tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post374322971492258734..comments2024-03-22T05:55:48.117-04:00Comments on The Pervocracy: Guest Post: What it's like to go to an STD clinic.Cliff Pervocracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02080142422250604406noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-77941589593001036332012-01-12T00:02:11.609-05:002012-01-12T00:02:11.609-05:00After my recent nightmare of an experience getting...After my recent nightmare of an experience getting an HIV test from my primary care doctor (US) I have made it a point to advise all my friends to get tests done only at clinics that handle these tests routinely.<br /><br />What happened: I called late one afternoon, thinking it was about time for results to be done. It's worth noting that my doctor asked zero questions about my current risk or why I was getting tested beyond asking about symptoms. I got a call back at 4pm from the nurse, who told me that my HIV test result was "indeterminate". She couldn't explain what that meant. My doctor, who called me back the next morning, didn't give a very good explanation (google was more informative). She referred me to an infectious disease specialist who never called me.<br /><br />In the meantime, as someone lucky enough to feel comfortable talking about this with my friends and partners, I got referred to a friend of a friend who was really informative and another friend took me by a testing facility where I got a repeat test. (Negative by the way - as I was very, very sick just prior to taking the first test it was probably partially reactive due to other viral stuff going on at the time.)<br /><br />When I went back to my doctor a couple weeks later she actually had the gall to ask for proof that I'd followed up and gotten a negative test result.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-54220712887917027572012-01-11T23:12:32.647-05:002012-01-11T23:12:32.647-05:00They don't actually turn you over to the polic...They don't actually turn you over to the police for a positive result. <br /><br />However, STD's are "reportable diseases" in most locales in the US (as is tuberculosis and most contagious diseases). They have to track down your recent partners (how recent depends on the state) and encourage them to get tested. Confidentiality is maintained -- usually one person solicits the list of partners and a different one tracks them down for testing. The Disease Intervention Specialist (as they're call in Texas) doesn't even know why someone is on their list; they're just told to find so-and-so and try to get them to test for syphilis (or whatever). <br /><br /><br />It may seem a little intrusive, but it really is a good idea, since people are not so keen to track down their old partners and let them know they've been diagnosed with the clap. It balances privacy and public health well.Nimuenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-59706580371599521992011-12-24T11:15:39.674-05:002011-12-24T11:15:39.674-05:00Recently’in the sphere of legal action before, I d...Recently’in the sphere of legal action before, I don’t wisjammedake tor else entipovertyroceprogress toea selection of with the aim ofome, maintainif you feel there is somegeneral practitioner strength of<br /> charactert with yoube presentf which deal wifor the reason that gin natureurself to visit an STDyet to beic woccasionnot harm yomaintainhis scapabilityn is essential hence it is more readilyaluable that you check<br /> out a confidential clinic, acquiresee to it thatmwith the aim of the aim ofally tranbe presentitlong-sufferingere and be moreby the side ofechancesible to your healtbe present—certainnwith the aim ofadbuffin a<br /> rowustworthyngth of characterget aconfidentialnoleep therapeuticis idea.<br /><a href="http://std-tests-r-us.com/" rel="nofollow">std tests</a>naruto kakashihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13919955151564379938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-79851107898583888392011-12-16T19:04:35.817-05:002011-12-16T19:04:35.817-05:00California takes it a step farther(though I don...California takes it a step farther(though I don't know if this is California in general or if it is Planned Parenthood)and you have to tell them the date of your last period(for females) when the last time you had sex was, how many sex partners you've recently had etc....it is highly intrusive if you are shy about that kind of stuff like I use to be. And some of the questions they ask make it feel like I'm donating blood to the blood bank. But whether I am sexually active or not I go and get tested at least once if not twice a year(depends on if I am sexually active or not)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10663134632448670751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-65396841177192116442011-12-15T05:27:52.234-05:002011-12-15T05:27:52.234-05:00@MaMu1977 I think you kinda have the wrong idea re...@MaMu1977 I think you kinda have the wrong idea regarding the events of that day. :p I was seriously sleep deprived (poking essays with a stick at the last minute) and didn't give as good of a summery of that day as I *probably* should have. I fully understand where you are coming from and all, but this was just a dude being a prick. :P <br /><br />I didn't waltz in wearing my lack of sexual history on my shirt - it came up as a result of discrepancies on the personal history form I filled out when I showed up. I was not gibbering irrationally either - he just happened to be making a counticious effort to be a total cock from the moment I walked in the door. I've dealt with many doctors, and I'd say he was the first to just actively be a dick I've run into. I could understand him acting as such if it was busy, and I really was trying to waste his time as per your points...except the place was totally dead, he refused to discuss anything beyond signing a bloodwork form for STD testing (this wasn't the only reason I was visiting fyi) - and I'm talking about general questions too, not "please test me for xyz, I think space jews are trying to steal my cerebral spinal fluid". He also resisted my attempts at politely(!) ending the appointment early. <br /><br />The subsequent drug use wasn't recreational - I have a script for a limited supply of lorazepam (legally obtained at that) for anxiety attacks/whatever the hell. I could take one, fry my short term memory, and sleep the rest of my day off...or I could be a crying wreck for longer then I would like to be.<br /><br />Bottom line is that I've never been treated like this by any other health-care professional I've seen - and I'm pretty certain they would have picked up if I was wasting their time or not.CRnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-29364591643818695182011-12-14T11:53:39.324-05:002011-12-14T11:53:39.324-05:00Isn't there a considerable public health value...Isn't there a considerable public health value in encouraging people to show each other clean bills of health before engaging in intercourse? and isn't that worth a few "wasted" visits? I don't see that as being at all like refusing to test a guy who's been castrated for sperm motility (talk about a straw man...). The kind of examples you give could all be solved by having the person show the medical record they *already have*. There IS no medical record for never having had intercourse.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-20433275751743177422011-12-14T04:55:12.653-05:002011-12-14T04:55:12.653-05:00I was referring to her reaction to being dismissed...I was referring to her reaction to being dismissed by her doctor, not by the dismissal itself.<br /><br />If a man went to a fertility clinic and simultaneously asked for a sperm motility exam/admitted that he has both testicles removed two years prior due to cancer, he'd be dismissed in the same manner.<br /><br />If a 60+ year old woman visited her doctor and simultaneously asked for a pregnancy text/acknowledged that hitting menopause in her 30's was an unforseen blessing, she'd be dismissed in the same manner.<br /><br />Her desire to be a conscientious lover is admirable, her framing for the request (which was, once again, claiming to be a *virgin* while asking for a STD check) and subsequent drug use after being "dismissed" as a (probable) time waster was what caught my eye. Believe me, I've had weeks in my career in which I was convinced that the people at my base were literally playing "musical 'clap' ", I know from patient-based frustration.MaMu1977http://www.isanyoneup.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-27889511900486227892011-12-14T00:43:02.325-05:002011-12-14T00:43:02.325-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.John Doehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16479368819120283393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-54111778364618117262011-12-14T00:21:55.479-05:002011-12-14T00:21:55.479-05:00@MaMu17- and all of hir's desired partners wil...@MaMu17- and all of hir's desired partners will believes hir's claims?Virginity is next to impossible to prove, a paper from the clinic attesting you're STD free is much more tangible.Antongarouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14859718711737913591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-17342271270295839492011-12-14T00:16:17.206-05:002011-12-14T00:16:17.206-05:00In a world where a partner's being able to sho...In a world where a partner's being able to show proof of being free from STDs is a reasonable thing to ask for, no, it's NOT unreasonable for someone who is not in fact at risk to get tested. They're not getting tested for themselves. They're getting tested to PROTECT THE OTHER PERSON, who is well within their rights to request such proof. Same as every pint of donated blood getting tested. *I* know I'm not at risk of AIDS. The blood bank doesn't know that for sure, no matter how much paperwork I sign, and the person who's going to get my blood sure as hell doesn't know that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-11422836856697484992011-12-13T23:25:53.206-05:002011-12-13T23:25:53.206-05:00@CR
I apologise for any offense, but I have a que...@CR<br /><br />I apologise for any offense, but I have a question: if you're a non-intravenous drug using virgin, what sense would it make for you to use $200+ dollars of health care equipment/time to get yourself tested for STDs? It's like a variant of that old joke about the elephant-repelling rock (for the record, the joke is based on the idea of having a repellent device for an animal that doesn't exist in a specific area) : if you haven't done anything to contract a transmissable disease, why spend money (and government/tax money at that!) to prove it? It's as sensible as receiving a yellow fever vaccine when you aren't going to a tropical area, or spending money on insulin when you don't eat sugars/starches/processed food. <br /><br />I've spent a decade of my life working in the health care field (and for the federal government at that.)<br />The time that's spent on giving you peace of mind is time that's taken away from actual sick/diseased/injured patients (and that's without taking the expense of testing materials, some of which are difficult to replace.) The time and money spent on your request could be time and money spent on a "slut" (or a rape victim, or a molested child, or a person who's learned that their spouse has been cheating on them, or a person who was exposed to an ill patient. As someone who's actually *given* unprotected rescue breathing to a few people who were later diagnosed with STDs, I've *been* the guy who was forced to wait 7+ days for new testing supplies. 7 days in which I didn't know if I'd contracted hep C or some other blood-borne pathogen because the person who was dying in front of me had bleeding gums.) I can sympathise with the idea of wanting extra assurance, but vilifying a doctor (a doctor whose bosses have an obligation to the taxpayers by *not* wasting money) for that decision is shortsighted.<br /><br />Sorry for the thread derail, but people who use "free"/subsidised/taxpayer-funded medical care as a way to every paranoiac health quibble is a pet peeve of mine. Do people *deserve* ready access to health care? Yes. Should health care be affordable (if not free?) IMHO, yes. Does that mean that money should be spent to diagnose impossible illnesses (never mind the diversion of manpower and manhours?) IMHO, no. It's wasteful, it's frustrating (for the workers) and aggravating (for the patients who are inevitably left in the lurch if/when supplies run out, as based on overuse or manufacturer shortages. Drug shortages and equipment shortages occur on a weekly basis all over the world.)<br /><br />But, back on track: the idea of women being libido-free is an invention of the Protestants. AFAIK, no other culture on the entire planet has ever considered women to be totally free of the "sins" of lust and/or desire. I mean, any guy or girl whose ever taken the time to bring a woman to a multiple orgasm knows that the female of the species is more horny than the male. And as soon as I typed those words, I remembered that (during my time in the military) I met a *bunch* of suburb-bred, middle-class guys who learned everything about sex from porn and "keeping up with the Joneses"-led sexual repression (the type of repression that leads to sex being enjoyed in quick, <5 minute bursts if at all. IOW, in their minds, a woman who couldn't orgasm in <5 minutes of furtive penetration was all but frigid.)MaMu1977http://www.isanyoneup.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-30581423285939399742011-12-13T09:40:46.163-05:002011-12-13T09:40:46.163-05:00They have self-administered tests?
God, chalk tha...They have self-administered tests?<br /><br />God, chalk that up to another thing I'd wish I'd known about the last time I got dragged in for one of those horrors. Could've been spared the whole, "Oh yeah, you want birth control? Never had penetrative sex with another body? We have to give you a surprise rectal exam and you're going to shell out a hundred dollars or two for the privilege. Now, relax or we'll have to do it again!"<br /><br />My STD status hasn't changed in years, so I haven't gone back since.<br /><br />--RoganLBThttp://healthymultiplicity.com/loonybrainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-23928172880734302532011-12-12T17:23:32.836-05:002011-12-12T17:23:32.836-05:00I thought about why they might give tests for free...I thought about why they might give tests for free if you have no symptoms. I wonder if maybe it's because some STDs have no symptoms in some people, but not everyone knows that, so they might just assume they are STD-free if symptomless, and therefore not spend money to get tested (esp. if money is scarce). So maybe from a harm reduction POV, the clinic would rather do the tests for free then have symptomless, yet infected people going around acting as if they are uninfected. Just my theory.<br />(I assume the rationale is, if you have symptoms, then you'll know something is up and at least not have unsafe sex (hopefully) even if you can't afford the test or to get treated).RJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-37494320140791741782011-12-12T14:16:22.926-05:002011-12-12T14:16:22.926-05:00@6:38 anon, there must be differences between diff...@6:38 anon, there must be differences between different GP practices. The one I went to was about 200 yards from a University so probably felt it was a good idea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-59736000864097011412011-12-12T08:54:23.520-05:002011-12-12T08:54:23.520-05:00In my (West Coast Canadian) experience the nurses ...In my (West Coast Canadian) experience the nurses running the desk were so much more helpful then the actual doctor. Once I explained I was a virgin; he pretty much refused to screen me for anything...because obviously if I can attract unicorns - partners should just take my word at face value apparently. <br /><br />Went home, popped a benzo, and cried myself to sleep. :( I'd signed up to volunteer for the clinic too before visiting, I'd just been starting to read sex-positive stuff and figured a yearly screening was a Positive Thing to Do (tm).CRnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-33075305708760363982011-12-11T20:51:38.423-05:002011-12-11T20:51:38.423-05:00This isn't really an issue for me right now, b...This isn't really an issue for me right now, but if you work a normal 9-5 job, you basically need to be prepared to take 2 days off work for this. You need 1 day for the first appointment, and then if you're positive, you need to come in again to avoid the police getting involved. That is kind of a lot to ask of some people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-7206496245815325052011-12-11T19:02:27.991-05:002011-12-11T19:02:27.991-05:00I go to my local Planned Parenthood for testing an...I go to my local Planned Parenthood for testing and I've never had a problem with attitude. It can be expensive if you don't have insurance, but you can call to make an appointment so it doesn't take extra time off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-91621901637261962632011-12-11T18:38:41.041-05:002011-12-11T18:38:41.041-05:00Chiming in with more UK experiences: you can very ...Chiming in with more UK experiences: you can very easily get a chlamydia self-testing kit from your local GP - you do the test at home (pee on a stick if you're male-bodied, swab if you're female-bodied), return it to the GP and get contacted with results. There's a lot of incentivising going on to try and get young people to do these tests - at my university I encountered a scheme wherein anyone taking and returning a chlamydia test got free cinema tickets as a reward. I'm sure there were some virgins getting tested for chlamydia just to get the free cinema tickets...<br /><br />As far as other tests go: I've had cervical exams done by a GP, but said GP then referred me to a GUM clinic for STD testing. This seems to contradict the claim by Anonymous at 5:23 that GPs can give you STD tests. I'd guess that some GPs have some STD testing facilities, but if you are UK-based, check the situation with your GP rather than assuming they can test you.<br /><br />(Oh, also: in the taking-sexual-history part of the exam, one thing that really stood out and made me very happy was this: nobody made any assumptions about the gender of my partners without asking me first. I know this shouldn't be notable, but it kind of is.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-44161996810369525312011-12-11T13:38:38.228-05:002011-12-11T13:38:38.228-05:00It wasn't as traumatizing as expected, even fo...It wasn't as traumatizing as expected, even for my friend (who was far more worried than I was -- again, I was mainly there for moral support and a little closure of my own). I was surprised how not just professional, but warm, the tester was -- I honestly expected lower quality, given that it was a public clinic.<br /><br />@DC -- I'm sorry you've had some crappy experiences with the slut-shaming. There's no excuse for that. That sucks.<br /><br />Overall, I'm glad I went, and not just for my friend. It's smart, it's emotionally relieving, and it's responsible. Given that I play outside my marriage, my wife is happy, too. A good experience all the way around.<br /><br />Jack<br /><br />P.S.: Holly is exaggerating her reaction to the play piercing needle on Hatchet Night. She wasn't NEARLY that calm. :)Jacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-71882289725770884182011-12-11T08:06:16.665-05:002011-12-11T08:06:16.665-05:00The Australian version is much like the UK. I went...The Australian version is much like the UK. I went to one of the free clinics available in every major Aus city, their official name has "Infectious Disease Control" in the title, but are known as Clinic 256 (or whatever their street number is). A sexual history is taken; then because I was asymptomatic, I only did self-administered vaginal & anal swabs, and had blood taken. I believe that they will only personally look at your junk if you're having issues. <br /><br />I was told to come back in a week to collect results, at which point, if you've tested positive for any of the major ones (chlamydia, gonnorrhea and AIDS), then they offer to contact all your prior partners for you, or you can promise to do it yourself.<br /><br />Long answer short, it's probably not as scary as you think, even with a needle phobia.Caramellahttp://hotcaramella.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-38102139828025702612011-12-11T05:23:50.686-05:002011-12-11T05:23:50.686-05:00For UK based readers you can also get tested by yo...For UK based readers you can also get tested by your GP (General Practitioner) although it is slightly more complicated as you have to take various pots and swabs away and drop them off later (something to do with the first urine of the day being a better vintage for testing). The downside to this is that the test goes on your medical records which can affect private health care premiums; the GUM clinic will test anonymously.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-50369661125232291942011-12-11T01:29:59.608-05:002011-12-11T01:29:59.608-05:00Oh man, long time reader finally de-lurking. I am ...Oh man, long time reader finally de-lurking. I am glad this was written and glad the staff was professional for your experience. I guess this hit a nerve because I have been STD tested a bunch and encountered a few really horrible, slut-shaming people which is not a fun experience when you're in stirrups. I was asked by one nurse "well, what were you wearing?" when I said I hadn't wanted genital contact with someone and was itchy--I was wearing a bikini because we were in a pool! Totes my fault, right? <br /><br />A few other things happened to me in El Paso too--I think that city has some um, inherited attitudes when it comes to sex. I told one lady that I was getting tested because I had had unprotected sex without asking a guy his history and she replied "Oh honey, why even bother, they just lie to you anyway." Really? You are a health professional? Another lady taking my sexual history when I was 24 and replied "No" to "Have you ever been pregnant," felt the need to rephrase because she couldn't believe it apparently--"No miscarraiges, no abortions, you've never been pregnant??" No, I've never been pregnant. I understood your question.<br /><br />I wish everyone better experiences at public health clinics than I've had, because it is important to get tested. I did ask the first slut-shaming lady if she gave the whole "keep your penis to yourself" lecture to all the guys too because that would probably be more effective. Argh. <br /><br />Thanks for this blog Holly, I've enjoyed it for over a year and enjoy your input at Captain Awkward too (which I need to de-lurk at one of these days!)DCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-26733864058872271552011-12-11T01:04:05.547-05:002011-12-11T01:04:05.547-05:00Ah, after reading more of the comments I have to a...Ah, after reading more of the comments I have to add that they did take a sexual history at the clinic, but that goes along with the pap smear, not with the HIV test (which I did separately because my school was trying to promote them around AIDS week last week). The questions with the HIV test were more of a checklist of any activities that could put you at risk, so partly sexual history but other things too.Adanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-90829823861530381152011-12-11T01:00:49.125-05:002011-12-11T01:00:49.125-05:00For anyone wondering what it's like in Canada:...For anyone wondering what it's like in Canada: <br /><br />When I went to a family planning centre rather than a student health centre (which is run more like a doctor's office), this was basically the procedure, minus asking about insurance. I think the policy used to be that you only get tested for HIV if you think you're at risk, but now they've changed it to everyone should get tested once a year - the same for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis. <br /><br />The HIV test is a 60-second point of care test with a finger prick and the other tests are a swab done at the same time as my annual pap smear. Not sure what they do for guys but I believe it's peeing in a cup. <br /><br />And regarding your HIV status - here it's a publicly reportable disease, meaning they want to keep track of the number of cases and where they occur. That said, it's entirely confidential, and they won't hunt you down to get treated (certainly not involving the police!); you get counselling about your options along with the 60-second test. If you test positive, there's a really neat program in place where if you want, they can track down and anonymously notify your past (and current) sexual partners for you, so you remain completely anonymous but they can get tested and treated themselves. Win-win.Adanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-350085618682505112011-12-10T21:05:32.704-05:002011-12-10T21:05:32.704-05:00When I took the biosafety course for lab I was wor...When I took the biosafety course for lab I was working in at my old university, the instructor told us that we should get HIV tests anonymously because if our records showed that we've been tested our supplemental insurance premiums would be higher. I have no idea if this is true, and this is in Canada, so supplemental insurance is only for things the government doesn't pay for.Jakehttp://jakobknits.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com