Does this seem legit for home testing?

[jayman1ppu]

www.medicalhometestingkits.com

I know HIV tests (except home Access are not FDA approved but was wondering about the others.

[auntiejessi]

I don't know that particular site, but I am not a fan of home testing.  If its positive, you still have to go to the doctor to get meds, and there is room for user error.

Nothing replaces a good exam and consultation by a doctor.

Go to an std clinic and save a ton of money.

Aj

[jayman1ppu]

The problem is I'm not comfortable with discussing STD's with my doctor and doubt I would be with any doctor. The one and only time I had sex was almost 3 years ago. I went to the local heath department clinc (which you would think would be among the best), it was dirty and filled with people I was afreaid even to be near. It seemed more likely to catch something there than to be treated for it.

[jayman1ppu]

I feel like a freak even feeling the need to be tested. I feel dirty and am almost certian I will be judged either way.

[auntiejessi]

I don't think you need to test.  I think you need to talk to your doctor about your anxiety, and get some help for that before testing.  You don't have any reason at all to test anyway.

The feeling dirty and judged is in you.  I have herpes and I don't feel dirty unless I need to shower.  Sex isn't a dirty thing, and an std isn't a dirty thing any more than mono or strep that you might get from kissing.

I wonder if you have some issues around sex, and they just manifest around stds.  I don't know - I'm not a therapist, and I don't know you.  OK say if herpes was transmitted by sitting on toilet seats (which it isn't, I'm doing a hypothetical here), and you got it.  Would you feel dirty about that, or only if you got it from sex (which is how it IS transmitted - don't want any confusion for anyone reading this lol).  If its how its transmitted, then the issue isn't the infection itself - its how its transmitted.

Your results were negative.  Millions and millions of std testing is done each day.  Why would YOURS be negative and unreliable?  

Please consider getting help for this. You don't have to live this way, hon.  Its interfering in your life.

Aj

[jayman1ppu]

I've started seeing a therapsit but sadly my insuance doesn't cover it. So, the meetings are short and spread out so i can afford them.

As for why mine would be unreibalbel, maybe that just another aniexty thing but it always seems like whenever I get anything it's rare, or comes up after any even remotely intimate situation. I always feel like i'll be the bizarre case that the write about in a medical journal.

As for STDs themselves. Yes, it is mostly the mode of transmission that bothers me. However, it's also how other would precieve me. For example, my brother recenlty had shingles (obviously in the herpes family) and was embarrassed as heck when he had to get a prescription for valtrex at the local pharmacy, just becuase of the perception that it's a herpes drug. Other people get things in their heads and view STDs shamefully.

And for an average Joe like me, you needs a miracle to get a girlfriend to begin with, it would just be another strike. I've only met one person ever who knowingly dated 9or would even consider dating) a guy with an STD or history of a cured one.

[auntiejessi]

Well, I'd like to think that the average person isn't judging you as harshly as you judge yourself.  And really - embarrassed at a pharmacy?  They fill more valtrex than you can imagine, and viagra, cialis, etc.  

I dated a guy with herpes.  I didn't care - I cared more about him than the stupid virus.  And yes, I got it, but I wouldn't go back and change it, even though we aren't together anymore.  He was, and still is, a very important person in my life.

I have a couple of friends that I can think of offhand who are either dating or married to men who have herpes.  I am quite sure that there are many who've had something like chlamydia in the past, and it was cured.  I see no reason why that would affect someone's dating life now.

Every city has a county health dept.  Call them and ask them if they know of any places with a sliding fee scale for counseling.  I think its anxiety, but I also think there is some low self esteem here.

http://www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/mhservices.aspx - check that out.

Aj