Have fun but play safe: Getting tested for STIs
We all know how scary sexually transmitted
infections (STIs) are. If you don't, take a look at my
blurb on what's out there in the world of STIs and
glance over what some of them look like — yeah,
not very sexy.
What is sexy, though, is getting tested to make sure you can keep your ability to have fun for as long as you can. If you think you may have gotten something spooky from a recent affair, don't hesitate to get yourself tested. Here's a breakdown of what to expect when getting tested for STIs.
The Middlesex-London Health Unit is located downtown at 50 King St., where they offer a drop-in STI clinic from 5 to 7 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays with registration starting at 4:30, and from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Fridays. The clinic also offers emergency contraception and pregnancy testing. You don't have to book an appointment and you don't even need your health card. The cherry on top is that the service is completely free.
Once you enter the clinic, you are required to take a number and wait until it is called. While you wait, you can read some of the many brochures about STIs and safe sex, and take some condoms from the basket in the waiting room.
When your number is called, you fill out a registration form with your name, phone number and address. You may also obtain a parking token from the receptionist.
After another wait, you'll meet a nurse who will talk to you about your sexual background, including how many sexual partners you are involved with, the last time you had sex and whether you're showing any symptoms of STIs. The nurse will also recommend prevention methods such as the use of condoms.
After the short consultation, you will meet with a doctor. If you are getting general testing, which includes testing for many STIs — such as HIV, Chlamydia, Syphilis and Gonorrhea — then only a blood and urine sample are required and you don't need to remove your clothes. You are only asked to remove what you're wearing if you have any visible symptoms that the doctor needs to examine.
Once you give your blood and urine sample to the doctor, you're all done. You will be asked to come back in exactly a week from when you are tested to receive a physical copy of your results. If you can't make it, you will either receive a phone call from the clinic if your tests come out positive for an STI, or no phone call at all if your tests are negative. The results are completely confidential, unless your results are positive, in which case the Health Unit will use the information for their records. If you are tested positive, you can get a photocopy of your result, and the clinic will also refer you to a specialist for treatment and counselling if you need it.
For more information on the Middlesex-London Health Unit or the STI clinic, visit healthunit.com or call 519-663-5317.
What is sexy, though, is getting tested to make sure you can keep your ability to have fun for as long as you can. If you think you may have gotten something spooky from a recent affair, don't hesitate to get yourself tested. Here's a breakdown of what to expect when getting tested for STIs.
The Middlesex-London Health Unit is located downtown at 50 King St., where they offer a drop-in STI clinic from 5 to 7 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays with registration starting at 4:30, and from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Fridays. The clinic also offers emergency contraception and pregnancy testing. You don't have to book an appointment and you don't even need your health card. The cherry on top is that the service is completely free.
Once you enter the clinic, you are required to take a number and wait until it is called. While you wait, you can read some of the many brochures about STIs and safe sex, and take some condoms from the basket in the waiting room.
When your number is called, you fill out a registration form with your name, phone number and address. You may also obtain a parking token from the receptionist.
After another wait, you'll meet a nurse who will talk to you about your sexual background, including how many sexual partners you are involved with, the last time you had sex and whether you're showing any symptoms of STIs. The nurse will also recommend prevention methods such as the use of condoms.
After the short consultation, you will meet with a doctor. If you are getting general testing, which includes testing for many STIs — such as HIV, Chlamydia, Syphilis and Gonorrhea — then only a blood and urine sample are required and you don't need to remove your clothes. You are only asked to remove what you're wearing if you have any visible symptoms that the doctor needs to examine.
Once you give your blood and urine sample to the doctor, you're all done. You will be asked to come back in exactly a week from when you are tested to receive a physical copy of your results. If you can't make it, you will either receive a phone call from the clinic if your tests come out positive for an STI, or no phone call at all if your tests are negative. The results are completely confidential, unless your results are positive, in which case the Health Unit will use the information for their records. If you are tested positive, you can get a photocopy of your result, and the clinic will also refer you to a specialist for treatment and counselling if you need it.
For more information on the Middlesex-London Health Unit or the STI clinic, visit healthunit.com or call 519-663-5317.
