For obvious reasons, I have not gone to my family physician for a STD screen. But I have given blood over the last few years. When answering the questions regarding sex for money, I have answered truthfully and had them screen my blood. Is this a rigorous enough screen or is there a better, more effective way to get checked without alerting suspicion?

"For obvious reasons, I have not gone to my family physician for a STD screen"

This is the 2nd post I have seen here of this general nature. Where do you guys live that you have such fear of your doctors?

I am really baffled...WHAT obvious reasons? You want to know if you have an STD. The best place to go is to your OWN doctor...who knows YOU...you health concerns and risks, and who can advise YOU accordingly, whatever the outcome might be. If you go to a "clinic", you will receive test results, and perhaps some counseling. This might be anonymous, but I personally don't think it is in your best interest in regards to your HEALTH. On top of that, I just as well not go to a place where people flock to be screened because they SUSPECT they have a STD (mixed lab results? improper handling of test samples?) versus someplace where because the patient base is relatively stable, the service providers want to do there best to make sure things go RIGHT, versus you just being an nameless, faceless, "client". Your doctor wants do to right by you because he is YOUR doctor, and you are HIS patient...a clinic has no relationship with you. Lastly, you have recourse against your doctor should something go wrong (malpractice), a point he NEVER forgets. I don't think you can sue a "non-for-profit clinic".

This doesn't answer your question I know...no, a blood screen does NOT test for the most common STDs, just those that are blood borne. It wouldn't screen for herpes, for example, or syphilis. I am not certain about chlamydia - my guess is "no". These diseases are not blood borne, and thus not the concern of the blood bank for transfer of your blood to others (a SURPRISING number of people have either herpes or chlamydia - if blood banks turned away donations from persons that possessed one or the other, I suspect there would be a shortage of blood).

Back to my soapbox...your doctor is ETHICALLY...AND BY LAW...bound to keep the details of your health (such as the results of an STD test) PRIVATE...from anyone, save LE or your insurance provider (in the first case, if you have LE snooping around your medical records, you have bigger problems than a casual STD, in the 2nd case, this is a reality of life). He / She cannot share the results with your friends, family, neighbor, or spouse (versus clinics...how many times have we heard rumors of someone’s test results somehow getting into the hands of an "interested party" who managed to convince someone at the clinic to spill the beans? A phone call with test results taken by the wrong person, or a mailed message that arrived into the wrong hands?).

If the problem isn't privacy, but instead feeling like your doctor will somehow judge you (the concern of the previous poster on this topic), wow, I again ask the question "where do you guys find your doctors?" Such behavior would be TOTALLY inappropriate and unprofessional. NO doctor should discourage people from seeking treatment because they fear his / her reaction to their malady.

Finally, if the problem is YOUR fear of potential shame or embarrassment...I can't help you with that. While not many of use would want a banner in Times Square announcing that we see / have seen escorts, I certainly wouldn't let that get in the way of attending to my health and well being. If it is a problem for you, it might be time to assess if this is the right hobby for you...

Reoes giving blood qualify as an STD screen?

Whenever I used to give blood in New York City (can't speak for other areas), the form said they didn't want the blood of hobbyists (their language was a bit more formal).  It's one of my very few regrets about this type of diversion.  I am an O+ and regularly gave before I decided I wanted some fun.  

When going for a blood donation, check for the fine print.

Read the HIV section on the attached Red Cross link.  Hobbyists and providers fall under the "increased risk" category

In the vast majority of states, neither LE nor insurance can access any part of your medical records without release.  A few states do have reporting proceedures for HIV positive, but very few, and fewer doc's follow those rules.

Your records are secure.  Get the tests.

DrX

Mylifeasme:

I am sure you were only trying to be helpfull and I think alot of people will benefit from your comments.  But I am in the healthcare industry and I feel compelled to comment on some of your points.  1) YES, YES, YES the doctor is compelled by law to disclose information to your wife/husband if their health is in jeopardy.  At this time there are two "reportable" incidents that fall into this category.  They are syphilis and HIV/AIDS.  First the doctor must ask the patient to inform their partner.  The doctor then assumes that you will.  So most people would say that the doctor would not disclose patient information.  HOWEVER, should your partner contract your STD and find out that you gave it to them and did not disclose this information or find out that the doctor did not disclose it they CAN SUE the doctor!!!  2)Most times a patient does not sue the hospital, medical clinic or not-for-profit directly.  It is the doctor or the lab that gets sued.  So if there is a "goof-up" in the lab and you went to a run of the mill clinic, Yes you can still sue.  

Finally the reason why RedCross etc. does not want the blood of hobbiest is because, besides STD's, people who engage in sex with multiple partners are at higher risks for Hepatitis.  

To avoid any problems I recommend that if you want to get screened for STD's be specific.  Tell the clinic/medical center that you want to be screened for safety precautions and ask to be screened for all of them.  Warning, it may be costly.

Just a quick note, most doctors do not do "in house" lab work. Most doctors send their lab work to places like I use to work at where we do the test and send the results back. So to address you concern about getting switched results or shoddy work due to the volume of a clinic, the private family doctor and the inner city clinic are probably all sending their lab work to the same place.

Just my two cents. I'm out!

"Now hit my music!"

-- Modified on 4/27/2002 9:34:27 AM

Reoes giving blood qualify as an STD screen?

FYI,

They will still test your blood for HIV but regardless of the results, they will not use it. So if you go and mark yes, they will still draw your blood but will not use it. If it comes back positive for HIV or Hepetitis, you will get a note back from the Red Cross as would a person who is considered in the safe group. Also I think, remember the key word THINK, that the question goes "have you had sex with some who engages in sex for money or have you paid for sex IN THE PAST SIX MONTH".

Just my two cents. I'm out!

"Now hit my music!"

-- Modified on 4/27/2002 9:34:44 AM

Thanks for making that point... I have been using Planned Parenthood and now another private local clinic for years now, and my experiences have been overwhelmingly positive. I stopped going to see my last GYN when she lied about the results of a surgery I had, talked to my father about my sex life (I was 22!), and lectured me on "waiting till I was married" to have sex. ==:O Now my GYN *is* a clinic and I have never been treated with anything but kindess and the utmost respect and concern by them...

And I will say that if this guy won't see his family doctor but might see a clinic... He ought to go see someone! Anyone who is sexually active, especially with multiple partners, is KIDDING THEMSELVES if they refuse to get tested.  Better to find out BEFORE you give it to the Mrs, isn't it?

Hugs*
Nicole

My testing has run me around $150 every time, and that includes the more expensive 48 hour HIV test... That's at a Planned Parenthood here, and they have never seen my tax returns or anything else like that. In fact I could have told them I was *whoever* and they still would have helped and tested me. Maybe it's because I've been going there for so long? But that doesn't seem overly costly to me.

Hugs*
Nicole