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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To feel humiliated by this GP?

71 replies

zebradebra · 20/10/2011 09:07

Went to one of the GP's in our practice yesterday as i have had a few between periods bleeds. I have had abnormal smear's in the past. AIBU in thinking what happened next is wrong?

He said "well you need to be tested for gonorrhoea and chlamydia oh and while your there ask the nurse to do a smear test.

He then gave me a print out to hand to the receptionist with test for gonorrhoea and chlamydia clearly visable.

Sorry, but i just feel a little humiliated by that.

is it routine to test for STI'S when you have abnormal bleeding?

OP posts:

ColdSancerre · 20/10/2011 10:08

I had abnormal bleeding and the nurse swabbed me for STI's. I don't think my marital status had anything to do with why, as my GP knew we'd been trying for a baby for over a year by that point so although I wasn't wearing a wedding ring I was in a committed relationship. It would never have occurred to me that I should be offended by being tested.

VivaLeBeaver · 20/10/2011 10:12

Maybe your gp is crap? Like another poster said there was something on women's hour about gps being reluctant to test as they're worried about offending people.

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 20/10/2011 10:13

Sardine - I didn't get tested during my pregnancy - and now I'm worrying.

And yes, doctors are sometimes tactless and blunt - they forget that us normal folks get embarrassed by stuff. I hope you get your problem diagnosed and sorted.

PeachesMelba · 20/10/2011 10:20

If he said it as you write it then his manner was a bit sharp.

But he's a busy GP, and surely it's better for him to check out every eventuality rather be nicey-nicey and leave it.

ellisbell · 20/10/2011 10:27

when I had bleeding the gps apologised for having to do the sti tests but said it was routine. He knows I'm married - but can any woman be entirely sure what their partner has done, possibly before they met? If more gps were apologetic about it perhaps fewer women would be disturbed by it.

MrsStephenFry · 20/10/2011 10:34

Who is the "kind of person who gets STI's" then? These people who are meant to shuffle about looking ashamed, so much so that it "humiliates" a person to be seen as one of them?

Grow up.

Sidge · 20/10/2011 10:36

Maisie as I said further up, testing for STIs is protocol in the assessment of unscheduled bleeding.

In the surgery where I work we refer to this:

^Always exclude the possibility of pregnancy and STIs as a cause of bleeding:

Pregnancy test - have a low threshold for checking and, if positive, urgent referral for ultrasound +/- serial serum β-HCG is needed to exclude ectopic pregnancy.
Infection screen - always consider STIs, in particular chlamydia, with intermenstrual bleeding (IMB) and postcoital bleeding (PCB). A self-obtained low vaginal swab (SOLVS) can be offered (where available locally as part of the National Chlamydia Screening programme) or a first-void urine (FVU) if a speculum examination is not being performed. The decision to test for N. gonorrhoeae will depend on the woman's individual sexual risk and the local prevalence of this infection.
In general, cervical smears should only be taken where a woman is due or overdue for her regular screening.^

So even if a woman's individual risk is low, high local prevalence may mean that all women are tested for gonorrhoea . Where I am on the South Coast gonorrhoea rates are rising, especially in the over 40s, so testing is advised.

QuietNinjaZombie · 20/10/2011 10:57

Just remembered that I was tested for sti when I had bleeding. She did a smear at the same time and mentioned shed would swabs for various things. Didn't occur to me to be embarrassed about it, it's routine surely?

MollyTheMole · 20/10/2011 11:02

oh god get over yourself

The doc offered the tests because anyone can get an STI, and it would be common sense to test you for them if you have had abnormal bleeding

Also, Im assuming you have had a colposcopy for abnormal cells caused by HPV (which is the most common cause for abnormal cells I believe hence my assumption) then you already have an STI so its not so outrageous to offer you tests for others (and STIs arent limited to dirty slaaaaaaaaaaags you know)

And FWIW I dont see why his manner is being questioned, what would you want, he take you into a private room decorated with flowers and shit, hold your hand and offer you a brew before breaking the heart rending news that you should have some routine tests done? Pur-lease

Tenebrist · 20/10/2011 11:28

No, what happened was not unreasonable. Unreasonable would be if the GP shouted across the room to the receptionist 'And make sure Zebra gets that test for Gonorrhoeae', whereupon the receptionist shouts back 'Shouldn't she get the chlamydia one too?' and the doctor yells 'Yeah, why not she looks like a likely candidate.' Assuming that didn't happen, it wasn't embarrassing for him to simply propose a routine test.

ScarlettIsWalking · 20/10/2011 11:39

Good grief how ridiculous.

I was only saying to 4 yo dd today how priviledged we are to have access to a doctor when she was moaning she didn't want to go. Your gp does not have to perform like sir lancealot, he is doing his job fgs.

TheBrideofFrankenstein · 20/10/2011 11:49

My ex (doc) used to work at the GUM clinic and he, quite rightly, pointed out that it's crazy that people get embarrassed about getting STI's , because if you got a cold from someone you shagged, you wouldn't be embarrassed would you?

Original poster

zebradebra · 20/10/2011 12:13

where in my post have mentioned that only dirty slags get sti's???? And, even if i was a "dirty slag" i might still feel embarrassed to be tested for an sti fgs.

Also, i can categorically say i defiantly don't have an STI. I was tested when pg with dd and dh has not cheated. I can hand on heart say that. But, if the GP doesn't believe me and has to waste precious money and resources to tick his box etc then fine test away. I'm glad it's routine. I was questioning if it was routine as i have experienced discrimination by a GP before ( for reasons i cant be bothered to go into) so, maybe i am over sensitive on the issue.

OP posts:

MollyTheMole · 20/10/2011 12:22

Zebra - its not that the doc doesnt believe you, stop taking it so bloody personally. STIs can be with you for ages without showing any symptoms, and no-one can ever know for sure they dont have an STI unless you have not had sex since your last test.

And as I say if you have had a colposcopy due to abnormal cells then you probably already have an STI (if the abnormality is caused by HPV which is usually is)

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 20/10/2011 12:34

No, my GP is not crap . In fact, I think she's a pretty good GP. However, I will ask her the next time I see her, but I suspect that she's probably referred to another set of criteria in my case.

The GP should have told you why he was carrying out STI checks, OP. In fact, I expect to be told why any tests are carried out on me - and I then have the right to accept or refuse them. Patients can't make informed choices if they don't have the information, and it's up to the medical professional to provide that information rather than waiting for the patient to think to ask for it.

That's the case in Scotland, anyway - I imagine it's the case elsewhere in the UK. As with anything, the medical staff on the ground can offer be slow, unwilling or not aware of patients rights, or changes in legislation or policy.

MrsStephenFry · 20/10/2011 12:34

If you are embarrassed to be tested for an STI you are either a teenager or a moron. Or you do indeed think only "dirty slags" get STI's. Otherwise you wouldn't be whining about feeling "humiliated". Grow up.

DoMeDon · 20/10/2011 12:36

You don't mention them- you do mention humiliation at the suggestion you may have an STI and don't say why you felt humiliated.

Lots of women find out they have an STI when they would 'categorically say' they don't have an STI. It can rarely be said with 100% sureity that someone hasn't cheated.

Sidge · 20/10/2011 12:55

I would never take a patient's word for something when I can test myself and be more sure.

However nice they are and however much I believe them.

(Like the woman my colleague saw who attended late for her depo, swore blind she hadn't had sex since it was due, refused a pregnancy test as "it wasn't necessary" and was then found to be pregnant. Good job we didn't give her the depo based on her word alone and insisted on a blood test before she could have it.)

Your GP has no real idea as to how much at risk you are of an STI. Your hand on heart is no substitute for a swab result.

catsareevil · 20/10/2011 13:01

Maisie

The GP told her what tests were required in response to her symptoms and the potential diagnosis. For a lot of people that would be enough. I would have been quite happy with that and wouldnt have required any further information to allow me to consent to those tests.

The GP didnt say 'you need some tests but Im going to force you to have them and am not gong to tell you what they are'

Different people want different amounts of information. The OP doesnt have to have the tests just because the GP offers them, and can ask questions if she doesnt feel that she has enough information to make a choice.

Theas18 · 20/10/2011 14:29

Zebra I'm afraid the statistics show that in younger sexually active women chlamydia is statistically much more likely than cervical cancer and actually the cell changes that smears look for dont, by definition cause symptoms.

ShriekingLisa · 20/10/2011 15:39

When I was having problems I had o be tested for those even though Iv being married 5years. Bit strange!

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