Every once in a while, I post on my various email lists information about local STD testing centers. It's time for me to get tested again, so I'm making a post here too, even though many of you are not local. As a sexually-active ethically-non-monogamous woman, I feel very strongly about STD testing, even though I have not always been diligent about testing regularly in the past. So much of what plagues us in the STD arena is preventable and treatable that it is just dumbfounding to me that we still suffer from so many of these infections and diseases. Most of those in The Squiggle (my romantic family) keep abreast of the latest information regarding STDs, like ![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smoocherie's website http://www.smoocherie.com and I'm honored and privileged to be part of a network with such conscientious partners like smoocherie and tacit and all of their various sweeties.
I have been living in the Tampa area for the last 6+ years, so I was utilizing the Hillsborough County Clinc, which is quite reasonably-priced for all that they offer (http://24.173.147.140/std/std_main.htm). "Each client receives a thorough exam focused on spotting signs of STD infections. Testing is offered to all clients for HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, and Chlamydia. Anonymous HIV testing is available if requested. Herpes tests can be done if lesions are present. Women are also tested for bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis and trichomoniasis. Testing and/or vaccination for hepatitis are provided for clients at higher risk for these infections" all for a low price of $30, which also covers treatment of any STDs found. For an additional $30, a full PAP/Annual Gynecological Exam can also be done. The down side is that it's on a first-come first-served basis with no appointments. If you're not there by about 10 AM, you probably won't get seen. They do, however, keep your records on file for quite a long time and automatically provide a copy of all the results for you to take home, which I show to my potential partners before breaking HPV barriers for the first time.
I just moved to Orlando a couple weeks ago, and I didn't want to have to drive all the way to Tampa, especially for such an early check-in time, so I started researching local clinics. I found the Orange County Health Department has a comparable program to Hillsborough County, although their website is not as informative (http://www.orchd.com/STD/index.asp). When I emailed asking for clarification, this is the response I received:
We have 2 programs through the Orange County Health Department which you may access and be tested for most of the items you are requesting.
One program is our Women's Health Department. In order to access services through this department you must be able to have children (no previous tubal ligation or hysterectomy) and desire to be on a form of birth control or be pregnant.
I included Pat Nolan's information because (s)he was so complete in the information I requested that I would like to pass along the name to anyone else who can't find what they're looking for on the website.
I was not nearly as impressed with Planned Parenthood, although I remember the one in California in the '90s being reasonable. Each PP office pretty much runs itself, so there is no nationwide standardization for how things are done or how much it costs, or so they tell me. More and more, I am finding PP clinics that do not accept donations (as I remembered them doing as a teenager) but charging nearly as much as a private physician. Orlando's PP website is http://www.ppgo.org/. I was unable to find any concrete information on their cost, but I seem to remember hearing that it was over $100. If I find out otherwise, I'll change this post. PP does, however, have a comprehensive page on HPV that I would like to pass along: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/medical-sexual-health/HPV-6359.htm
I think I will try the Women's Health program at the Orange County clinic and say I want the pill, although I have no intention of taking it, since it's only $10 more than I was planning to spend at Hillsborough and I'm way overdue for a physical and gyn exam. Who knows, maybe I'll qualify for the cheaper rate? Otherwise, $45 isn't bad for all the same stuff minus a physical, which is really just for my peace of mind anyway and not really STD related, and which apparently *still* covers the PAP and breast exam, for which Hillsborough clinic lacks in their STD program.
I recommend utilizing the county services as long as they provide the services required so that the government will continue to fund these clinics for low-income people to take advantage of, and to pass the word along and encourage as many people as possible to get regular testing. These STDs should not be as big of a problem in this day and age as they are, and really all it takes is a little education and some responsible maintenance.
