Are You honest at The Doctor's Office?

[northindycpl]

Spoo's right! It can and it will happen exactly the way he put it.

In my work with charities, I have come across several clinics that provide STD testing at reduced fee, and it remains confidential.

The CDC offers testing and tests for everything, usually for a small fee. Also, most drug rehab centers offer testing for everything, and you can remain completely annoymous. Finally, the blood/plasma centers automatically test for things if you check the box they will inform you of your results within 7 days. The cost is aroun $5.00. Our Blood donation center also is a plasma center, and unlike many- it is a very upscale, clean well run center. Everyone just thinks we enjoy giving blood. LOL

[WoodyInSoCal]

Originally Posted by graygo98

When you were single, and doing what single people do... and taking whatever precautions you thought made sense... did you tell your Dr that you were single and seeing people?

Seems to us that this is a way more knowledgeable community, and probably way less risk, than back in university, for example. Not riskfree.... so be careful, but not paranoid.

My guess is that when you were single, your physician knew it and examined you with more specificity relating to STD's without you even knowing it.

I have always kept my physician informed - he is my pit crew so to speak - he needs to know where I've been and what I've been up to in order to look for things that I personally wouldn't have a clue about. And he needs to know so that he can advise me.

Of course, I live in Los Angeles - not a small community by any stretch of the imagination, so I may not have the same pressures to keep things away from him.

I can tell you though, it gives me a good feeling to know he is looking out for me - even if he may or may not approve of my behavior.

[intuition897]

Originally Posted by SBcpl

Does your doctor know that you're active in the lifestyle?

...So, do we tell our doctors that we're now engaging in multi-partner sex? So far as we know our doctors are all vanilla. We don't know how they'd react if we suddenly announced that we were sleeping around...

~

Who cares how he or she will react? Vanilla or otherwise, people will always be people and they will have an opinion. Opinions don't hurt as long as they don't interfere with the level of care you receive. If you believe that your Dr. would allow his or her opinion of your lifestyle to alter the level of care you receive, maybe it's time to shop around for a new one. Here in Canada, our medical expenses are completely paid for; I have NO idea what an STD test costs out of pocket, but they're covered as long as the doctor prescribes it.

Our doctor knows and she's been with us over 10 years. When we first told her, I don't think she was impressed. A little shocked even (we don't seem like the type?). But she's a professional, advises us of the physical risks, and answers our questions. We aren't ashamed of what we do. We feel that it's actually very moral and ethical. I couldn't care less about 'converting' our Dr. She doesn't need to agree with what we do. All we ask is that she accepts that this is our chosen lifestyle and helps to support us in a professional capacity.

[sepacouple]

A few days ago I read somewhere else on the net of many pharmacists in some areas that are refusing to stock and fill prescriptions for the the "morning after pill" (emergency contraception) because they did not feel it was morally correct. So unfortunently not everyone sets aside their personal feelings when acting in a professional capacity.

[driveajeepnaked]

Hey, I look at it this way -

My doctor is a client of mine - I'm an accountant - he cheats on his taxes... I don't cheat on my husband ...

What's to hide after that??!!!

[curiousagain]

Originally Posted by driveajeepnaked

Hey, I look at it this way -

My doctor is a client of mine - I'm an accountant - he cheats on his taxes... I don't cheat on my husband ...

What's to hide after that??!!!

ROFLMAO

That is too funny and so true!!

[DaveNSheila]

This is D. Because I am in the medical field I use one of the docs in the clinic I work in, not the doc I work for. I tell them what tests I want done and even give them the codes that they need. I have had one ask me why do I want the tests and I tell them because of risky behaviour. Nothing more nothing less. It also helps that I have tattoos and body piercings so that also makes it easier. Now whether or not S tells her doc I don't know. I know that she gets tests done as well and that is how it is.

D

[bear_and_babe]

I have been with my Dr. since he started his practice, over 20 years ago. He had seen me through several years of feritilty problems, with weekly check-up's so he knows me very well. So I was a little worried about how I was going to bring this up with him. We started in the lifestyle 2 years ago, I was worried about STD's and asked him to do some extra test. He had this hurt look on his face and asked if Bear and I were getting divorced and was I seeing someone! I just laughed and told him that no, no divorce, that we were in the lifestyle and had several partners. He seemed very relieved that it was just a change in our lifestyle and not a divorce situation. He was more concerned about my piercings and tattoo effecting my health then swinging. I feel better now that he knows about my lifestyle. I feel like I can ask questions and not be judged for asking them.

[NaughtyKitten]

I was just thinking about this issue as I have a yearly checkup soon. My doctors office has a form you fill out with all kinds of health info and one section is about sexual partners. There are several boxes and I might have to check a different one this time.

The clinic I go to is a Christian run clinic. I go there for the good doctors(ob/gyn and midwives) not the preaching. They don't ever push it but they will inform you that your behavior is risky. I have no fear of telling them. They have seen me through all kinds of fertility issues etc. and they know I had my first child out of wedlock and they never judged me for that.

I think they should know. They cannot help me stay healthy if they don't know what things they should be looking for.

Just my 2 cents,

---NaughtyKitten

[clcahill]

Another option for those uncomfortable with talking to their primary doctor for fear of being preached at is to talk to other couples who swing and get recommendations for a doctor who does not question the lifestyle and will still give you the care and proper screening you deserve.

Good luck and have lots of fun.

[eager4more]

A recent trip to my gynecologist reminded me of this thread. Swinging is a new thing since the last time I saw her. She knows I'm married and plan to have kids, so she was surprised when I asked for an std screen. I stammered something about sexual contact outside of my marriage.

She: Long pause. "so, is your marriage going to last?"
Me: "Yes... It was his idea."
She: "But, , WHY?"
Me: "..... cuz, uhm, he thought it'd be fun?"
She: "But, WHY?"
Me:
She: "Well, never mind. Do you enjoy it?"
Me: "Yes!"
She: "Well, as long as you enjoy it, who am I to say no?"

Some minutes and a speculum later (sorry if that's too graphic but I doubt this is a particularly squeamish crowd), I felt the need to further emphasize that I was NOT cheating.

Me: "Well, he's there at the same time."
She: "All three of you together? or more of you?"
Me: nodding
She: "All three?"
Me: "Yes."
She: "And more?"
Me: "Uhm, sometimes."



She had something to talk about at lunch that day!

[screaminggood]

I agree, you need another category that is "we'd tell them if it was info that needed to be disclosed."

[fun4Ds]

My doctor is aware of our sexual activities, as well as my attorney. Both have no problem it. Why would they ?

[ownerspet]

Oh no... I can't do that. I'm in the bible belt after all.

[sweet_tna]

My doc knows, but not everything. Not because of embarrassment (at least not on my part), but because it wasn't necessary to tell him any more than the essential info.

=)