Me and the boyfriend got diagnosed with Chylamidia last week and we took the tablets on Friday. The doctor said no sex for a week but today I gave my boyfriend head. I know it was stupid and in the heat of the moment but what are the chances of us both being reinfected? Will we need to get the tablets again?

[Uriel.]

Not the smartest thing alright but very few if any people can say they've never did something silly.

You need to go back and get throat swabs or possibly a another dose of meds depending on what the doc feels.

Either way don't just leave it, other wise you'll end up pinging it back and forth to each others and u may suffer long term consequences. And in future follow doctors orders.

Is this a new relationship? If you haven't already done so both of you should get full panel sti testing

[Uriel.]

Duplicate sorry

[Stabshauptmann]

Its been 7 years since the opening post, perhaps a small update on the details.

I tried ringing the baggot st. clinic but couldnt get through all day. Perhaps the contact info is out of date.

I personally dont want to go to St. James. I've never been there, but I know the area and it has free needle clinics and looks seedy to me. More practically, I'd prefer not to take time off work.

I'm not in any rush, Im not seeing any one at the moment and have no reason to be worried, I just think its something everyone should get from time to time as a matter of good health.

I went into the Suffolk St. clinic the other day, €140 for a test. I couldnt even get a student discount.

Can someone suggest something inbetween. I'm happy to pay for the test if it means I can do it at a time and place that suits me, but does it really cost that much?

I can see why sexual health is so bad in Ireland if it costs that much for a test.

[IzzyWizzy]

Originally Posted by Stabshauptmann

Its been 7 years since the opening post, perhaps a small update on the details.

I tried ringing the baggot st. clinic but couldnt get through all day. Perhaps the contact info is out of date.

I personally dont want to go to St. James. I've never been there, but I know the area and it has free needle clinics and looks seedy to me. More practically, I'd prefer not to take time off work.

I'm not in any rush, Im not seeing any one at the moment and have no reason to be worried, I just think its something everyone should get from time to time as a matter of good health.

I went into the Suffolk St. clinic the other day, €140 for a test. I couldnt even get a student discount.

Can someone suggest something inbetween. I'm happy to pay for the test if it means I can do it at a time and place that suits me, but does it really cost that much?

I can see why sexual health is so bad in Ireland if it costs that much for a test.

You said you're a student, many universities offer very, very cheap sexual health screening. I think in Trinity it's something like 10 or 20 euro. Not sure if other colleges have a similar thing, but surely some do.

I agree that sexual health care in Ireland is appalling. It really does put most people off getting tested - it's unpleasant enough anyway and then forking out 140-200 quid on it? I'm really paranoid about my health and I'd think twice before paying that much money, especially if it was just to make sure I had nothing, and I had no symptoms. Here in the UK, it's practically thrown at you, and they make it so easy (and it's free!). I really can't fault this aspect of the NHS, it's something they do really well. They really encourage anyone who thinks there's even a small chance of having something to get tested. If you go to the doctor with gynae issues, chlamydia and gonorrhea swabs are done as standard. I wish it was the same in Ireland.

Looking for some advice here. I had a risky sexual encounter a while ago and got the std test at st james GUM clinic after 28 days. I recently got tested again (5 months since exposure) and am twisted with worry. I've checked the hospital website and now see that they use the HIV Duo test which tests for the HIV antigen as well as antibody.

http://search.stjames.ie/sjhservlet/...jsp?li=2&rf=as

An internet search indicates that this test should be 98% accurate after 28 days and almost conclusive after 5 months. Am I right in my thinking here?

[Uriel.]

Originally Posted by hivtestadvice

Looking for some advice here. I had a risky sexual encounter a while ago and got the std test at st james GUM clinic after 28 days. I recently got tested again (5 months since exposure) and am twisted with worry. I've checked the hospital website and now see that they use the HIV Duo test which tests for the HIV antigen as well as antibody.

http://search.stjames.ie/sjhservlet/...jsp?li=2&rf=as

An internet search indicates that this test should be 98% accurate after 28 days and almost conclusive after 5 months. Am I right in my thinking here?

Unless you have an underlying serious illness or have recently been through chemotherapy you are conclusively negative. Modern HIV tests are extremely good and a duo test at 5 months is proof that you are not infected with HIV.

No need to worry any longer. Some people take a very long time to shake off a fear of infection after they've engaged in risky behaviour, particularly if the behaviour is out of character for the person.

Try to relax your fear gradually over the next number of months and if you feel you cannot move on from it, then perhaps seek professional help. When it comes to HIV infection irrational fear can sometimes feed towards various milestones - the first 14 days analysing potential symptoms of acute infection, 6 weeks - coming towards the time of highly accurate testing, 12/13 weeks - coming towards the time of conclusive testing, 6 months - reaching the point of the very old outdated window period, 12 months - the latest "theoretical" case of seroconversion recorded etc...

You're fine. Time to put it behind you and learn from your mistakes.

All the best

I got tested in the Guide clinic in James Street a couple of weeks ago and was just wondering if someone could tell me what happens with regards to them following up.

Do they contact you to let you know your results if everything is ok?

And if so, how? By phone, post?

Thanks.

[Uriel.]

Originally Posted by Wondering 1

I got tested in the Guide clinic in James Street a couple of weeks ago and was just wondering if someone could tell me what happens with regards to them following up.

Do they contact you to let you know your results if everything is ok?

And if so, how? By phone, post?

Thanks.

They will ring you if there is something wrong. You will hear nothing if you have the all clear. Usually 14 - 21 days. Unfortunately, that's one of the disadvantages of "going public" rather than using a private facility.

There is no harm in ringing the Guide clinic after 14 days and asking for your results. They will tell you over the phone. Might be an ease of mind. Some people will always speculate if they lost your contact details, or just forgot to call etc... It is highly highly highly unlikely that that would happen. However, peace of mind is a phone call away and I'd recommend that course of action.

Best of luck.

[Novella]

Originally Posted by Wondering 1

I got tested in the Guide clinic in James Street a couple of weeks ago and was just wondering if someone could tell me what happens with regards to them following up.

Do they contact you to let you know your results if everything is ok?

And if so, how? By phone, post?

Thanks.

Were you not handed a piece of paper which you were told to give at reception? Then an appointment would have been made for you in 2 weeks, 3 weeks etc., depending on what test results you were waiting for.

You should ring them and make an appointment to get your results.

[Uriel.]

Originally Posted by Novella

Were you not handed a piece of paper which you were told to give at reception? Then an appointment would have been made for you in 2 weeks, 3 weeks etc., depending on what test results you were waiting for.

You should ring them and make an appointment to get your results.

This doesn't happen in the guide clinic. As a public clinic providing free testing and treatment, while handling large volumes of customers, they do not make appointments for results. They ring if you test positive for something and arrange follow up for treatment. They do not ring if you are clear. Follow up appointments are not handled on the day. The urine and swab tests have almost instant results and you will be told some of those there and then

[Novella]

Originally Posted by Uriel.

This doesn't happen in the guide clinic. As a public clinic providing free testing and treatment, while handling large volumes of customers, they do not make appointments for results. They ring if you test positive for something and arrange follow up for treatment. They do not ring if you are clear. Follow up appointments are not handled on the day. The urine and swab tests have almost instant results and you will be told some of those there and then

It does happen in the clinic actually. I was there last Tuesday, and was given an appointment for Tuesday week to get results. Yes, you do get some results on the day, preliminary. However, blood tests for syphillis and HIV do take on average of two weeks.

Maybe some people don't get follow up appointments, but I definitely did and I'm sure I'm not an exception.

[Uriel.]

Originally Posted by Novella

It does happen in the clinic actually. I was there last Tuesday, and was given an appointment for Tuesday week to get results. Yes, you do get some results on the day, preliminary. However, blood tests for syphillis and HIV do take on average of two weeks.

Maybe some people don't get follow up appointments, but I definitely did and I'm sure I'm not an exception.

This is not the norm. Are you a returning patient? or something? (this is just for thought, don't expect you to answer same her on the board). Perhaps, Triage identified something of urgency/sensitivity.

Don't want to frighten you or anyone {mods can delete this part of post if it is felt necessary} but usually you're only asked to collect your results personally if it is felt that there is a significant risk - i.e. homosexual intercourse (unprotected). The reason for this is so they can provide access to counselling services and/or immediate treatment. Maybe you tested positive on preliminary test for one of the curable infections.

There might be some other reasons, like case history, occupation etc...

Edit - could also be the case that there has been a recent change in policy - which I would find hard to believe due to resource cuts.

[IzzyWizzy]

Originally Posted by Uriel.

This is not the norm. Are you a returning patient? or something? (this is just for thought, don't expect you to answer same her on the board). Perhaps, Triage identified something of urgency/sensitivity.

Don't want to frighten you or anyone {mods can delete this part of post if it is felt necessary} but usually you're only asked to collect your results personally if it is felt that there is a significant risk - i.e. homosexual intercourse (unprotected). The reason for this is so they can provide access to counselling services and/or immediate treatment. Maybe you tested positive on preliminary test for one of the curable infections.

There might be some other reasons, like case history, occupation etc...

Edit - could also be the case that there has been a recent change in policy - which I would find hard to believe due to resource cuts.

I thought the same but didn't want to cause worry, as there could be another explanation. I go to a GUM clinic fairly often because of chronic gynae issues, and I was offered a results appointment earlier in the year because of a suspected pelvic infection, they thought it very likely I had a bacterial STI (I didn't but they didn't know that). The general practice is to get the results phoned or texted. I've never been to James' clinic, but I know people who have and they were all told 'if you don't hear from us, assume it's fine'. Perhaps it depends on how big they think the risk is, personal symptoms, etc.

[Novella]

Originally Posted by Uriel.

This is not the norm. Are you a returning patient? or something? (this is just for thought, don't expect you to answer same her on the board). Perhaps, Triage identified something of urgency/sensitivity.

Don't want to frighten you or anyone {mods can delete this part of post if it is felt necessary} but usually you're only asked to collect your results personally if it is felt that there is a significant risk - i.e. homosexual intercourse (unprotected). The reason for this is so they can provide access to counselling services and/or immediate treatment. Maybe you tested positive on preliminary test for one of the curable infections.

There might be some other reasons, like case history, occupation etc...

Edit - could also be the case that there has been a recent change in policy - which I would find hard to believe due to resource cuts.

Nope, not a returning patient, and no, no significant risk. I also didn't test positive for anything. And no, nothing to do with case history. I have had two STI tests before, once when pregnant and once just for my own piece of mind, and both times was all clear.

There was definitely no need for them to give me a return appointment, if it's not the norm with everyone else because I was/am symptomless, not in a high risk category etc. I just wanted to make 100% sure so as to not have to use condoms.