What do you get tested for?

[JustAskJulie]

I was about to post this to the STD testing poll thread but then thought I'd just make it a new topic.

For those who do get tested for STDs (regularly or not) what do you get tested for? Do you just go in and ask for STD testing? Or do you ask for specific tests?

I ask this because I know that as far as gynocologist visits go on our form we fill out when we go in each year it asks if we want to be tested for STDs and in small print (maybe) it says that by that they mean ghonorea and chlamydia. That's it! Anything more than that and you have to specify it. Maybe this is why (or at least one of the reasons) why there is such a high percentage of people who have herpes (whether they know it or not) and other stds because they assume they are being tested for them when they are not. Things like Herpes and Genital warts can only be tested for when outbreaks are occuring, so if you haven't had an outbreak or don't know you have, you've never had reason to get tested. There is a blood test for Herpes but even it can't differintiate between oral and genital (and one can lead to the other).

So do you get tested regularly? and if so, what are you getting tested for? Or do you even know?

[Spoomonkey]

We go to a sexual health clinic and they test for the "full spectrum". I ask the doctor who did our recent test what that meant and she rattled off a list about as long as my arm. If that isn't all of them then the world is a very scary place...

Spoomonkey

[DGrey]

We also go to a clinic in NYC to keep it off the insurance records. When I was pregnant, they wanted to do an AIDS test and I told them no becuase I didn't even want it on my insurance records anywhere that I had ever been tested for AIDS for any reason. Insurance companies can be fickle creatures and one day, they may come and question why you're getting tested for this or for that.

I get tested at the docs every 3 years for HPV which while not techincally an STD (or perhaps it is) it can cause problems when present. Every 3 years is all the insurance company will allow.

Since we both donate blood regularly, we don't go for AIDS tests. I've been donating every 2 months since I was 18 so that's what...almost 14 years? I don't use it to get a free AIDS test but to donate because of the need. I've never had anything come back from it, ever.

E

[VanHlebar]

So by clinics I am guess that you folks don't goto your regular doctor to ask for the tests? Might I ask for a reason why not? One was already given for insurance records, but are there other reasons? We have not been active very long, but I think it would be a responsible thing to do, getting checked every few months just to be safe.

If you were to goto your doctor, what do you ask for? Do we just set an appointment and say, hey I want to be checked for the gambit of STDs.

-Van

[Chicup]

Originally Posted by VanHlebar

So by clinics I am guess that you folks don't goto your regular doctor to ask for the tests? Might I ask for a reason why not? One was already given for insurance records, but are there other reasons? We have not been active very long, but I think it would be a responsible thing to do, getting checked every few months just to be safe.

If you were to goto your doctor, what do you ask for? Do we just set an appointment and say, hey I want to be checked for the gambit of STDs.

-Van

This has come up before on the boards, and I'm sure it depends on where you live etc but....

I'm a doctor, and as such I don't trust medical records to be private. Many others in the insurance and other fields related to medicine have said the same thing here.

[mrs good times]

When I am tested by my gyno it is for ghonorea and chlamydia. He doesn't do the test for herpes because it is inconclusive in his opinion. I have also been tested for Aids and hepatitis four times in the past five years because of surgery. Every surgeon I have been to requires these test before each surgery (even if they are only 6 months apart) so I don't worry about insurance reasons.

[CuriousInOregon]

As we are not very active we have not gotten Tested since our Last Child which is almost 3. We have only been with one couple and it was 100% protected through Condoms, and Neuva Ring so no risk of Pregnency or STD (ok little on the STD nothing is that sure we all know this)... I hold my head high in KNOWING that we are Clean and Safe in our lifestyle and that He nor I would ever do anything to put each other in harms way NOR any couple we would ever encounter. Of course Not everyone feels that way which is why we CLOSELY screen any potential Playmates and have on one occasion asked for Documentation on a Clean bill of health (which it was).... Should we Get tested even if we are Exclusive? I mean Sounds silly but should we just incase someone needs that Proof?

[blinkey]

Originally Posted by VanHlebar

So by clinics I am guess that you folks don't goto your regular doctor to ask for the tests? Might I ask for a reason why not?
-Van

There are various reasons, but one has to do with local laws. For example, in Idaho, if you are HIV+, it is law that you are reported to the government. Maybe it is like that in other places too. The anonymous clinics are a way to find out without having your results shared with people who have no business seeing it.

(I remember this from college, when the women's center gave a presentation. Since U of I is so close to Washington State (Pullman), they suggest crossing the border for checks over there.

Just one example...

B.

[LICouple4u]

I go to the OB/GYN every 6 months, once a year is the full cavity search, once is just to check that the IUD I have is still in place (got it almost 7 years ago after our last child was born.).

I am due for a visit soon and I will be asking for an HPV test. Not because I think I have it, but because it can lead to cervical cancer and it's not something that you feel that you have (no itchy stuff, discharge, etc). HIV test has to be done at the clinic, insurace won't let the OB/GYN do it for some reason. SInce that's the case, I'd rather go anonymous.

As for Herpes, I know I get cold sores, so it would probably come up positive, which wouldn't be quite right since it's not genital. I know when my lips feel funny and I wouldn't do anything at that time, even if it's just because I have chapped lips.

I'm not sure of any 'sexual health clinics' to get privately screened at though. Planned Parenthood seems to just handle pregnancy related stuff.

[jennandjamesinm]

Originally Posted by LICouple4u

Planned Parenthood seems to just handle pregnancy related stuff.

Planned Parenthood handles it all and they are good too. I can see why people think that they handle on pregnancy related things because of all of the attention PP has gotten lately in the media because of abortion and the like, but they do so much more than that. http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/ A person could also try their county health department for STD testing.

Jenn

[2GirlsGoodBenBa]

We too usually go to PP/Free Clinc/Campus Health for STD testing primarly because it is alot more convenient than scheduling appointments. Neither of us considered the effects of testing being permantly placed into our health records. But, this is something interesting to know. For sure in the state of Virginia if you are found to be HIV+ your information is reported to the gov't. We recall signing the forms consenting to that but the rest of the STD results are confidental. But, the testing runs the gambit from herpes to HPV. We go in every 6 months for this and for HIV/AIDS testing we do once a year since we tend to keep steady play partners.

There is currently a campaign in DC where there is a mobile station (we think) that goes around providing oral HIV/AIDS testing with orasure.

[kenora_guy]

I get tested for the long list at our health unit... I don't want to carry anything from one partner to another...

Kind of stupid though, it takes 2 appointments for the full testing since they refuse to book for HIV and ____ until they prescreen you for the rest--doesn’t matter that you did this 6-9months ago, they still make people waste a 2nd day and sit in the public humiliation chamber (aka the waiting room with full view of all that pass by)... I've gotten used to it and now just show up 3 minutes late so they take me right away...

So I have been reading this thread to find out what things to look for when going for a checkup. I am scheduled for a yearly checkup this month with my gyno but after reading these posts, it doesn't seem like they look for all the major things such as herpes and so forth. So am I understanding correctly that the best way to do this type of testing to insure that I am disease free would be to go to a clinic instead?

I can understand and glad that everyone pointed out the risks of having it on your health records and after reading this I am glad I took the time to search on this board, because I guess I did not realize that they truely are not kept private.

So with that being said, when I go for my yearly checkup it is going to be looking for the same things it does every year. And to get further tested I need to go elsewhere?

Since MrVan and I have only been in the lifestyle for 8 months and have been careful when we play, I still want to make sure that my health is not at risk and that we are playing with safe couples as well.

Is there anything that I need to ask for when I go to the gyno? Or just let him do the normal tests and then find a clinic to go to for the other testing? Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated. I just want to make sure that I am clear on what I am looking for when I go to get the checkup.

MrsVan

[telly2]

Man i am happy i live in canada and all this stuff is covered under the universal health plan, i go to mt DR and everything i want is done. HIV is standars when Preg, yes you have to sign but what the hell.

[ohash01]

I just went for my annual exam at the public health clinic where I live...first off, I want to say, they are wonderful there. I always feel like I'm stigma-tizing (not a word, I know) MYSELF because I hate having to go there just because my crappy job won't give me health insurance, but they really ARE wonderful.

Secondly, she caught me. I have NEVER done blood testing without someone there with me...I get so scared and dizzy. I was by myself, she finished the exam, I got dressed and raced out of there like a bat out of hell. The doctor chases me down in the parking lots and goes "but we didnt do your blood testing - did you decide not to do it this time?" And I was like "Crap...Ok...Let's go." She starts rattling off a super long list, then she asks if there's anything else I'd like to add and shows me a list of about 60 options. Me, being practical as I am, ask how much MORE blood they'll have to take to add a couple more things (I've had thyroid issues in the past and wanted to get some levels checked).

Anywho - moral of the story - if I'm getting tested for everything, I need to take a buddy who can drive me home. I sat in that stupid clinic for half an hour afterwards before the nurse thought I had re-gained enough color to go home.