Getting Tested (STI's) - FYI (married, woman, single, cheat)
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I've seen a lot of threads about this lately and I wanted to throw this out there. This may go in a health forum, but I think this is best served here....for everyone of all ages.
We are always told we should get tested before having sex with a new partner. I think that is a wonderful thing to do. I usually get tested after a relationship ends.
I recently went a new woman doctor (gyn) for various reasons. I decided to get tested for STI's since I hadn't really done it after my divorce. Granted. I assumed I was clean for new BF, since I know XH didn't cheat on me and I was clean prior to getting married, as was XH.
Well...........imagine my surprise when I'm told I have HSV (aka genital herpes). I have never had any outbreaks, so I am a carrier.
Imagine my BIGGER surprise when I find out that when you go to your doctor to get tested, they RARELY, IF EVER test for HSV. Yup, you heard that right. They do not test for herpes. I called my GP's office to find out if that was the truth. They went to my records and went back 12 years. Looked at all my test results for anytime I asked for "STI testing please". And guess what? Nope, not tested one single time. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?!?!?
So, I asked why. Why don't they test it when, I believe, it's 1 out of 3 people have some sort of form of HSV. My woman doc said, "because then doctors have to field phone calls like I'm doing right now and education the person. most doctors don't do the test, because they don't want to do the follow-up". I asked my GP's nurse why they don't do it. She said she wants to know too, and will find out. Ready? It's so prevalent that since most people have it, there's no point in running it. WHAT!??!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!?!
So next time you decide to get tested, don't forget to specifically ask for the HSV test. Condoms are great, but they don't prevent it, because the area in which it's spreading could be outside of the condom area. Needless to say, I had a very unfun talk with my BF and XH (cuz who knows how long I've had this).
Doctors are lazy. Many do the minimum required to get by in their job. Our health care delivery service has serious problems, and medical education and medical science are way behind other developed countries, too. But that's another rant for another forum. Anyway, this is good info to post, OP, and: welcome to reality. You really have to watchdog your doctor and take a very active role in your own health care.
I wonder what the Center for Disease Control has to say about this policy you discovered. I wonder if they're aware of it. I'd think they'd have some strong opinions about it.
Imagine my BIGGER surprise when I find out that when you go to your doctor to get tested, they RARELY, IF EVER test for HSV. Yup, you heard that right. They do not test for herpes. I called my GP's office to find out if that was the truth. They went to my records and went back 12 years. Looked at all my test results for anytime I asked for "STI testing please". And guess what? Nope, not tested one single time. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?!?!?
Does your doctor not go over tests with you? When she calls you doesn't she say something along the lines of "your HIV, HPV etc tests came back normal?" I'm a little lost as to how you went 12 years totally unaware of what diseases you were being tested for.
I assume you are female, and at least in all my experience, they ask me what STDs I want to be tested for.
She usually asks me a series of questions followed by "Standard is chlamydia and gonorrhea, you are in a low risk HIV category would you like that too?"
There are MANY STDs, and they usually dont test for every single one. Also, do you have HerpesI or HerpesII? Because II is the only one that causes genital herpes and many many people have herpes I.
When I ask for an STI testing, I say, "can we test for everything please". Usually I'm getting a pap done, so that tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Blood test is done for HIV. So, when I say, "everything" I always assumed HSV was part of that. Ditto with HPV.
Even in this example:
Quote:
Originally Posted by ohiogirl22
She usually asks me a series of questions followed by "Standard is chlamydia and gonorrhea, you are in a low risk HIV category would you like that too?"
You're not being asked for HSV are you? Nope. So it's most likely not on the list. I have never been asked if I wanted to be tested for herpes.
When I get my tests back, they say, "it's all negative". Usually I get a separate paper in the mail stating the HIV is negative, but I don't see the full lab results. Since I said, "everything", I assumed that mean HSV. Granted, that's stupid on my end, but hey, if they're not testing for it anyways, give me a break, yeah?
Genital herpes can be anywhere on you, it's just a strain. If you have a cold sore, it's typically HSV-1, but if you got it while someone had an outbreak of HSV-2, down there, and you were down there with your mouth, now you have HSV-2 cold sores. Genital herpes doesn't mean it's ONLY on your genitals. It's a strain and can be found elsewhere (if you knew that, great, I wanted to write it so everyone knows).
With that. I was told I have HSV-2, genital herpes. However, I have herpetic whitlow....meaning, it's on my hand/finger (lots of dentists and people in the healthcare field get this more than anyone else and no, I'm not in the healthcare field).
Here's the thing. I had forgotten about my herpetic whitlow because I haven't had an outbreak for over 10 years. So, all the tests run, 12 years back, if they ran an HSV test, should have come back positive. They never ran it once. I believe there were 3 different times I got tested. Yes, again, stupid on my part for not remembering, but still. Not one single test was done. That is the big problem that I'm trying to share. This isn't about me, it's about HSV being rampant and it should be a part of standard testing of STI's. Period.
Last edited by psichick; 06-29-2013 at 08:43 AM..
Reason: Got the HSV types mixed up originally
When I ask for an STI testing, I say, "can we test for everything please". Usually I'm getting a pap done, so that tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Blood test is done for HIV. So, when I say, "everything" I always assumed HSV was part of that. Ditto with HPV.
Even in this example:
You're not being asked for HSV are you? Nope. So it's most likely not on the list. I have never been asked if I wanted to be tested for herpes.
When I get my tests back, they say, "it's all negative". Usually I get a separate paper in the mail stating the HIV is negative, but I don't see the full lab results. Since I said, "everything", I assumed that mean HSV. Granted, that's stupid on my end, but hey, if they're not testing for it anyways, give me a break, yeah?
Genital herpes can be anywhere on you, it's just a strain. If you have a cold sore, it's typically HSV-2, but if you got it while someone had an outbreak of HSV-1, down there, and you were down there with your mouth, now you have HSV-1 cold sores. Genital herpes doesn't mean it's ONLY on your genitals. It's a strain and can be found elsewhere (if you knew that, great, I wanted to write it so everyone knows).
With that. I was told I have HSV-1, genital herpes. However, I have herpetic whitlow....meaning, it's on my hand/finger (lots of dentists and people in the healthcare field get this more than anyone else and no, I'm not in the healthcare field).
Maybe I should contact the CDC. Honestly, this is unacceptable. I know there's a high rate of people who have herpes (any simplex), but come on, if people who are asymptomatic can pass it on, shouldn't that be a standard test alongside HIV? Or do they not care to the point of, "hey, let everyone infect everyone else, everyone has it anyways"? Ugh!
Here's the thing. I had forgotten about my herpetic whitlow because I haven't had an outbreak for over 10 years. So, all the tests run, 12 years back, if they ran an HSV test, should have come back positive. They never ran it once. I believe there were 3 different times I got tested. Yes, again, stupid on my part for not remembering, but still. Not one single test was done. That is the big problem that I'm trying to share. This isn't about me, it's about HSV being rampant and it should be a part of standard testing of STI's. Period.
Why would you contact the CDC? Have you actually looked at their website, or the mayo clinic website to see what they have to say about testing for herpes?
Why would you contact the CDC? Have you actually looked at their website, or the mayo clinic website to see what they have to say about testing for herpes?
I was just saying that in response to the previous poster. Please don't shoot the messenger. I just wanted to get this info out there. Also, I don't really believe much of what the Mayo Clinic says. Have you ever read their website? Lots of bad information.
I will say this, just so everyone knows, testing for herpes is not a final answer. There are many times you can have false negatives or positives. And like HIV, it may not show up in your blood for awhile. The whole point, though, of this thread is that if you think you're "clean" you may not be because most places don't test for herpes unless you ask for it. Yes, you may get false results but you may also realize you're a carrier. I guess it all depends if you want to know or not.
ETA: I removed that comment from my original post.
You're not being asked for HSV are you? Nope. So it's most likely not on the list. I have never been asked if I wanted to be tested for herpes.
When I get my tests back, they say, "it's all negative". Usually I get a separate paper in the mail stating the HIV is negative, but I don't see the full lab results. Since I said, "everything", I assumed that mean HSV. Granted, that's stupid on my end, but hey, if they're not testing for it anyways, give me a break, yeah?
I am at a loss as to how it took you 12 years to figure this out? That's a miss on your part. You are responsible for your health.
I was just saying that in response to the previous poster. Please don't shoot the messenger. I just wanted to get this info out there. Also, I don't really believe much of what the Mayo Clinic says. Have you ever read their website? Lots of bad information.
ETA: I removed that comment from my original post.
Did you look at the CDC website regarding testing for herpes?
Does your doctor not go over tests with you? When she calls you doesn't she say something along the lines of "your HIV, HPV etc tests came back normal?" I'm a little lost as to how you went 12 years totally unaware of what diseases you were being tested for.
I assume you are female, and at least in all my experience, they ask me what STDs I want to be tested for.
She usually asks me a series of questions followed by "Standard is chlamydia and gonorrhea, you are in a low risk HIV category would you like that too?"
Same with me. She came out with a list, we went over every one, one by one. And I said yes to anything remotely possible. Because I wanted to know if I had slept with anyone who had been anywhere near the rainforests!
Family doctor's treat it as a money maker. They herd them in and over book patients. You wait for an hour that takea 10 mins. We changed our doctors because of this. Many young doctors are welcoming new patients.
A gynogaligist is better because they are specialist.
Family Doctors only know the basics.
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Yup, you heard that right. They do not test for herpes. I called my GP's office to find out if that was the truth. They went to my records and went back 12 years. Looked at all my test results for anytime I asked for "STI testing please". And guess what? Nope, not tested one single time. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?!?!?
