STD Testing A Must for Eligible Bachelors

[ewhite]

TV's newest bachelorette, Ashley Hebert, may face a bumpy romantic ride on her quest for true love, but at least she won't have to worry about STDs along the way. According to ABC, STD testing is mandatory for all contestants on The Bachelorette. In fact, former winner Jesse Csincsak has dubbed the show’s assembly of eligible suitors "the sexiest STD-free dating pool on earth," and for good reason. Csincsak explains that STD testing for the show isn’t just a matter of providing a urine sample and calling it a day. Blood tests are also performed to rule out all possible infections before contestants are deemed eligible.

The requirement for the top 50 finalists to undergo STD testing speaks to the show's commitment to finding only the most suitable men for dear Ashley, who sadly got rejected by Brad Womack in season 15 of The Bachelor. In fact, Csincsak reveals that anyone who fails to come up clean following STD testing will not be allowed on the show, period.

Since physical intimacy is a known byproduct of The Bachelorette's matchmaking ways, the fact that all contestants have been cleared by STD testing makes for reality TV that's not only fun, but most importantly, safe. Of course, STD testing won't protect Ashley from the emotional rollercoaster ahead of her, but hey, it's all part of the journey.

So what do other people think about the show’s requirement for STD testing? And since some infections can be cured quickly, should contestants be given the chance to get treated and undergo STD testing again before being ruled out completely?

Meanwhile, let’s all keep our fingers crossed for Ashley as season 7 of The Bachelorette kicks off this May. After all, you can test for STDs, but screening for a soul mate is not quite as exact a science.