Technology has come a long way since smartphones were made popular. Now, a new app has been created to help users find their nearest sexual health centers where they can get tested, and download their results on their smartphones.
The app, called Hula, advertises itself as a “free way to find STD testing, get the results on your phone and share your verified STD status”.
Hula was found by Ramin Bastani, who one day attempted having the STD talk with a potential partner, who eventually slapped him in the face. “There has to be a better way to have that conversation,” he says. Hula allows you to find nearby STD testing centers, get your results quickly, share your status and receive reminders every 6 to 12 months when it’s time for another test.
“We don’t want to be a dating site—we want to help people make better health decisions,” Bastani says. “Our users are getting tested more often because they want a more recent test date on their profile. If we can make it easy, that makes it more compelling, and hopefully we see a significant reduction [in STD rates].”
And by “sharing”, you don’t have to worry about your STD results immediately being posted on your Facebook Timeline. The app “unzips” your results for people you choose to share it with. “If I wanted to share my profile with you, I could do it in person by having you ‘unzip’ me, or I could share it with you by friending you on the app,” Bastani says. “It’s a modern, flirtatious version of, ‘If you show me yours, I’ll show you mine.’”
Hula is also planning to partner up with dating apps. They’ve already started with gay social app Mister, and who knows – maybe it’ll soon be available on popular ones like Tinder and OKCupid.
It’s still unclear if Hula functions well in Malaysia, but it’s still only available on iOS devices, so if you have an iPhone or iPad, download it and tell us what you think!
