Do it as part of annual physical

It's free,  (but you can make a donation to the clinic if you like)

Completely confidential, It does not show up on your health record or anywhere else.

For me 2 to 3 times a year.

Real pita

While I understand most people are hesitant to post on here. That is honestly a shame. In this world, our community, we need to take care of ourselves and each other. That being said, I will share about me, my view, and just a little food for thought. -PS- THIS IS LONG!

Those that know me personally, or have an established relationship with me can attest to my awareness of my health.  

As a provider I assume I/we are a lot more "safe" than the average woman. I have personal friends in my real life whom have confided in me that they had affairs and then after some time, usually due to their husbands complaining about itching, they come to find out that they have either an STI or STD. These are your normal every day people. The wife is a teacher and the husband works for the city. So not only did they have to tackle an affair on their marriage, but then they had to deal with the fact that they both had something. To make matters worse, the prescription that was prescribed to the husband wasn't very effective and they continued to give it back and forth to each other for about two months. Enter my point.. You never, ever know. You should get tested VERY regularly.

Now why did I share this with you all? Because this isn't just a story. This is a real life, early 40's, couple that lives about 7 houses away. Their the couple that walks their two dogs together every night. They are the couple that has a cute little boy that is so polite in the grocery store. They are the couple that just put up their fall decorations in their yard. They are not the couple that you would ever even think was dealing with a STD. But they are.  

Now, back to me personally. This isn't the first time in my life I have ever heard of something like this. But it isn't something that ANYONE ever talks about. You have to take care of yourself. For me, what that means is getting checked EVERY SINGLE MONTH. AFTER EVERY SINGLE TRIP HERE. Now, why do I bother with this if I tend to see most of the same people every month, and I always use protection? Because, I only have one life. And as a mother, I want to be able to ensure as best as I can that I will be there long term for my kids when (today's time) and if they (as they grow into young women) need me. So I fly home on Thursday this week, I have an appointment on Friday at 9am with my doctor.  

When I decided to come back to doing this, I meet with my doctor in person. I reminded him of HIPPA and then stated I needed to know once I told him something how he felt about it. I wanted to know if I would be at risk for it being in my charts. I live in a very small town, with a real professional career, and to make it even better, we have the same set of friends. He asked me why I am doing it, as it wasn't ever something he would expect from me. But once I explained he said something that put me at ease. He said that as an OB/GYN, he used to have a hard time with all the teen girls that were coming in pregnant. But then he realized that regardless of his personal feelings, someone needed to treat/help them, and just because he doesn't agree with their lifestyle or choices, he couldn't judge them. Therefore, he doesn't judge me. He has been a wealth of information to me and in a round about way, to the men I spend time with that may inquire about certain health related items. I also needed him to know because if I am asking for monthly tests, I need to ensure it will be able to be coded in a way my health insurance doesn't start asking a ton of questions.  

Why am I so long winded about this.. this is the part I debate about sharing. All it takes is one lady  or one gent that has something to come into this world, and it could spread very quickly. I know some gentlemen do not like that I will not allow direct body rubbing contact, but this is one of the reasons. I knew a provider from ten years ago that had caught something from a client. Since she only was tested every six months, she had no idea who gave it to her or if she gave it to anyone else. I assume she isn't the only lady, and I know she didn't go around telling everyone. Once she found out, she quite working while she was on the medication, but was fearful of seeing anyone she saw previously during that six month time frame. Now please do not construe my words or my meaning. I am only talking openly about this, because it is in fact something we all, both ladies and gents need to aware of.  (Just an FYI, this lady hasn't been a provider for many years as I knew her ten years ago. Do not contact me to ask if I will share her name. The name is completely irrelevant as she left this life about 6 years ago.)

So go, do your own due diligence. Get checked, get tested. If you are worried or concerned about what your doctor or health care provider will think or say. Then tell them that you came in contact with someone's bodily fluid. You helped a stranger on the street that cut their hand, you helped an employee with the paper cutter, you helped doing something and came in contact with someone, and you just want to be sure and safe.  

So please. Don't rely on your provider to ensure you are. And ladies, well I know you should already  know. If you don't already, I will heed the expression.. If they don't already know, you can't tell them.

Be safe. Have fun. Make great connections. But above all, protect yourself and your life.  

Yours-
Kristi

... by the fact that STDs aren't MORE prevalent in this hobby.  Given the number of partners that many (not all) providers have, and the number of partners that each of their clients has, it would seem that anything that got into "the system" would spread quite widely.  I'm sure that any of us could be connected to any others of us in far fewer than six degrees of separation ... and unless providers and clients are getting tested in between each and every visit (which neither obviously is), there's no way of knowing for sure that your next partner is "clean."

So why, I wonder, aren't ALL of us infected by something or another, whether mild or more serious, from time to time?  I never have been; I count my blessings, but am also genuinely curious as to why there isn't more going around, given the "high-risk" behavior that we all engage in.

Any thoughts?

Now that I've been in the hobby for a while and taking the suggestion from A friend here, I get tested quarterly.  Most, if not all insurances cover the testing.

D.

ALL the tests.