A serious question: Have YOU been tested?

[ClassyLady]

Originally posted by Rain Man
Does it hurt?

It depends on how it is administered. The only way that I have ever had an HIV test is by having blood drawn. I really hate having to give blood for anything because my veins are so small and it is always an uncomfortable for me. For my first HIV test, it took three tries and both arms for them to finally be able to draw blood.

I do believe that there are less invasive ways to take the test. I think that there is a method that takes a swab to the inside of your cheek.

[allsmiles_22]

Originally posted by 1sd
I have a story...Thanks CT4 for bringing this to the top.

This may be a little graphic, but I think it fits in context to what we are speaking about.

A good friend of mine is going through something RIGHT now because of some foul dude. She was never promiscuous, and this guy that she slept with was like the first since she'd broke up with her boyfriend of 5 years. Anyway, she slept with dude, they "used" a condom, but immediately after sex she didn't feel right. He went to the bathroom, and didn't act like anything was wrong. She went to the bathroom and wiped, she was experiencing discomfort but figured it was just because she'd been celibate for so long. Anyway, when she got home she used the restroom again and when she looked in the toilet there were peices of the condom in the toilet. Evidently the condom broke and he didn't bother to say anything. She called him and told him and he was like, "Don't worry, I'm straight". Now two years later, she went to the doc a few weeks ago and got an abnormal pap, and come to find out she was infected with HPV, which is incurable. She is so distraught because she feels like it's so unfair...and it is, but this goes to show you it only takes once and there are more things out there besides HIV! (and of course the bastid is nowhere to be found )

In undergrad we had a health program and one of the topics covered was HPV. I don't recall the statistics, but I believe this was the fastest spreading STD among females. Many people believe that using condoms can protect against HPV and this is untrue. Skin to skin contact can spread the virus if one is having an outbreak. Also, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to years for the symptoms to actually show. Therefore, it's hard to trace as to whom someone may have gotten it from. People may have the virus and don't know until an outbreak happens. So a woman/man can get tested regularly for STD's and this virus can go undetected.

[CrimsonTide4]

Information to Live By:
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
How common is HPV?
In the United States, HPV is considered to be the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD). Some studies estimate that the majority of the sexually active population is exposed to at least one or more types of HPV - although most do not develop symptoms. Because HPV is so common and prevalent, a person does not need have to have a lot of sexual partners to come into contact with this virus.

What about HPV and cervical cancer?


There are many different types of genital HPV.
Only certain types of HPV are linked with cervical cancer. These are usually called "high-risk" types.
The types of HPV that cause raised external genital warts are not linked with cancer. These are called "low-risk" types.
These wart-types of HPV usually are not usually found on a female's cervix, and therefore, are not going to carry any risk of cancer.
It is common for a person to be exposed and have more than one type of HPV, including several "high-risk" types. Yet, most women do not develop cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer usually takes years to develop.
The majority of cases of cervical cancer are in women who have either never had a Pap smear, or have not had one in five years or more.
Cervical cancer can be prevented if a female gets a Pap smear at regular intervals. This way, if abnormal cell changes are found, it can be monitored and / or treated before progressing to cervical cancer.
Most of the time, men will not have any symptoms or health risks such as cancer with the "high-risk" types of HPV. It is the female's cervix that needs to be monitored.

[nikki1920]

Why did she wait TWO years? As soon as she knew it broke, she should have gone to the dr and got tested for everything, IMO.

When I got BC, I got tested for everything, for my own personal well being. I mean, the distraction and I are careful, but not always as careful as we should be. (We're working on that, lol!)

The HIV test I took was via blood. It is uncomfortable (and I've had a child), they drew a vial full of blood.

[1sd]

Originally posted by nikki1920
Why did she wait TWO years? As soon as she knew it broke, she should have gone to the dr and got tested for everything, IMO.

She did...but it's just now showing up. She says she hasn't slept with anyone since then and was protected with her ex before then and he tested negative. I guess it takes so long to show up.

ETA: She has gone for several paps since then because she gets frequent ummm feminine "balance" infections...but they always said that it was probably something she was allergic to, like detergent. She never had an abnormal pap until this one like a month or so ago.

[NOWorNEVER]

I was last tested about 5 years ago. Haven't really had the need to be tested again, but if I'm in a serious relationship and want to do away with condoms, then I'd want myself and my mate to be tested for everything.

[CrimsonTide4]

Question:

What are ALL of the STD tests?

I have been tested for HIV and gonorrhea/chlamydia/syphillis twice and both times negative.

Where/how do you get tested for HERPES and HPV? Not that I believe I have them but I like peace of mind.

Knowledge is power.

[toocute]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
Question:

What are ALL of the STD tests?

I have been tested for HIV and gonorrhea/chlamydia/syphillis twice and both times negative.

Where/how do you get tested for HERPES and HPV? Not that I believe I have them but I like peace of mind.

Knowledge is power.

You may just have to go to your GYN and ask her/him to test you for everything. When I was pregnant I was tested for everything twice (all tests negative by the way) Pregnant women are human pin cushions. I was drawing blood at almost every visit.

[SummerChild]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by AKA2D '91
[B]If your friend, girlfriend/boyfriend, significant other, mate, person you sleep with (whatever name you give him or her) asked you to take a HIV test, would you?

Yes, in a way, I think that the test should be taken before any new sexual partner anyway. Not that I do it, but I think that I should.

[SummerChild]

Originally posted by RedefinedDiva
I haven't taken one because I'm not sexually active. However, for a while now, especially with threads like the one from the Blvd., movies like "One Week," etc., I FULLY intend to start requesting RECENT test results from potential partners. If they can't produce one, then I will request that they take a test. We can go together. If they can't do it for me, then he can get to steppin'! I'm not trying to catch the Gangsta!

Redefined,
Do offices give written print-outs now or would you basically be taking him on his word when you say that you'd want to know the results of a recent test?
SC

[nikki1920]

Originally posted by toocute
You may just have to go to your GYN and ask her/him to test you for everything. Pregnant women are human pin cushions. I was drawing blood at almost every visit.

Amen to that, lol!!
Just ask. I believe that most states are required to keep track of chlamidya/gohnorrea/syphillis (sp?) infections, so those are tested when you ask to be tested for STDs by default.

Why come my post was cut off? I forgot what I said..booo.. lol

[SummerChild]

Originally posted by Gyrl7
Ya know each time you increase your life insurance policy they give you a mandatory HIV test.

Yes, I had to take one to get a life insurance policy.

[SummerChild]

Originally posted by Ideal08
This is sort of hard for me to admit, but y'all my peeps, so ok.

I seem to be the only GCer who hasn't been tested and doesn't want to be. I was JUST talking about this with my friend at home last week. THEN, BET runs all them dang on commercials about being tested. My friend was like, "These are hints, Monique." I was like, whatever. I just wouldn't want to know, and I know that sounds crazy, but I wouldn't. I honestly feel like it's a death sentence. And I also think it gets worse once you find out. I feel like if I were positive as soon as I found out, my health would start to decline. These are all of my irrational fears, right? I also would not be able to tell my sister. The isht just makes me uncomfortable, to tell you the truth.

BUT, all that aside, I have decided to get tested. I'll get it done at my next exam. I still really don't want to, but after reading this thread, I will. I don't want to be irresponsible.

In answer to the question, I think it's a reasonable request and if I were asked by a partner to take the test, I'd do it, but we'd do it together.

Soror, I totally understand and feel the way that you do. Although I have had two tests in my life, I really don't want to be tested again, even though I have had sex (not unprotected, but sex all the same) since my last test in 2001.

I also think that I might not want to know. The only thing that encourages me to go ahead and get another is that I would never want to give anything to anyone else. The point about getting meds early if need be is also a good point.

SC

[SummerChild]

Originally posted by OthelloStreet
I'm with Allstate... I don't know too much about the policy because my parents are paying for it. I just remember having that done around the time I got my physical and assumed that was what it was for.

I don't want to imply that they do this on a regular because I couldn't tell you, I just remember doing it.

I took out a policy with State Farm and had to do the cheek swab test right there in the insurance office.

SC

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by SummerChild
Redefined,
Do offices give written print-outs now or would you basically be taking him on his word when you say that you'd want to know the results of a recent test?
SC

When I got my results in January, it was verbal, but I asked for written documentation and showed it to Mr. CT4.