Responsible single citizen, here.
I have found myself to be flabbergasted recently while having conversations with my other single friends about being tested. Yep, tested… You know, that lovely experience that is much worse for girls than guys — Probing here, jabbing there. Not a lot of fun, granted, but still! It’s shocking to hear that some of my single friends, who have had more than one partner in the past year, (and not always protected!) haven’t been tested for STD’s in years. What’s up with that?
Yesterday, I decided since I was between relationships, I’d go down to the STD clinic and get the whole gamut of tests, as well as get vaccinated for Hepatitis B. It was funny how I felt walking into that door — You know, the one that has the big sign that says “Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic Entrance”. I’ve never gone to a clinic before, but rather always had my doctor perform the tests for me. But, I figured since I’m downtown now, and claiming to be an urban chick, what doesn’t kill me will make me stronger, right?
I still wonder why I felt that stigma entering, even though I knew I was being more responsible than by some doing it.
And did I learn something interesting while I had a conversation with my nurse during the exam and history-taking — Women take note: Did you know that unless you specifically ASK for the exact tests you want, many doctors won’t do any of them during a pap test? And… even if you do ask to be “screened”, many physicians assume you just want HIV/HEP tests, and not the other more common diseases you *should* be tested for. I think this is ridiculous.
Anyhow — It was an experience. I felt much better walking out of the door, than walking in. They won’t give me HIV results over the phone though — I have to go back in in two weeks to get them. I’m sure I’ll feel much more comfortable the next time I walk through those doors. I’ll do my best not to look furtively around to see who’s watching me go in when I return for the results.
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That must have been quite the experience indeed. Mind you – now you’ll know that you are a clean-urban chick
I know I was put through the gamut when they were testing me for another condition. It was acutally the first thing the specialist did.
Not a terribly fun experience, but a necessary one!
that clinic is so wonderful – I agree that their entrance leaves much to be desired. Not everyone is as comfortable taking it upon themselves to remain healthy and the STD clinic entrance certainly doesn’t entice those that want to remain anon to go there. But, once inside you can give a pseudo and as long as you remember your pseudo then it’s all good! That’s fantastic you made steps to ensure you are healthy. I agree that it’s crazy that alot of doctors do not swab for chlamydia & gonorrhea – I mean…while yer down there…ya might as well right?
I’ve never actually been to the clinic — however, I get my doctor to send me to bc biomedical to get poked every 6 months or so, and she does the prodding herself.
Well done. I used to have to have HIV testing done every couple of years for insurance purposes. The first time was a little worrying but as I was with one partner in a long-term relationship (15 years) it didn’t really worry me after that. I am a lot older than you so my risks are probably a lot lower but it’s oddly satisfying to know you are “clean”. I wish more or the “younger generation” showed such personal responsibility.
Hey, good for you! Way to take charge..
As far as testing “that is much worse for girls than guys”… I don’t think you know how a guy gets tested… and trust me, you don’t.
Shnewt… Oh, but I do. I still maintain that our exams are more rigorous, complicated, and arduous… Perhaps on a pain scale, yours rate a bit higher, though.
I had to get tested in order to obtain a work visa for Russia. Don’t know what’s involved with the ladies, but all the lab wanted from me was blood.
The amusing part is that I’m scared to death of needles and actually asked the lab tech if there were “any other fluids you could use instead?” [wink-wink] Apparently not.