STI testing clinics

Does anyone else enjoy appointments at the STI testing clinic? Having a stranger ask you detailed questions about your sex life, your partners and practices?

As is a good idea, I tend to go to my local clinic during times of frequent sexual activity and having multiple partners. The nurse asks intimate questions about the gender of my partners, the types of sex I’ve been having, about any symptoms that I may be having, etc. Then it’s time to give a urine sample, blood draws, and any orifice swabs that may be necessary. This includes in the throat, and if necessary and applicable, the anus and vagina. One time, as I had been having receptive anal sex, the nurse had me lower my pants and bend over in order for her to swab my anus. I know a lot of clinics don’t do all of these swabs, and there was one time that my throat swab tested positive for gonorrhea. This was unexpected, as I had no symptoms. It was cleared up with a couple of antibiotics.

And of course, there’s the free condoms and lube at the end.

Interesting! We don’t really have any sole STD testing clinics in my area. Although, you can go to your PCP or one of the typical walk-in clinics.

I think it would be so embarrassing, yet exhilarating, to answer so many detailed questions to a stranger. Though, I guess honestly they should also be asked during any annual exam.

There are multiple stories on Zity about men who either work in ab STD clinic as an NP or PA and do full genital exams on all patients and a DRE after a swab, if receptive anal sex has been had.

I would enjoy going to the sort of routine sexual health check ups I've had in the past. They don't seem to offer them anymore in the UK though, at least not in the last couple of counties I've lived in. Round here you need to have symptoms or be a teenager, otherwise they send you a kit in the post to do your own swabs and blood samples to send off to the lab. They text you the results. That includes HIV test - I think you can still go in person for one but it's just the blood test, no other exam.

I always go for my annual physical exam and get full blood work for everything done along with a genital and rectal exam. I go to a clinic every three months because i would need to pay my co pay or my insurance might not pay for the blood testing that often to get tested for all sexual diseases. The clinic is free. I get the usual blood test and urine test. Then comes the three swabs! He does the mouth first then asks me to drop my pants and its a swab in my penis which hurts like hell… and then a swab in my rectum. While i have my pants down he performs a genital exam and a DRE. Just good to be sure all is good on a regular basis. Insurance should cover these tests maybe more people would go on a regular basis..

Whenever I have gone to the sexual health clinic in London (UK) I have consistently been offered a consultation with a doctor during which we discuss my recent sexual history and then the doctor examines my genitalia, anus and rectum. This is followed by blood (from arm for lab work and finger prick for rapid HIV test) and three swabs (throat, urethra and rectum) being taken by a nurse. Initial test results (rapid HIV test and microscopy) are done while I'm still in the clinic and then I usually get the full results a week or later

three swabs! He does the mouth first then asks me to drop my pants and its a swab in my penis which hurts like hell… and then a swab in my rectum. While i have my pants down he performs a genital exam and a DRE.

@btmee That sounds awesome! I've never been swabbed or even examined by the clinic here. They only analyze blood and urine.

I haven't found an STD clinic but while attending grad school, the health center routinely tested male and females for STDs as part of your exam or if you presented with a concern. My swabs took place during the exam involved all three ports of entry! Mouth was first before exam of throat and tonsils. Penis swab was done with me lying on my back and my briefs removed followed by a hernia exam and eventually a DRE. He did the anal swab first then the DRE. I had five such exams while attended the University of Virginia and clearly left each one with a sense of penetration!

Having a nurse doing a rectal swab would be unbelievably embarrassing and totally hot!

@Russianbare I had a NP do the oral and rectal swabs for me one time. Way better than self swabbing!

Only ever had one STI test, which was prompted by a lady I finished with that contacted me to say that she had a cold sore, herpes positive test. This was obviously a revenge for finishing the relationship.

Anyway, I went to the clinic and totally enjoyed the examination, and; bonus, the female doctor seemed to enjoy it as well!!

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I’ve only been to one once, about 15 years ago. All the questions were online so you just gave a number and they called you back by the last three digits of the number and just drew your blood in pretty much silence. I did run into a 50yo secretary who worked for the company I was working for so that was embarrassing. But we both pretended not to see each other and never spoke of it lol