Info on getting tested for std's etc

LegacyUser

Hi,
I am just looking for some basic info on getting tested for std's etc. Or types of sexual germ things that might be secretly attached to my male bits.
Before any one asks what my symptoms are:
I do not have any thing wrong with me that I am aware of. I am doing this for someone else’s peace of mind.

What I want to know is where to go. St. James? Im in Dublin.
Has any one been?
What’s it like?
What gets done or do I do?
Do I get the fella out and fill a jar?
Do they take blood samples?
How long until results are known?
Does one test cover all?
Are there tests for each std?

You get my drift I hope.

I’m not worried or shy about getting it done or anything like that. Its just that any looking that I have done so far just tells me about the std's. Not any medical tests or the more intricate details of the tests. I just like to be a bit informed before hand.
If I am going to have to shove a cotten bud down the end of my knob I'd like to practice at home first rather than make a fool of my self live on the day
Any info any one can give me is much appreciated.

qwertyphobia

I haven't been to James myself but I do go for a regular sexual health screen so i can fill you in on some of the info and hopefull someone else can chip in with a review of the service in james

What’s it like?
Bring a good book you will probably be waiting a good bit

What gets done or do I do?
They do the tests. They will be some blood taken, a urine test and swabs taken from the end of your penis, throat and anus if you have had anal sex

Do I get the fella out and fill a jar?
You are given a small tube which you fill in the toilets

Do they take blood samples?
Yes they are used to test for HIV, syphilis and the hepititus family of bugs


How long until results are known?
different clinics different times I will let someone give you the times that knows the james system

Does one test cover all?
No thats why there are blood, swab and urine tests


Are there tests for each std?
Some will cover more then one Sti, but staff will explain to you which ones you are getting checked out for.

Hope that helps

best of luck

vibe666

regular sexual health test?

what are you a porn star or something?

i've not been tested in ireland, but i had a bit of a scare in my younger days and had to go for tests in the UK, and it was fine apart from the swab which was like a cotton bud on a really long wooden stick, which ended up about halfway down the inside of, well, you know where i mean.

made my eyes water a bit, but it was manageable. not fun though.

don't know if they'd do it the same here.

yellum

G.U.I.D.E. Clinic

St. James’s Hospital,
James’s St.,
Dublin 8.
Phone: 01 4162315 / 2316

The Genito-Urinary Medicine and Infectious Disease Clinic (G.U.I.D.E.) is the largest STI and HIV clinic in the country. Services include 3 HIV clinics per week, 8 weekly STI clinics, one of which is specifically for young people. One for syphilis and one infectious diseases clinic. Support services include pre and post HIV test counselling and ongoing psychosocial support for people living with HIV.
Appointments are necessary for all clinics except in an emergency. The clinic is very busy and first visits can take two or three hours. All services are free of charge.

Opening times:
Clinic times may vary. Phone to make an appointment.

yellum

Not sure of St James but the one in Cork gives out lots of free condoms too. As for the swab thing, they do stick it a small bit down the shaft of the penis but its not so bad.

You have the option too of getting a Hepatitis B shot, and you need to come back in 6 months for a booster I believe.

They test for all STIs and HIV. Blood, Urine and Swabs as Qwerty mentioned.

In Cork you call back the following week to get the results. They will not give results over the phone so you have to call back.

qwertyphobia

Vibe 666 It's no big deal to go for a regular sexual health screen if you are sexualy active it's recomended. lot's of STI don't always show visible systoms espicially in men so the only way to know for sure is with check up.

And as for your cotton bud remark haft way down your knob you must have a very small knob.

In truth it's way tiner then a cotton bud and it goes in less then 2cm into the tip of of your penis and while it's a bit uncomfortable for a few seconds thats all it is and it's the only way to get a propper test.

MrNuked

go to the wellwoman centre or the wellman centre they specialise in that I think

vibe666

believe me it was more than 2cm in and the head of it was the same size as a normal cotton bud (the cotton thing, not my knob) but with a much longer wooden shaft (about 3 times the length) and it was put a damn site more than 2cm in. maybe whoever it was hadn't done it much before, but believe me it wasn't fun by any means.

incidentally, if someone is sexually active enough to go for regular checkups and isn't in the *cough* movie business, wouldn't said person be much better off wearing condoms than playing russian roulette with the local honeys?

i know it's all personal choice, and one of my best friends is of the same nature and his motto is 'the difference between a condom and a coffin, is that eventually you'll get me in a coffin'. it's funny, but being the old fart i am i've been trying to get him to change his ways (unsucessfully) for a long time.

i lost a cousin to aids a few years ago, and it kinda affected me and i decided i'd best be safer than sorry.

just saying, that's all.

yellum

Originally posted by vibe666

incidentally, if someone is sexually active enough to go for regular checkups and isn't in the *cough* movie business, wouldn't said person be much better off wearing condoms than playing russian roulette with the local honeys?

Condoms don't stop all STIs you know. Condoms reduce the risk significantly with some STIs but others can be gotten just through contact.

Generally a visit to the STI clinic would clear up a lot of the urban legends in sexual health.

Sites like GayhealthProject.com cater mainly for men and gay men but the information is relevant to most people having sex whether its protected or not.

qwertyphobia

The wellwomen and well man centers are private bussneiss and charge a fair whack of money for what can some times be a lesser service. All testing and treatment of STI are free in GUM and STI clinic's around the country

The full list of clinics can be found at HIV services networks website

http://www.hivireland.ie/home.html (maybe this could be added to usefull links section)

And Vibe666 yet again to point out that there are many STI's out there that are very easy to pick up and pass on even if you are wearing a condom. Some of these often don't have visible systoms so the only way you know if you have them or not is with a full sti check up

DriftingRain

There are to many STI's out there to be worried about the amount of testing. Go take the test. Blood, urine, and swabs. There all for your protection!!! Good luck...Most are bloodwork anyways, except GC/Clap. and they are swabs...


~DR~

LegacyUser

Originally posted by qwertyphobia
What gets done or do I do?
They do the tests. They will be some blood taken, a urine test and swabs taken from the end of your penis, throat

Why do they swab your throat, dare I ask???
And by throat, do you mean the tonsils or right at the back altogether?

qwertyphobia

You can get gonorrhoea in the throat from oral sex and the onlt way to check for that is with a swab. The swab is taken right from the back of the throat.

There are other infections that can be passed on through oral sex like sysphils but that gets checked with a blood test

smiles

Originally posted by qwertyphobia

http://www.hivireland.ie/home.html (maybe this could be added to usefull links section)

Definitely, thanks!

<< Fio >>

LegacyUser

Do I get the fella out and fill a jar?
You are given a small tube which you fill in the toilets

Urine or sperm????!!

yellum

Urine.

LegacyUser

Originally posted by qwertyphobia
You can get gonorrhoea in the throat from oral sex and the only way to check for that is with a swab.

Does this mean if you've never had oral sex they don't test for it?
And does make you throw up or gag much when they do it?

qwertyphobia

Don't know about weather they do the test in your throat if you never had oral se.

I have had oral sex so I did get it done.

It's realy no big deal, it's just a quick little thing. By the time you may start to gag it will be finished.

Stop looking for excusses people and just go and get tested in January make it part of your new year resolutions.

Annasopra

You're right Qwertyphobia, it really does make sense,

People just do not take their sexual health seriously. And you did make a very important point. Condoms do not protect against all STIs

Annasopra

Well I took my own advice above and went along to get a full checkup in the Gay mens health project clinic in Haddington road about 3 weeks ago, I have not yet had the results so It's a bit daunting,

Have to say, I fealt very strange in that it was my first time going and I didn't know what to expect but overall it wasn't bad

I waited about 2 hours before I saw anyone,

I was then examined by a doctor who took down details etc, and then took swabs from my throat, penis and arse. The penis hurt slightly but only for 30 seconds, I was then sent to a counsellor to discuss the HIV test, this was useful as I had not until that point ever considered that it nmight be a positive result, after that a sample of my blood was taken, after that I spoke to the doctor again and was told come back in 2 weeks

Annasopra

Well, I went back and got the all clear, must say this service is excellent

D!ve^Bomb!

Originally posted by Johnnymcg
I waited about 2 hours before I saw anyone,

sweet jesus there is no way i would have the patience for that

Originally posted by Johnnymcg
I was then sent to a counsellor to discuss the HIV test, this was useful as I had not until that point ever considered that it might be a positive result, after that a sample of my blood was taken, after that I spoke to the doctor again and was told come back in 2 weeks

i thought u had to wait a couple of months to get results for hiv tests??

Annasopra

i thought u had to wait a couple of months to get results for hiv tests??

No you can get them within 2 weeks, howvere HIV can take up to 2 months to incubate (is that the word I'm looking for?) so they recommend that if you have a reason for getting tested (ie unprotected sex) and that reason happened recently that you get tested again a few months later