One good point: better to find a clinic that specializes in STD/HIV, they usually know a lot more than a GP doctor...
I go to a clinic that handles the guys and gals in the adult film industry... love that they are not judgemental at all.
They are also a lot more thorough. The cost of the PCR test has come down dramatically. PCR is the good one, the gold standard. It catches anything that can slip through the cheapo western blot test that most community clinics have, has much less false positive, and will give you a reliable reading in 1 month after exposure instead of 3 months...
For my peace of mind, PCR is the only way to go.
Another important thing is that they offer Hepatitis B innoculation. They 100% reccommend that ANYONE who hobbies, consumer or provider, have the Hep A+B series, consisting of 3 innoculations in a 3 month time frame. Hep B is much more contagious than HIV. Much more. And very nasty if you get it. They have informed me that Hep B is now considered "hyperendemic" in China, so if you see any Asian providers.... and these days there are many Asian providers.... you *must* have Hep B protection or you could get something pretty life altering....
Search the TER Poll archives you will find that 50% of us have never been tested!
(http://www.theeroticreview.com/poll/pollarchive.asp).
Before you rain down on me, hear me out, because this is the reason that testing rates are not very high...
What exactly is the point of periodic testing for the hobbyist (not the provider)?
If you catch the clap (gonorrhea), you're gonna know long before your next scheduled test - the itching and burning when you pee will let you know.
If you catch herpes, again you will know long before your next test. I have known a few people with herpes - they all said they experienced severe flu-like symptoms shortly after being infected.
I think Hepatitis falls into this same category - soon after infection, you're gonna feel sick and need to go to the doctor.
The only disease where this is not true is HIV/AIDS, but for better or worse I think most people are of the mindset that if they get HIV, it's a death sentence anyway (not necessarily true, but it's such a worst-case scenario that no one wants to think about actually catching it).
So other than HIV, what exactly is the point of periodic testing for the hobbyist (I'm not speaking about the girls - that is a different issue)? How does it help anything?
You say that you have known a few people with herpes - how wonderful. Were you intimate with them? Why get tested? I guess you'd prefer to wait for symptoms to develop before you seek out a doc. So just pass it around and start a freakin' epidemic. You probably only see GFE providers too. Herpes of the throat - what a delight.
If you please get your thoughts together before posting, instead of just random typing of the first thing that comes to your mind, I would be glad to have this discussion.
I cannot make much sense out of your post as it stands. I never said I was intimate with herpes carriers. I have friends who admitted to carrying the disease.
I asked if you were intimate with them. I did not state that you were. But now that I have most contagiously put my thoughts together I wonder why you have friends (plural) who admitted to carrying the disease. Most people know maybe one friend or at the very least have heard a rumor that someone has/had something. But you have friendsss who have admitted to being carriers. What kind of people do you know? Oh please, please do get tested asap. The most reliable way to be tested is to refrain from sexual contact of any kind for at least 3-6 months. Don't touch anyone. Not even to shake hands. Nothing. I repeat, no contact. Only then will the results be accurate. I pity the provider your friends see for GFE. I hope she has the foresight to wear a rubber jumpsuit. With a mock turtleneck and long sleeves. And gloves. Little booties as well. A little fishnet bonnet like food handlers wear would also be a good preventive measure in case they have little crabbies or lice. Better yet a shower cap. Please play safe.
Because it is possible to be an active vector for many things without having strong symptoms yourself... many people are partially immunized to an organism, and only have mild symptpoms, such as when you get the Hep vaccine you feel like you have the flu, sore and tired, where someone else without the same immunity downstream from you may have a major reaction. Or, in some cases, a serious disease can have a long latency period then "erupt", many needle users have had this happen with Hepatitis C. If there is ANY chance you have contracted something, the sooner you know, the better. Being in denial and hoping that all problems take care of themselves is a really bad strategy for coping with reality.
Copied from the CDC website
"Some men with gonorrhea may have no symptoms at all. However, some men have signs or symptoms that appear two to five days after infection; symptoms can take as long as 30 days to appear. Symptoms and signs include a burning sensation when urinating, or a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis. Sometimes men with gonorrhea get painful or swollen testicles.
In women, the symptoms of gonorrhea are often mild, but most women who are infected have no symptoms. Even when a woman has symptoms, they can be so non-specific as to be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. The initial symptoms and signs in women include a painful or burning sensation when urinating, increased vaginal discharge, or vaginal bleeding between periods. Women with gonorrhea are at risk of developing serious complications from the infection, regardless of the presence or severity of symptoms.
Symptoms of rectal infection in both men and women may include discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements. Rectal infection also may cause no symptoms. Infections in the throat may cause a sore throat but usually causes no symptoms. "
AND
"Chlamydia is known as a "silent" disease because about three quarters of infected women and about half of infected men have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they usually appear within 1 to 3 weeks after exposure.
In women, the bacteria initially infect the cervix and the urethra (urine canal). Women who have symptoms might have an abnormal vaginal discharge or a burning sensation when urinating. When the infection spreads from the cervix to the fallopian tubes (tubes that carry fertilized eggs from the ovaries to the uterus), some women still have no signs or symptoms; others have lower abdominal pain, low back pain, nausea, fever, pain during intercourse, or bleeding between menstrual periods. Chlamydial infection of the cervix can spread to the rectum.
Men with signs or symptoms might have a discharge from their penis or a burning sensation when urinating. Men might also have burning and itching around the opening of the penis. Pain and swelling in the testicles are uncommon.
Men or women who have receptive anal intercourse may acquire chlamydial infection in the rectum, which can cause rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding. Chlamydia can also be found in the throats of women and men having oral sex with an infected partner."
I go every 6 months. Usually do a battery of tests. I feel better about myself doing that. Gives me peace of mind! Great question, thanks.
Shelby
xoxo
Every month for almost 10 years...clean as a whistle. Condom use with civvies and providers has done mw well 
the ex gf was against them I said no and slid on the polyurethane 
she said yes, because she liked the cock.
-M