testing for STDs?

catgirl82 · 12-09-2005, 05:34 AM

hey guys
i guess im having some fears about getting tested for STDs. i hate to admit it but i didnt practice the safest sex with the last guy i was seeing. i am on birth control, but we still had unprotected sex, though he always withdrew before he ejactulated. he had 4 sexual partners before me (all of them women)

i KNOW that this was stupid of the both of us.

ive never had an STD test, whats it like? how expensive is it? i have insurance, will that cover it? what about HIV? do i have to wait a certain amt of time before i get tested for that?

UGGHHH!!

**BellaDonna** · 12-09-2005, 09:03 AM

ctgirl82,

Hi. If you're on birth control pills then I assume you've had a pelvic exam/pap smear before. Testing for STD's is not that different than a pap smear. They just take a sample of cervical mucous. I get tested every year and I'm married- I mainly do it because they're already down there for the pap smear, and my insurance pays for it, so I figure why not. It doesn't hurt, and it's faster than the sample they take for a pap smear.

An HIV test will be a blood test.

Here's some websites I found with an explanation of the procedures- [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] - [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] -however the cost may vary from place to place. Most major insurance companies cover it- but you may want to call your insurance company or look online, or in their benefits booklet to see if it's covered.

Quote:

he always withdrew before he ejactulated

That doesn't really make a difference, as you can still contract an STD. The sooner you make the appointment, the better, so you won't have to worry anymore. Be sure to practice safe sex in the future.

BellaDonna

WildChild · 12-09-2005, 09:21 AM

When you visit your doc, they will do a swab of your vaginal area and have that tested. From my understanding that will cover most STD tests, and the tests should be covered under most health insurances. I am not certain if that covers herpes, but you would probably have noticed them by now even though sometimes they can lie dormant for years. As for AIDS, a blood test is required for that. You may want to review your insurance policy to see if that is covered. I know at one point insurance companies used to "frown" on AIDS test because of the potential liabilites, so you will want to look into that further so they don't drop you or raise your premiums. I would call them as a last resort because you may send them red flags. Again, I am not certain if that is the case anymore but keep it in mind. When I found out about my exhusbands affair, I told my doc I wanted to be tested for all STDs and they did an exam and also a swab test. I inquired about an AIDS test and he told me that normally if the STD tests came back clean, the odds of having AIDS were slim. Thankfully mine were clean. Also you may want to check into being seen at like a Planned Parenthood etc... if you do not have a regular physician or OBYGYN. Good luck!

krissy · 12-09-2005, 09:34 AM

During my last yearly visit I asked my doctor if I could be tested for STD's just to be on the safe side and she told me that I need to go to the Hospital (or where ever they do blood work or unrine samples) first thing in morning. She said all I need to do is give a urine sample but make sure I didn't pee that morning. Not sure if this is just another method. But I was in her office getting a pap smear done when I asked and she never tested me then.

catgirl82 · 12-09-2005, 10:07 AM

everybody, thanks for your help, sometimes its nice just to know what to expect. i made an appt for today, so hopefully all goes well

catgirl82 · 12-09-2005, 10:28 AM

uugh, im so scared!! im afraid the doctor is going to judge me

i feel so ashamed

**BellaDonna** · 12-09-2005, 10:34 AM

If it makes you feel better- tell the doc "the condom broke" and that's why you're getting tested.

But doctors see thing like this all the time, from the day they begin schooling- so it should not be a surprise to your doc. In your case you're being responsible enough to go get tested. They see much, much worse. Trust me. And although it is likely disturbing to picture, doctor's have sex too. Don't be ashamed. Just use this as a valuable lesson to always protect yourself in the future.

BellaDonna

**Hope75** · 12-09-2005, 10:39 AM

The doctor is not going to judge you. He is professional and it's his job to give you results of your tests and educate you on how to protect or treat yourself, nothing more.

Some tests require a blood sample (quick and painless) and others a pelvic exam and a vaginal swab (not the most comfortable, but not too bad

)

As per HIV, you need to wait at least 12 weeks after sexual exposure in order for the test to come up positive, sometimes up to 24 weeks. Syphilis is also 12 weeks. Herpes is a bit of a trick, if you have a lesion or a sore, it can be swabbed right then and typed to see if it's Type 1 or 2. If you have no discharge or lesions, they can do a blood test, but many of the standard blood tests are sadly inaccurate.

With gonorrhea and chlamydia, usually a couple of weeks is enough time for the test to come up positive.

In the future, I hope that you will protect yourself. As you can see this was not worth the stress you are going through, and many STD's are forever with no cure.

Day_Walker · 12-09-2005, 10:40 AM

If you have medical insurance then you can get screened for STIs. It should cost you your co-pay plus any lab fee. Its important that you get checked since there are STIs out there that cannot be detected in men that can be with women.

catgirl82 · 12-09-2005, 06:11 PM

ok, i went to the doc, phew i feel better!
i actually started crying in her office b/c i was so nervous and upset about the whole thing and she was great. im glad i got that over with. even though i dont know the results, i feel like a huge weight has been lifted just from talking to her and having her examine me

12-09-2005, 05:34 AM	#1
catgirl82 Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: philly, pa Posts: 405	testing for STDs? hey guys i guess im having some fears about getting tested for STDs. i hate to admit it but i didnt practice the safest sex with the last guy i was seeing. i am on birth control, but we still had unprotected sex, though he always withdrew before he ejactulated. he had 4 sexual partners before me (all of them women) i KNOW that this was stupid of the both of us. ive never had an STD test, whats it like? how expensive is it? i have insurance, will that cover it? what about HIV? do i have to wait a certain amt of time before i get tested for that? UGGHHH!!

12-09-2005, 09:21 AM	#3
WildChild Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Minnesota Gender: Female Age: 38 Posts: 1,027	When you visit your doc, they will do a swab of your vaginal area and have that tested. From my understanding that will cover most STD tests, and the tests should be covered under most health insurances. I am not certain if that covers herpes, but you would probably have noticed them by now even though sometimes they can lie dormant for years. As for AIDS, a blood test is required for that. You may want to review your insurance policy to see if that is covered. I know at one point insurance companies used to "frown" on AIDS test because of the potential liabilites, so you will want to look into that further so they don't drop you or raise your premiums. I would call them as a last resort because you may send them red flags. Again, I am not certain if that is the case anymore but keep it in mind. When I found out about my exhusbands affair, I told my doc I wanted to be tested for all STDs and they did an exam and also a swab test. I inquired about an AIDS test and he told me that normally if the STD tests came back clean, the odds of having AIDS were slim. Thankfully mine were clean. Also you may want to check into being seen at like a Planned Parenthood etc... if you do not have a regular physician or OBYGYN. Good luck! Last edited by WildChild; 12-09-2005 at 09:24 AM.

12-09-2005, 09:34 AM	#4
krissy Offline Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 36	This is what my Doc said During my last yearly visit I asked my doctor if I could be tested for STD's just to be on the safe side and she told me that I need to go to the Hospital (or where ever they do blood work or unrine samples) first thing in morning. She said all I need to do is give a urine sample but make sure I didn't pee that morning. Not sure if this is just another method. But I was in her office getting a pap smear done when I asked and she never tested me then.

12-09-2005, 10:34 AM	#7
BellaDonna Offline Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: U.S. Gender: Female Age: 29 Posts: 6,586	If it makes you feel better- tell the doc "the condom broke" and that's why you're getting tested. But doctors see thing like this all the time, from the day they begin schooling- so it should not be a surprise to your doc. In your case you're being responsible enough to go get tested. They see much, much worse. Trust me. And although it is likely disturbing to picture, doctor's have sex too. Don't be ashamed. Just use this as a valuable lesson to always protect yourself in the future. BellaDonna __________________ "Well behaved women rarely make history." "Friendship should be a refuge, not an ordeal." Please see the forum rules for posting on enotalone:http://www.enotalone.com/forum/forum-rules.php

12-09-2005, 10:39 AM	#8
Hope75 Offline Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: kitteh ville Gender: Female Age: 33 Posts: 12,512	The doctor is not going to judge you. He is professional and it's his job to give you results of your tests and educate you on how to protect or treat yourself, nothing more. Some tests require a blood sample (quick and painless) and others a pelvic exam and a vaginal swab (not the most comfortable, but not too bad) As per HIV, you need to wait at least 12 weeks after sexual exposure in order for the test to come up positive, sometimes up to 24 weeks. Syphilis is also 12 weeks. Herpes is a bit of a trick, if you have a lesion or a sore, it can be swabbed right then and typed to see if it's Type 1 or 2. If you have no discharge or lesions, they can do a blood test, but many of the standard blood tests are sadly inaccurate. With gonorrhea and chlamydia, usually a couple of weeks is enough time for the test to come up positive. In the future, I hope that you will protect yourself. As you can see this was not worth the stress you are going through, and many STD's are forever with no cure. __________________ Muffin cats need love too. Please refer to the forum rules before posting: http://www.enotalone.com/forum/forum-rules.php Mama to a beautiful baby girl born 6-25-09. :)

12-09-2005, 10:07 AM	#5
catgirl82 Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: philly, pa Posts: 405	everybody, thanks for your help, sometimes its nice just to know what to expect. i made an appt for today, so hopefully all goes well

12-09-2005, 10:28 AM	#6
catgirl82 Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: philly, pa Posts: 405	uugh, im so scared!! im afraid the doctor is going to judge me i feel so ashamed

12-09-2005, 10:40 AM	#9
Day_Walker Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: California Gender: Male Age: 28 Posts: 4,884	If you have medical insurance then you can get screened for STIs. It should cost you your co-pay plus any lab fee. Its important that you get checked since there are STIs out there that cannot be detected in men that can be with women. __________________ "A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it the superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason." Thomas Paine "The wise man questions others wisdom because he questions his own, the foolish man because it is different from his own." Leo Stein

12-09-2005, 06:11 PM	#10
catgirl82 Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: philly, pa Posts: 405	ok, i went to the doc, phew i feel better! i actually started crying in her office b/c i was so nervous and upset about the whole thing and she was great. im glad i got that over with. even though i dont know the results, i feel like a huge weight has been lifted just from talking to her and having her examine me