#antistigma

This is me and my girlfriend, Tiggy. I’ll probably be speaking about her in further posts, so now’s the time to introduce her!

Last week, the two of us decided that it was probably worth us both getting sexual health tests. And so we had a “clinic and chill” date together. I realised after this decision that I actually had no idea what went on at one of these check-ups, so I decided what better way than to write a blog post about it!

We went to the University Hospital of North Durham during one of their drop-in sessions. The first week, we arrived ten minutes after the clinic start time to find that all the appointments had already been taken for that afternoon, so we tried again the next week and made sure to get there before the doors opened. Here, we were given a number, checked in by our gender and then asked to wait.

There was a lot of waiting - I wasn’t aware of how long each appointment would actually take, but they really spend time getting as much information out of you as they can, so it can take a while. While we were waiting, each of us was called up to the desk by the number we were given and asked whether we’d been before. We also gave a name, which can be real (me) or fake (Tiggy). Tiggy, who’d been before, was able to continue her records under the name she’d given previously.

Having never been myself, I was asked to complete a form with my details, including how I wished to be addressed and how I wanted to receive my results. And then there was more waiting, until I was called through.

The examination room itself was both homely and clinical. The walls were a warm yellow and full of light, and the only imposing feature was the blue bed, lying down in the corner with stirrups at the end. I was asked by a Healthcare Assistant what I was there for - a check-up, no symptoms currently - and she then fetched the consultant on duty.

I was asked questions that were generally pretty standard for a medical examination. What medications I was otherwise on, any other conditions I had, that kind of stuff. She explained to me that the system used in the sexual health clinic does not connect to any of the main computer systems used throughout the NHS, so that my results and details would not be linked to any of my other records.

Then came questions regarding my sexual activity. When I last had sex, what contraceptive(s) I was using, whether I’d had any history of STIs or symptoms. I was also asked about my sexual partners in the last three months and to give details about them - their age, their gender, their sexuality, where they were from, whether they were casual or regular partners and what contraception we used, if any, as well as what sexual acts we had engaged in. This part was the longest section of the appointment (sorry, mum!) We also had a short discussion about other contraceptive options, since I’ve been considering switching from the combined pill to an IUD.

The actual physical tests were then pretty simple - a self-swab for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea, where I was asked to go to the bathroom, insert an oversized cotton bud into my vagina and then place it in a sample deposit box. Blood samples were then also taken for hepatitis B and HIV (something of a miracle for me, being spectacularly needle-phobic - the nurses even gave me a Lucozade afterwards!)

Finally, I was offered the vaccine for Hepatitis B, since I have male partners who also have sexual activity with men, placing me at a higher risk. This I turned down, since I would not have been able to have the full course of vaccines on time when going home for university holidays, but I intend to take it up next time I go.

And that was everything! The appointment was exceptionally thorough, and a lot of the questions were intimate and required a high level of openness. However, it’s a completely non-judgemental environment, and talking about your behaviour honestly will get you the best results and treatment from the appointment

I received my results a week later via text, and both of us got the all-clear. I intend now to go every time I have a new partner, since the tests I’d had previously were not so thorough (mostly urine screenings for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea), so that I can keep track of my sexual health in relation to who I’m with at any one time. If you’re having sex regularly, it’s a good idea to go and get tested - it’s not a daunting process at all!

By Rosie