What do you say to your doctor about being tested?

[Skhan 56]

For those who get monthly testing....what do you say to your health care provider as the reason for the constant tests?

 

Surely your doctor must ask the reason why a married person wants to be monthly tested for std's.

[let's do it again 416]

I take blood thinner for my atrial fibrillation and have to get my blood tested monthly.  I told my cardiologist about my lifestyle and he added checks for STDs and STI'S.  My cardiologist didn't bat an eye and gave me safe sex pamphlets. I told him that I wanted my results on paper and sent to my phone. My cardiologist is the physician who also gave me a prescription for viagra and said that he could suggest a male health clinic if I choose not to take viagra. 

[AdamGunn2 418]

I tell my doctors to test for STDs when they do my blood test every four months. I've never been questioned as to why -- I'm pretty sure they can figure it out.

 

General Practitioners are used to the dangers of non-monogamous sex. They see it every day. They won't be judgmental (although they may suggest using condoms.) And, don't forget, you're covered und.er HIPPA, so your predilections stay private. 

[EastInWest 1,524]

I've never been asked. Of course, I'm asked if I'm sexually active, etc.

Do be thoughtful about what you say out loud, because HIPAA or not, it's possibly going in your notes whether you realize it or not, and may get shared with another provider digitally before you realize. I "knew" this from my professional work, but it sank in once when a specialist asked about my trip to Argentina, which I'd only mentioned verbally to my GP as part of chit-chat, not knowing he was including it.

[Anon321 524]

We don't even bother going through our doctors anymore.  We just go straight to the lab and pay out of pocket.

[bbarnsworth 2,652]

Good rule of thumb; don't discuss things with people you don't want the whole world to know :)

 

There's no reason a health care provider has to know about your sexual lifestyle, other than you want to be tested.

[Fundamental Law 2,903]

From a physician: we have heard it all, seen it all, and have one priority--your health. Please, tell us relevant information and help us help you stay safe. 

[Shore2Please 613]

After years of not being tested I ask my doctor to be tested. No questions of why from her I now get tested whenever I have bloodwork, not every month. 

[njbm 2,901]

23 hours ago, Anon321 said:

We don't even bother going through our doctors anymore.  We just go straight to the lab and pay out of pocket.

We do the same. Results go directly to us, not elsewhere. If there is a problem, then we would obviously seek medical treatment. 

Edited July 17 by njbm

[bbarnsworth 2,652]

Where I am, all health care people I go to have access to EVERYthing in my medical history. They're all networked to each other. Even my dentist. That's both cool and horrifying. Anyway, I had a reason that had nothing to do with swinging to get an STD test some years ago. I asked my regular doctor for one, which he dutifully ordered. But, he was very curious why. He knows I'm happily married and have been for many years. He didn't ASK why, but every bit of his body language made it very clear he didn't understand and wanted to understand. It's the last time I got an STD test from him both for that reason and because it's all interconnected to every other health care person I see.

[Half MT 239]

We live in a small town where everyone knows everybody else’s business and we aren’t ready to share this personal thing. If we continue to meet others we will find a way to get tested where it doesn’t go on our shared  medical history. We never thought about being tested because I don’t think I ever was or needed to be. 

[Fundamental Law 2,903]

On 7/18/2024 at 7:28 AM, Half MT said:

We live in a small town where everyone knows everybody else’s business and we aren’t ready to share this personal thing. If we continue to meet others we will find a way to get tested where it doesn’t go on our shared  medical history. We never thought about being tested because I don’t think I ever was or needed to be. 

Again from a healthcare professional: we would MUCH rather you be candid about your sexual history/practices so we together can formulate a plan for screening and, if the need arises, treatment. Patients who delay coming to care, are embarassed, or frankly in denial are greatly disadvantaged. 

 

To repeat, humans typically have multiple sex partners over the course of their lives. Marriage, while having religious meaning and legal consequence, is distinct from monogamy which is a behavioral choice. Whether those multiple partners are before, during, after marriage is unpredictable and thus unknown. But multiple partners increase risk of STIs, and we really would like to help diagnose and treat before situations become hard to control or treat. 

 

If you want to go to a different town for evaluation, fine. But ... and this is important... you do need to go, be evaluated, and deal with any issues that arise. 

[Half MT 239]

We know we need to get checked it’s just not that easy where we live. It’s even worse now with doctors afraid to even give birth control or IVF. It’s not religion for us, private things are now political. Doctors swear they keep things private, then someone threatens them. 
I promise we will find a way of getting tested but I won’t swear our family doctor will know. 

[Anon321 524]

On 7/17/2024 at 6:40 PM, njbm said:

We do the same. Results go directly to us, not elsewhere. If there is a problem, then we would obviously seek medical treatment. 

Exactly.  I would have thought more people did the same.

[njbm 2,901]

Make sure the women get tested for HPV. Highly recommend HPV vaccines for those under 45, can be administered even if you are over 45 and advise your doctor you are sexually active.  

[Numex 2,459]

On 7/16/2024 at 4:50 PM, Anon321 said:

We don't even bother going through our doctors anymore.  We just go straight to the lab and pay out of pocket.

That's what everyone in our closed group did.  We all used the same lab and had the results sent to a PO Box controlled by one of the women everyone agreed on. 

[NoAngels 349]

My last physical I asked that the Extra test be included. No questions were asked. 

[Fundamental Law 2,903]

Here is a "today" piece from the NYT on syphilis. If you or your partner are non-monogamous, you should know these data. 

[Curiousityxyz12 0]

Do the tests cover everything you need to be tested for or

are there things you should add to the usual list?

[Sophy 571]

We do get tested only twice a year, and we only play without condoms with the other two couples; as part of our "special group" agreement, they also get tested every six months. 

Condoms are demanded outside our "special group."

I am HPV vaccinated

Our Family doctor is aware of our Lifestyle, and no questions are asked