People often neglect the idea of visiting a sexual health clinic due to the taboo that surrounds it. People may feel embarrassed or vulnerable to discuss their sexual health and concerns that they may have. However, it is incredibly important to go for a sexual health check every once in a while to ensure you can enjoy a safe, happy, and healthy sex life. If you are engaging in sexual intercourse with more than one partner, this is especially important.
This article will discuss what you should know about visiting a clinic for your sexual health check.
Visiting A Sexual Health Clinic
Sexual health clinics are the best place to diagnose and treat your problem. The staff are professionals in their field and are there to give you the best advice and support. Often people worry about being judged, however, there is no such thing as being judged in a sexual health clinic.
When you step into a clinic, you will have to provide some information at the reception regarding your age, weight, residence and contact number. Then you have to wait for your turn. The best part is that you don’t have to make an appointment before visiting the clinic.
Interaction With The Doctor
The examination process begins when the doctor asks you some questions related to your sex life! The possible questions include
- How many times do you have sex in a week or month?
- Do you have more than one sex partner?
- What are the symptoms you noticed after making sexual contact?
- Do you use condoms for safety purposes?
- Is your partner suffering from any sexually transmitted disease?
- Have you gone through a blood transfusion recently?
- Have you received an injection with a contaminated needle?
- Do you feel any difficulty while urinating?
- Have you noticed blood clots in your urine?
- Have you observed any foul-smelling and abnormal fluid coming out of your genitals?
- Do you have a fever?
- Do you feel irritation or itching around your genital area?
You need to be honest while answering the questions of the doctor. Honesty allows for them to make the best decisions tailored to your health.
The doctor may observe the presence of the following things:
- Redness around the genital area
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Sores and ulcers around the genitals
- Warts around and on the genitals
Sample Collection
Sample collection is necessary to perform confirmatory tests in the lab to double check that a person is a positive STI patient.
On the doctor’s recommendation, the sample is collected, which may be
- Blood sample
- Urine sample
- Oral swab
- Rectal swab
- Fluid discharge
- semen sample
Counselling Of The Patient
Psychologists are available in the clinic to give moral and mental support to those declared positive for the disease. You will often have the opportunity to talk to a psychologist/counsellor about your worries and they will be there to offer guidance and advice to you.