I work in a sexual health clinic...ama

[Hereandthereandeverywhere]

Go for it! Nothing is too much

Is it a full GUM clinic? Do you see women who have suspected UTIs and can’t get GP appointments, or pharmacy treatments, or appropriate advice & treatment given the symptoms’ severity and longevity?

This ^^ seems to be a recurring theme on MN.

Yup. We see all of that. Lots of UTIs. Recurrent thrush and BV. Usually long term treatment from GP for the wrong thing. We take samples and look under the microscope and can diagnose with thrush and BV within 5 minutes. Usually GP goes off symptoms and gets it wrong

Yup. We see all of that. Lots of UTIs. Recurrent thrush and BV. Usually long term treatment from GP for the wrong thing. We take samples and look under the microscope and can diagnose with thrush and BV within 5 minutes. Usually GP goes off symptoms and gets it wrong

Are the STd tests you can buy online and do at home accurate?

Thank you - that’s really helpful.

Why is it so difficult to get an appointment with you? My local clinic is only open one day a week. Or I have to go to the one at the local hospital (15 miles travel each way)

Is this fungal thing from south east asian common here?
Is syphlis still increasing and is it amongst mainly gay or everyone?
Is monkey pox still around?

Yep. Providing they come from a clinic. We send out home testing kits for chlamydia, gonorrhea, hiv, and syphilis. All accurate. But can't speak for tests from amazon

Do you see men come in with different partners?

We've seen 1 case of the fungal infection you've mentioned, the person had had high risk sex in South East Asia and is now totally fine. Syphilis is rising, not just amongst gbmsm (gay and bisexual men who have sex with men), we are seeing raising rates in middle aged heterosexual cis-women, same as with HIV

Hell yeah!!!! Both heterosexual and gay

Oh thats sad! We had a booked clinic appointment and also an on the day walk in clinic. Plus a weekday evening walk in and a weekend clinic

That’s interesting, why are we seeing this trend? Is it linked to divorce rates?

Do you ever see really sad cases that stay with you, or is it a bit more surface level than that I.e just a test and diagnosis no story to it

Anecdotally, women are more sexually liberated and are having multiple partners. Both post divorce and opening up relationships.

From what you see, do you think a lot of men have a secret sex life on the side that their family know nothing about?

I had a mirena coil fitted at a local sexual health clinic for hrt aged 53. Is that something you do at your clinic, and is there an age limit? I know it’s not the same clinic and they may have their own budgets to follow, but it’s coming up for renewal, and panicking a bit; I don’t like my gp.

Do you judge them? (I would!)

No....the world is a mess and men are, mostly, to blame. I have changed my behaviour from working in a sexual health clinic. Men pray on women and we, literally, can not be safe. Ive hears some awful stories which I'll always carry

@Hereandthereandeverywhere excellent service....wish mine was like that

Is the hiv test not a blood test?

Ive never been to a gum clinic, possibly a stupid question but what do you cover? As in a whole? Sti to teen pregnancy?

Yes!!! Very common

Absolutely not. As long as they are safe, and not putting their partners at risk

Hiv is a blood test. From the home test kit it can be from a finger prick test. We cover everything genital related. STIs, something which isn't right, any type of non consensual sex. Its more that just a clap clinic

I meant in terms of the partners don’t know they are taking different women there so assume they are only sleeping with them.

Speaking from experience here - I thought my partner was only with me but he was cheating and I found out took many other women to get tested. Many years ago now when I was young and he was a lot older!