—even if the results are negative.
In addition to providing a method for indicating the presence of non-transmittable conditions or other sexual health-related issues, something the developers are planning for the future.
For example, if a partner’s test results are positive and indicate a possible exposure, the app could direct users to crisis hotlines, sexual counseling services, or healthcare professionals.
Zults 2.0 might aid in fostering a more accountable management of sexual health concerns, especially as some might feel today’s clean bill of health means they can do whatever they want to whoever they want when in actuality safe(r) sex practices are only effective when they are used one hundred percent of the time.
Making the invisible visible
To Dunne and Di Mattos’ credit, while anyone in any sort of relationship can use Zults, their focus on group sex enthusiasts, polyamorous relationships, and other non-monogamous dating situations is in itself a huge step forward—making those and other regularly maligned or disregarded sexual communities.
By saying this is for us, Dunne and Di Mattos have not only given people a new way to be forthcoming about their sexual health but are also empowering people to take pride in who they are and what excites them.
Sure, it’s probably going to take a lot of personal and social enlightenment work before it’s as easy to share negative test results as it is positive ones.
But Zults’ inclusiveness might, in the long run, make it at least a little less challenging for us to be open and honest about any STIs we may or may not have.
Image Sources: Depositphotos
