THIVK. Test. Take Control

• What happens at clinics
• How clinics work
• Your rights in the clinic
• Information and support if diagnosed with herpes, HIV or hepatitis

How clinics work

Here's a rough idea of what to expect when you go to a clinic.

Before you go

Clinics are usually open during office hours but not usually on weekends or holidays so it's best to ring the clinic about opening times and appointments. Most clinics use an appointments system but some have walk-in clinics where you don't need an appointment. Walk-in clinics can mean a lot of waiting, so making an appointment should mean less hanging around. Some have early evening clinics one or more days a week.

If you have symptoms tell the receptionist, this should mean you’re seen as quickly as possible. Have you left enough time? It can take up to 4 hours to see a doctor, have tests, get results, be given treatment and talk to a health adviser.

Take something to read - there's often a lot of waiting.

You shouldn't piss for two to four hours before going to the clinic as they will need to take a sample of your urine. Pissing washes bacteria out of your cock, making it harder for tests to find signs of infections.

Make a note of any medicines you're taking - you'll be asked this at the clinic. Think about the questions you might be asked at the clinic (see the next section).

At the clinic

At reception they'll ask if you’ve been before. If not, you need to register. You'll usually be asked for:

• Your name, address and a phone number in case they need to contact you.
• Your date of birth so your notes don't get mixed up with others.
• The name of your GP and where they are based - in case the clinic can't contact you in an emergency using the other details you've given. It's OK if you don't have a doctor. You don't have to give your doctor's name if you don't want.

Your personal details

You can give a false name, but remember this name as you must use it every time you visit the clinic. Giving false details isn't a good idea in case the clinic needs to get in touch with you.

You'll be given a personal number. Your records are kept against this, so you'll need it for future visits and phone calls to the clinic. If you lose it, the clinic can find out your number by using your name and date of birth.

Seeing the doctor

When seeing the doctor, you might be asked:

• When did you last have sex?
• Was it with a man or a woman? If the doctor doesn't ask this, it's best to mention the sex was with a man if it was.
• Was this a 'regular' or 'casual' partner? In other words, have you had sex with this person before?
• What kind of sex was it? Sucking, fucking, wanking, rimming, etc.
• How many sexual partners have you had recently?
• Do you know how to contact them?
• If you think you have an infection, what symptoms have you had and when did you notice them?
• Are you allergic to any medicines?
• What medicines are you taking at the moment?
• Have you had any sexually transmitted infections before?
• Have you been vaccinated against hepatitis A or B?
• Have you had an HIV test? Would you like one?
• Do you have any health problems generally?

Giving honest answers can be embarrassing but it helps the doctor know which tests or treatments you might need. The doctor might use words to talk about sex that aren't words you use but you can use the words you feel comfortable with - they will understand you.

If you're asked if you’ve been the 'passive' or 'active' partner in anal sex, the doctor means, did you do the fucking ('active') or were you fucked ('passive')? Let the doctor know if you do both, or if you haven't had anal sex.

Being examined

The doctor will ask you to pull your trousers and pants down so they can look for signs of infection. They may feel the glands in your groin or neck to check for swelling. Then the doctor will tell you what tests they want you to have. The doctor or a nurse should do them and explain what each test is for.

Testing

When you go to a sexual health clinic, the staff will take samples in one of the following ways:

Blood sample

A blood sample will be taken from your arm. This is not a test for HIV, it's a test for syphilis and is given to everyone who visits a clinic. You will probably be offered an HIV test, so it's a good idea to think this over before you go. See why testing is a good idea here.

Some clinics might also want to test you for hepatitis (an infection of the liver).

Throat swab

A swab will be taken from your throat to check for infections like gonorrhoea. It doesn't hurt but it might make you gag a little. A 'swab' is a small cotton bud or very thin plastic stick used to collect fluid or other signs of infection.

Urine sample

More and more clinics are now using urine samples to check for infections. You'll be told what to do, then sent to the toilet with something to piss in.

Don't piss for two to four hours before your clinic visit as this washes signs of infection away.

Some clinics still use swabs and if you have a discharge (fluid coming from your dick or arse) then all clinics will need to test it using a swab.

If a swab is taken from your dick it may be uncomfortable for just a second. You may have heard stories about a small 'umbrella' or hook-type instrument that goes down your dick. This is a myth based on something used about 50 years ago but not used now. If you have strong feelings about swabs and would prefer urine tests you could ring around the clinics near to you to see which use urine tests.

If you need to be checked for infections inside your arse, a swab will be taken. You lie on the bed on your side with your knees up against your chest. Wearing rubber gloves the doctor or nurse will put some lubricating jelly around your arsehole which makes taking the swab easier. Then a swab or tube (a proctoscope) will be put into your arse to take a sample. It shouldn't hurt.

Some clinics might ask you to swab yourself by sticking a cotton bud an inch or two up your arse.

Your results

Some results are ready before you leave the clinic and others are sent to a laboratory. You can usually ring for results a week later or the clinic contacts you. Some clinics won't give results over the phone and prefer people to come back to the clinic for them. Other clinics only contact you if the tests have found an infection. HIV positive test results should be given in person, not over the phone or by letter.

When some of the test results are ready

The doctor will tell you what they've found. If you have an infection, you'll be given medicines there and then or you'll get a prescription to take to the hospital pharmacy.

These medicines are free.

Sometimes the doctor won't know whether you have an infection until the other results come back from the laboratory. You may be given medicines anyway or be asked to ring or visit the clinic later to find out what your test results are - or the clinic will contact you.

Treatment

Treatment for sexually transmitted infections is free (whether you come from Britain or abroad) and usually given before you leave. You’ll be told how to take the medicines, and not to have any sex with anyone until the clinic tells you that the infection has gone.

It's very important to finish the whole course of tablets, even if the symptoms go away as the infection may still be there. Never share or give your tablets to anyone else.

Depending on the treatment, the clinic might want to see you again to check it's worked.

Telling others

The clinic may talk to you about other people you've had sex with, particularly if you test HIV positive. If you don't know their details, just say so. If you feel okay about people being contacted, you can do it yourself or the clinic can do it for you without your name being mentioned. It's your choice, you don't have to give anyone else's details.

Health advisers

Most clinics have health advisers or counsellors with experience of a wide range of problems. They can spend more time with you than a doctor. They won't tell you what to do, but they'll talk through the choices you have.

You can talk about:

• sexually transmitted infections
• HIV testing
• how to tell people you've had sex with that they may have an infection and need a check-up
• things on your mind about your sex life or relationships
• whether or not to use condoms with a regular partner
• sexual assault (recently or in the past) or violence in a relationship
• loss of sex drive or problems getting erections
• being HIV positive
• choices around HIV treatments
• problems taking treatments
• relationships when one of you has HIV and the other doesn't.

To talk to a health adviser ask for an appointment. You can ask to see one without an appointment if you don't mind waiting or you can speak to one over the phone. You can ask to see a male or gay health adviser (if the clinic has one).

You can see a health adviser without seeing a doctor first.

Health advisers can see couples who want to talk things through together or you can take along a friend for support. But before seeing both of you, the health adviser will usually want to see you briefly on your own first.

If the clinic finds you have an infection, you may be asked to see the health adviser so you can talk about:

• what the infection is and how it's treated
• how you got it and how to avoid getting it again
• what having it means for other people you have sex with
• different ways your sexual partners can be advised to have a check-up.

Health advisers provide a confidential service. You can ask them not to put the things you talk to them about into your clinic notes.

• This article was last reviewed on: 11/10/2011
• Date due for next review: 11/10/2013