STI checks at GPs?

[SeeMyVest]

I suspect my DH has been unfaithful and although he is deny deny denying it I have felt a little off "down there" for a while so want to have a full check up.
I just booked an appointment at the GP, with a practise nurse but I panicked when the receptionist asked what it was for and said contraception issues.
My question is, can the nurse give me STI tests?

Or should I pull up my big brave girl pants and go to a GUM clinic??

Your GP (I'm not sure about the practice nurse) should be able to order blood tests for all of the ones that can be tested for this way.

But for anything more topical (lumps, soreness etc.), you would really be better off going to the GUM clinic.

Thanks to an ex, I had to acquaint myself with the local GUM clinic. They are absolutely lovely there. They've seen everything before and actually I feel more comfortable going there for treatment (and would do for testing in future) than going to my GP.

If you do turn out to have anything wrong, there are some things the GUM clinic would be able to treat you for there and then the same day where as GP surgeries don't tend to offer treatments for STIs.

Where I work for non-symptomatic patients I would see you (pn). We use a specialist template to ensure we take a full history and then bloods and a swab are taken. The main difference between us and the GUM clinic is that will be on your records permanently, some people prefer to use the GUM clinic for this reason.

I hope they are all okay for you.

Idefix that's a very good point about the permanent records. Thank you

NewShoes you've made me feel better about the GUM clinic thank you.

I think I will use my maiden name as DH is (barf ) a local celeb ()with a very distinctive surname and i can't even imagine the shame of being called out or the potential fallout from waiting room gossip.

"Mrs Clooney!"

• ok not quite but you get the idea!

Your GP surgery will be able to do the 'basic' sexual health check that the GU clinic offer - swab for chlamydia & gonorrhoea & bloods for HIV/syphilis.
GU can only test for other STIs if you have specific symptoms (herpes etc). We can't test for warts, they are diagnosed by sight.
Unless there is a BMS lab on site they can't immediately check for TV/BV/candida either and would send a swab away (some of our clinics have BMS onsite, but not all). Your GP surgery can also swab and send for TV/BV/candida.

Thanks MrsFinklestein.

Does anyone know how long results take in a GUM clinic?
I think I'll go to the local walk in tomorrow as it's appointment only today.

You can actually get it done by post - this is the mechanism now used here in not London where the sexual health clinic is either a 50 mile round trip or a two month wait. You need to get on the website about 7am to order one of the days kit allocations, but you then get a pack for blood and urine test. Results within a week by text.

I did hear about being able to buy some tests online through Superdrug but the way I'm feeling I bet if I got a negative result I would say it was because I didn't do it properly! I just want there to be no doubt.Im so angry that he could have put my health in danger. He wanted another baby too... imagine if I had had an STI then fell pregnant?!

The GUM clinic I go to call you by your first name only, probably to protect people's privacy.

I wish I had gone straight to the GUM clinic. My (usually fabulous) GP told me very bluntly what STI it looked like I had and told me to go the GUM clinic as they don't deal with that there. I was absolutely horrified and very surprised that I had an STI at all (very boring sexual history, only three partners, always used condoms and I hadn't had sex in nearly a year at the point my symptoms presented). The GUM clinic staff were sympathetic and made me feel a lot better about the situation (I had a bit of a meltdown about it at the clinic!).

Hi Iv been in the same situation long term ex partner was unfaithful , I felt somthing wasn't right and wanted to get checked out , I went to my gum clinic you should have a walk in day at the nearest hosp rial just go in I even for a fake name cause I didn't want it on my file , all they do then is swab you and they phone you in ten days with results xxxx

So I turned up at the walk in at 9:10 (it opened at 9) and it was already at capacity FOR THE DAY!!!!!!! How is this even possible?!?! Jeepers.

There is another one locally which opens at 12, I'll be there at 11 😑

Argh! How annoying when you'd psyched yourself up for it as well.

Good luck with the next clinic!

Am at the other GUM clinic now, just been seen by a lovely triage nurse but I'm in a complete state. Can't stop crying. It's just hitting me about the infidelity... i promised myself I wouldn't cry but I can't help it

Don't worry about the crying. I reckon a lot of people cry on their first visit!

If you think about it, most visitors there will have probably been having a rubbish time anyway and then the idea they might have an STI as a result will feel like the last straw.

The staff have seen it all before, both in terms of people's bits and people falling to pieces and crying!

When I was called back for the results I bawled my eyes out , the nurse told me I had chlamydia . I was also pregnant too . I knew it wasn't me we had been together for ten years and I had only ever slept with him , when I came out still crying he went mad and tried blaming it on me . Even had me go to he docters and pretend I lost my antibiotics so he could have a pack to treat himself too without having to explain . He never admitted it was him but when I went straight to my friends house after getting home he was texting me asking me to come home and he was sorry . We tried to get past it but I just couldn't so we ended that was 5 years ago and it all came out then how many times he cheated on me ! When I was pregnant with my daughter and even when I was in hospital Overnight after having her when he went out to celebrate ! In total it was around 15 different women . If he has cheated I know it's really hard but I don't think people can change , that's my opinion but I'm not sharing you can't make a go of things I hope everything will be ok ❤️ here if you need to talk xxxxxx

Thanks for all the supportive posts ladies.
Well, it seems that everything happens for a reason because while examining me she found a growth that needed the specialist fanny lady to come and look at it. She said not to panic (!) but it looks possibly cancerous and is booking me in for a colposcopy/to remove it. To be honest when she was talking I didn't hear much- just the C word. So I'm off to research.

Oh, and it's likely I have chlamydia from the pre-tests. My lucky day

specialist fanny lady That made me laugh! Thanks Vest

Hope your results are ok, and any treatment is easy and painless

OMGGGGGG so after going absolutely crazy at 'D'H for giving me chlamydia, thanks to the pre-test result I've just had the full results....
Negative.

😳

As I said, everything for a reason maybe? As without the tests the lump wouldn't have been found...

Hi just checking how your results went ? Hope all was welll ❤️ xxx