I work in a sexual health clinic...ama

[Hereandthereandeverywhere]

Go for it! Nothing is too much

We're doing lots of work here with women and undeserved communities on HIV education. But you're right, its hard to educate without brining back the fear.

I thought a trans woman WAS a person assigned male at birth?

😁

😂😂😂

Someone who works in a GUM clinic doesn’t know only men can be trans women.

Good luck with that!

A lot of women don't like the term cis. Some people are happy to be called cis but it is considered outdated and divisive by quite a few. That is why you are getting a hard time. A bit like the term BAME, well intentioned, but not liked by many who are given that label.

Hey, just reinforcing the message that most women don't like the term cis so the best response is an apology and updating the term you use - like you would for any other group.

Would also love to hear any impactful stories, or any trends/behaviours/things that women should watch out for that they might not know about.

Do you think dating sites where many people meet primarily for a hookup which appears to be more morally acceptable nowadays contribute to the rise in STIs.

We just call them women here. It is the word for us.

Cis nonsense just degrades what would be a good thread.

You do realise that 'trans women' are also 'assigned male at birth', don't you?

(Actually, maleness is fixed at conception and observed via blood test or ultrasound in utero, or observed at birth. One would think that, being a person who deals with sexual health, you'd know that. It's a little concerning that you don't.)

Trans women are assigned male at birth....

Scary you work in health care with this poor grasp of biology.

I found this. Impossible to get free test kits, really awkward to arrange a time, when I finally did get there i had to do the test myself anyway and I never received my results!

And I only went because my ex husband had cheated on me and it was all a bit traumatic.

Do you provide medication for genital herpes outbreaks?
had it for 15 years, triggers are my period and stress..so I get outbreaks a lot!
Last year has been horrific with at least 1 outbreak a month,
GP won’t prescribe anything other than the acyclovir 3 x a day for 5 days when I get an outbreak! Can clinics provide longer term meds for suppression therapy?

Where’s “here” and who is “us”? I’m me, are you assuming my views are yours? I’m not into group think.

OP, sorry your interesting thread was almost hijacked. I attended a clinic many years ago when my exH had cheated, my GP suggested it may help draw a line under the whole sorry saga and it did help. I found the clinic to be very friendly and supportive. I felt ashamed to be there but that was on me really, judging who might attend.

I'd be really offended if I came to your clinic and your referred to me as a cis woman. It's a term dripping in misogyny. Similarly if you suggested to me that I'd been assigned a sex at birth.

World you respect my wishes not to be called by those terms? I'm not here to be argumentative, but if the NHS is keen to refer to men who want to be seen as women as 'she', would you afford me the same right and use the terms I want?

Honestly, you've got someone who thinks 'trans women' aren't male assigned at birth, that 'trans women' never commit sexual crimes, only 'males assigned at birth' and so 'cis women' have no reason to be wary of them, that sex workers are the 'safest people to have sex with', and that PrEP is 100% effective (it's 'up to 99% effective if taken correctly).

I'm not sure the answers that people get from this AMA will be reliable...

Oh I'm sorry to hear you feel like that. It may seem that we ask unnecessary questions, but its just to ensure we do the right screening

I am wondering what their level of professional qualification is as they do seem to be lacking some basic biology about males and females

Absolutely. In clinic we ask everyone how they would like to be referred to at time of registration, and this is respected. I understand the word cis may trigger some, but its the term we use within sexual health.

Thank you for this. I'm purposefully not engaging with arguments.
I'm glad you found your sexual health clinic helpful. We are always non-judgmental and see all sorts of people. Nothing can shock us!

Hopefully this will be corrected soon. Alongside chest feeding and birthing people

Absolutely.

Aside from the trans/cis issue, telling people that PrEP is 100% effective could lead to people thinking they don't need to use protection and it'll be impossible to contract HIV.

And touting that sex workers are the safest demographic to have sex with is both wrong (previous studies suggest they're more likely to have chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, with none I can find suggesting a sex worker is safer to have sex with than one's own monogamous partner), and misogynistic, encouraging the objectification and purchase of women and girls.

Are you really unshockable?! There must be some things people get up to which are at least … surprising?

Don't worry, it doesn't sound like OP knows what she's talking about anyway, given she's doling out misinformation.