STI Clinics in Ireland (list in first post updated 10/08/2010)

I got tested about 2 weeks ago in Cork, I thought I'd detail it here for anyone who is nervous about it.

I'm a healthy 22 year old male, have had a fair few one night stands and sexual partners. Regrettably some have been unprotected, hence my reasoning for getting tested.

I rang around 3 weeks before to enquire about it and the lady on the phone couldn't be nicer, I was afraid of all sorts of weird questions, but I was only asked my name and phone number (I'm pretty sure you can give a fake name if you want because they don't check, not that I would advise it.) I was given the earliest possible date and time.

I arrived on my appointment day at around 10.15, nervous as hell. The GUM clinic in Cork is way own the back of the Victoria hospital with no sign at the main entrance so I had to ask at the desk, I must say, I much prefer the term GUM clinic to STD clinic, it makes asking at the desk feel less embarrassing for me. But for those who would be too embarrassed to ask I'll put directions at the end of the post.

I arrived at 10.15 went straight to the desk and gave my name I was handed a form to fill out which just asks the basic details of Name, Address, Allergies, GP etc. (Again, I'm not sure they would mind if you left stuff blank should you want to). I gave my details, even my GP against my better judgement, I really wish I hadn't now that I read about insurance premiums and such. But I haven't been to him in years so I doubt he has an extensive file on me if anything at all.

I was seen at about 1120 for my two swabs when my number was called out. I went in and was asked some basic questions on my sexual history by a very nice lady, I'm presuming doctor given she was wearing street clothes.

Then I was taken into a different room and told to take my pants to my knee's and hop up on the bench and was given a covering. The lady left the room while I disrobed.

I did as told and rolled back my foreskin as it tends to be longer it should be. The lady came back in with a male nurse in tow which didn't surprise me in this really stupid lawsuit culture we like to develop.

She first examined the penis just a cursory look over and noticed the slight cut I had from stretching to rid myself of phimosis and gave me advice to not stretch quite so much as to break the skin as scar tissue is tighter than skin. Then came the dreaded swab. I just closed my eyes and held my head back but the first one was OK, quick as a flash.

The second one wasn't so quick to my dismay, the foreskin had rolled back up and the lady was having trouble getting it back (I really wish she just asked me to do it), that swab hurt a lot more but only because of the foreskin rolling back and the lady not being able to see what she was doing properly. The swabs aren't really as sore as they are made out to be, but the second one was just uncomfortable for me because of the "digging" around the lady had to do.

After the swabs were taken the lady called me back into the room to give me advice about the phimosis which was very nice of her considering I don't think it's part of the regular package :pac: She advised a steroid cream starting with the letter B which I can't remember the name of (anyone know what it might be? If I read it I'll know it ) She also advised surgery, but I'm really not comfortable going that route with regard to my penis.

I was told I could pee and to then wait in the waiting room to be called again. I really really didn't want to pee, and I will admit it was quite uncomfortable because of that second swab.

I was called again about 30 minutes later and taken into a room where a very nice gentleman ran me through how the tests showed up. All taken so far were negative and they just had to take bloods to get the tests for HIV, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Syphilis I think. He then gave more advice with regard to the Phimosis and other things, and gave me the talking to about condom usage, which I expected but he was not judgemental, and I would believe he was really looking out for what's best for me.

Then he took me to another nurse to have my blood taken, another very nice person having a chat while he did it to put me at ease given my hatred of needles. Quick as a flash it was over with one vial taken, I expected it to be 3!!! Taken off and plastered I was told to go to the desk and book in for results in 2 weeks.

2 weeks later I went in, was waiting a half hour, was called and got the all clear by a lady who ran through every page nice and quick that I was clean and since my last unprotected encounter was 2 months previously that I should book in for just bloods in one month just to get the 100% all clear. And I was done!

It really is a very fast process with the waiting the only bad side. Everyone is really really lovely and does take care of you really well.

Directions to the clinic for those who may be embarrassed to ask.

Go to the main entrance of the South Infirmary Victoria Hospital, go straight until you get to the elevator and then go down the corridor on your left, when you get to the end of that corridor go right until you get to the top of a staircase, proceed down the staircase to the very bottom, do a 180 around the corner and walk down the corridor a few doors down on your right is where you are looking for (there will be a sign over head). The office is in on the left.

Have a nice day everyone

I was tested recently and have documented my experience in case it is of help to someone else and also there are few posts from a female perspective in this thread.

I went to Dr Friedman in Ranelagh. He's based opposite the Ulster Bank - very easy to get to. Small waiting room, only 2 other others there while I was. Receptionist is very friendly and discrete. She look several calls while I was there but she never addressed any of the callers by name etc. There appears to be a lot of respect for privacy there.

The receptionist took my name, date of birth, address and details of any medication and contraceptives I was used.

Meeting with the doctor started with a brief chat which included the following:
1) Why I made the appointment
2) When I became sexually active
3) Number of previous partners
4) How many were regular partners/casual
5) In which instances did I /didn't I use protection
6) Anything that I was concerned or worried about, discharges, spots etc

After that the blood test began - appeared standard. I can't tell how big the needle was or anything because I didn't look but this took about 2/3 minutes and didn't hurt at all.

The doctor then asked if I would like his female receptionist or anyone else to be present while he took vaginal swaps. I didn't but it was nice to have the option I suppose.

This process is very like having a smear test, perhaps just a little bit more pressure and takes slightly longer. A little uncomfortable but not painful. This took no more than 5 minutes.

After that he did an internal check with his fingers to see if he could feel anything out of the ordinary. This lasted no more than 30 seconds and was painless.

After that, he checked some of the samples under a microscope. This seemed to take forever but was probably no more than 2 minutes.

All he could tell me from this was that everything appeared to be in order but that the bloods and rest of the swabs would need to be tested in order to get full results.

Your samples are only identified using your first name and the first letter of your surname and a 5 digit code. I was told to ring in a week with the code for full results. All results are given over the phone and he doesn't do a print out of results.

Overall, I wish I did this sooner. Hope this post has been of help to somone here.

I got my act together recently and finally got tested in Cork. All I can say is I have never been more relieved finding out I'm not carrying any infections. It is scary to think of how many infections are out there and many are so easy to contract as careful as you may be.

The female doctor told me after the initial swabs that I had a large amount of white blood cells at the top of my cervix which would suggest I was fighting some kind of infection, so straight away she gave me an antibiotic. Nervous wait for two weeks. Went back and found out I was completely clear and the possible of an infection at the top of my cervix is a mini infection which happens naturally and heals itself more or less. So happy now.

Im having a bit of a nightmare at the min with what I think is an sti. Had sex a couple of months back abroad and very quickly began displaying symptons of an sti. Funny thing was I had a condom on at the start but can't remember taking it off at the end I was that drunk.

went to local doctor. He inspected me and said there was no problem, I wore a condom and I was fine. Left 70euros down. As far as I was concerned this consultation wasnt very satisfactory so I went to another doctor who prescribed me some medication. another 70euro Took it for the rest of my holiday but came home still feeling symptons.

So I went to my Irish doctor when I came home. He took a urine test and sent it off to find out if I "had any of the common sti's chlamydia or gonorrhea.". fine. Came back a couple of weeks later, clear. In the time I was waiting for my results, he prescribed me some medication to clear up chlamydia. Which I of course took.

I went back to him and told him I had a kidney infection/urine infection previously, he reckons this should be looked into. He doesn't think its an sti and its not really worth getting a full sti test done. So he's referring me to a urologist. The public waiting list is crazy and to go private would be very expensive especially when I don't have health insurance.

I literally getting depressed over this now. I can't see how its anything other than an sti when the symptoms came on straight after sex. very red/looks irretted and difficulty urinating and small bit of diaherra, uncomfortable feeling in scrotum. I ran through my head millions of different things. Ive heard tap water is bad in the country I was in, I did drink a couple of classes of it over the week and I could hazard a very good guess some of the pints I drank were watered down. maybe this could have something to do with it, I dunno.

Funny enough, I was virgin before this. I just made a stupid mistake, one which I defiantly am regretting now. Im going for a full STI test next week. Just hope Its all going to be ok. sorry for the long post, just needed to get this all off my chest/tell someone.

Neiiillll wrote: »

results came back. Negative for All the usual infections/diseases. But they've found something in the urine. They can't identify the organism at all so they've thrown a few more tablets at me which il take till tuesday. see how it goes.

Since June, I've spoken to 6 different doctors. 2 in spain, 2 at my GPs and 2 at the STI clinic. I've also taken 7 different types of medication, 3 from the doc in Spain, 1 from my GP and 3 from the STI clinic, as an attempt to cure this and to no avail. Not looking good eh.

I don't know why I wrote spain there, I meant england, which was where I had sex with the girl. I am wrecked tired, been at work all week.

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

St. James's screens for everything except HPV and Herpes as far as I know.

Cork GUM is the same, they do a visual inspection for evidence of Herpes lesions but I don't think they test for it.

Depending on how urgent your need for a test is, there is probably no need to pay. It's a lot of money when you could just wait 3 weeks (that's the waiting time in Cork)

I am new to Dublin and due an STI check. My previous one was in Galway hospital, which was a free clinic. I wonder if people could give me some information about the clinic at St. James' Hospital.

I know a general location and times of the clinic, but not how much it costs. Like Galway, is it free? Someone did mention to me before (though I'm not sure if it's true or if they were serious) that it is free for gay men. I'm straight, but if I had to pretend to be gay for a free check, I'd be up for that.

If they charge, can someone give me an idea of how much I'd have to pay?

Also, would they do the full range of tests? I would prefer that; the swab and bloods taken.