Advice for getting an STD test

In My Humble Opinion
1

This is embarrassing to be as old as I am and not know this (25), but how do I go about getting tested for STDs? The girlfriend and I have no intention of being sexually active, but frankly that’s not likely to last long with us. And we’ve decided the mature, responsible thing to do would be to get tested to ensure we are both clean. Both of us stupidly had unprotected sex with what were essentially whores mine was 8 years ago and hers was a year ago. We’ve shown no signs or symptoms of anything, but you never know.

So I just googled for things in my area Huntsville, AL and websites for $500 tests came up, etc. It was like searching for penis enlargement with all the shady websites. Can someone recommend how you go about this?

I expected it to cost something but not $500. I was really hoping like $100 or under. It just seems confusing because there are premium packages, and upgraded premium packages, etc. Seems like I’m buying a new car with all the upgrades.

I have insurance but I don’t think it will cover this. And I don’t have a primary physician to consult about this either. Aren’t there clinics? Any advice? Thanks.

2

Planned Parenthood! Check out their website to see if there are any locations by you. Depending on the State, many of the tests are free. And most locations have walk in hours.

3

Good advice. Also, if you post your location (city, state) someone will be able to find you either a free or very cheap place to get tests. There are some powerful Google-fu’ers around here…:slight_smile:

4

Did you call the Madison County Health Department?

Madison County Health Dept.
304 Eustis Avenue, S.E.
Huntsville, AL 36264
Phone : (205) 539-8088
Days/Hrs : Mon-Fri (7:30am-4:30pm)

5

There are two Planned Parenthoods in Alabama, it seems, if you don’t mind driving there and you and your girlfriend being called murderers or whatever. (You may recall one was involved in that whole ‘nurse letting a fake 14-year-old victim of statutory rape request an abortion, minus parents, plus hidden videocamera’ debacle a while back.)

If you have universities in the area, check out their websites looking for health services and the like. They’ll usually provide solid, up-to-date info on where to get tested off-campus, often for very cheap.

6

Call you insurance agent and ask. Most health insurance policies do indeed cover STD testing no more than once a year.

7

Many people have the misconception somehow that Planned Parenthood’s services are only for women - they’re for everybody. (Although I suppose few men get abortions.)

8

County Health Department
Planned Parenthood
Your doctor

If your gf does not have a gynecologist, she really needs to get one and get a full check-up and regular pap smears, etc. whether or not she is sexually active. That’s just good pro-active health maintenance. The doc can perform any STD checks needed.

9

Sorry guys for not responding. I have been very busy. I really appreciate the advice. I will look into this and place some calls tomorrow. First I will check with my insurance to see what they may have. Then I will look into planned parenthood and the health department. I’ll post an update tomorrow.

GF does see a gyno and that’s where she will be getting hers done.

10

If you have insurance, just contact them to get a primary care doctor, and make an appointment to b seen. Then tell the doctor what you need. Since you’ve got the insurance, there’s no need to be going to all sorts of other places…and you need a primary care doc anyhow…this is a good time to get one. If he can’t order the tests, he can refer you to a urologist or wherever you’d need to go. And then you can get a flu shot, too!

11

Here’s an example of that dreaded health care rationing. If the last time you had intercourse was eight years ago and you have shown no symptoms of STD infection, you do not need an STD test, regardless of how disreputable your partner may have been (and I get the sense that the only reason you call them “essentially whores” is the very not-shocking fact that they have had sex more frequently than once per decade).

Even if PP will test you for free, STD tests are still resources with costs, and it is important to conserve those resources and use them where they will do the most good (such as by using them to test sexually active people who demonstrate symptoms of STD infection). It is also important to realize that having sex is A-OK–even if you’re not married!–and that doesn’t make you a whore and “God” is not going to give you chlamydia in retaliation for your “sins.”

12

Oh, please. Get off your soap box and tell someone who gives a fuck. I called them whores because they were whores - sleeping with multiple partners all at the same time without telling either of us they were. Tell your anti-religion bullshit to someone who cares.

13

I called and my insurance will cover this. I just need to find a place. Or really I should FINALLY get a primary care physician and get it done there. Planned Parenthood is too far of a drive for me so I’ll look into getting a primary care physician and the health department. So thanks everyone.

14

This is a ridiculous and dangerous thing to say.

Plenty of people can be walking around with chlamydia and be completely asymptomatic.

I know this is IMHO and maybe you’re just putting your opinion out there, but asymptomatic people who think they’re fine can be spreading this stuff around, and I can’t imagine why it’s a good idea to try to dissuade anyone from getting tested.

15

Bravo on deciding to get tested. As others have said, if you have insurance, it will probably cover it. I’ve been tested several times. Here’s what you might get to expect-

Most likely the doctor will run through different symptoms you might have (rash? discharge? etc) and if its all no, no, no, just want to get tested to be safe, then they’ll probably test you for things like Herpes and other asymptomatic STDs. That usually involves a blood test.

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea I believe they do a urethral culture which involves sticking this little q tip up your peehole and digging it around :eek: ugh I didn’t particularly enjoy it but I will say the peace of mind is worth the discomfort.

I like you hadn’t had sex in a while and decided to get tested (I have health insurance, which covered it) just to be sure. I also got tested after a few partners since I’ve had several long-term relationships where we only used birth control pills as contraception- best way to know I’m clean is to get it in writing.

16

Don’t pull an all-nighter to study. You’ll do better on the test if you’re fully rested.

17

Minor nitpick: those aren’t whores.

Whores cost money. What you’re describing are sluts. Sluts are free. :wink:

18

Then what took so long?! Or did you only find out recently? Also, have you had protected sex with other partners in the past eight years, or oral sex? Because then it might have been a good idea to get tested eight years ago seeing as how certain STDs can be transmitted that way. Again, definitely better late than never, especially for your and future partners’ peace of mind, and because so many men tend to be asymptomatic when it comes to several STDs (including those that can have serious log-term consequences for women e.g. infertility).

And though I probably don’t need to point this out… how much does it fucking suck that people, including dumb teens and ramen-eating drunk college students, have yet another reason not to get tested for STDs (the expense)? Yay Planned Parenthood and well-staffed free clinics. Screw people who want to shut them down. Hey, maybe there could be places like ‘abortion crisis centers’ where they pretend they’re going to screen and treat you for STDs but instead have a staff of non-medical personnel tell you why it’s better to live with Chlamydia.

19

It’s more difficult than it sounds, at least once you’re out of college. I called my insurer (BCBSFL) to ask if they covered such testing. The call center guy didn’t know. I asked to speak to a supervisor. He didn’t know either. It wasn’t discussed anywhere in the covered benefits book (which is 600 pages long). I spoke to 8 more “supervisors” and a department manager. None of them knew.

In the end, the best answer they could offer was, “it depends on the billing coding.”

So I found a PCP who accepted BCBS and toddled off to an appointment. The doctor has his own lab attached to the clinic, which was handy.

I patiently explained to the doctor my coverage issues, and he said, “no problem. We’ll just code it as if you have some generic symptoms.”

Armed with said coding, I went over to the lab next door, where they were swabbing my arm in preparation for drawing blood. Another tech stuck her head in the door and told (my) tech that Guy X had left because it turned out he had Plan X, which they didn’t accept.

“Wait, you mean BCBS Plan X?” I asked. “Yeah.”
“But I have Plan X!”
“You can’t. You’re listed as covered on this form.”
“Look, here’s my card!”
“Oh, you do have Plan X!”

Paperwork checking ensued. It turns out the doctor was an approved network provider for Plan X, but his lab wasn’t.

Fuck.

In the end, I had to go to Quest Diagnostics, which took another two weeks.

Then another two weeks to get my results.

Turned out I was free and clear, but it was a bitch getting tested.

I did try Planned Parenthood and the county Department of Health; turns out Planned Parenthood around here only offers full-battery testing for women, and the CDOH only offers HIV/AIDS testing.

20

I knew she was a whore shortly after doing it 8 years ago, but didn’t really care because I had no intention of having sex with anyone until I was in a committed relationship. And frankly I’m a lot more worried of giving her something than I am of having something so I just didn’t care. I never really had the opportunity for sex until recently so now I have the desire to get tested.