Getting Tested for Embarrassing Illnesses
Most people are a little bit self-conscious about dealing with embarrassing illnesses.
Going to a doctor and simply saying what the problem is, is often beyond most people and they let symptoms go untreated until they are serious enough to force them into the doctors' surgery.
People perceive illnesses as particularly embarrassing if they involve examinations of genitalia.
Sexually transmitted diseases also cause embarrassment, even when the diagnosis and treatment of the disease does not involve intimate examination of private parts.
Chlamydia for example is usually tested for by providing a urine sample, which you provide in privacy.
Chlamydia is a particularly tricky sexually transmitted disease as it is often symptom free and can lead to serious fertility issues.
Similarly Gonorrhoea often exhibits few symptoms and so people who have put themselves at risk of contracting the disease neglect to get themselves tested as soon as possible and start treatment.
If you believe you have put yourself at risk of contracting an STD it is important that you undertake tests to find out whether you have caught a disease and start treatment.
Diseases such as Chlamydia, Syphilis and Gonorrhoea are all treatable and curable.
A trip to your GP can get you a referral to an STI clinic where the first thing they are likely to do is test you for these diseases, along with HIV.
They will then recommend additional tests according to what your risk is.
There is a new "embarrassing illness" service in the UK launched in April 2011 for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea which means that people over 16 years old can get tests and treatments for the diseases.
The tests and treatments cost between £20 and £40 pounds each.
The scheme is being run by Superdrug and uses assessment via an online doctor to receive the prescriptions.
The scheme will also be able to provide the contraceptive pill and cystitis medicine.
It will be interesting to see the take up of this service as whilst it involves no embarrassing face to face with your local GP, the cost of the diagnosis and the treatment may see people summoning up their courage and attending the STD clinic.
Going to a doctor and simply saying what the problem is, is often beyond most people and they let symptoms go untreated until they are serious enough to force them into the doctors' surgery.
People perceive illnesses as particularly embarrassing if they involve examinations of genitalia.
Sexually transmitted diseases also cause embarrassment, even when the diagnosis and treatment of the disease does not involve intimate examination of private parts.
Chlamydia for example is usually tested for by providing a urine sample, which you provide in privacy.
Chlamydia is a particularly tricky sexually transmitted disease as it is often symptom free and can lead to serious fertility issues.
Similarly Gonorrhoea often exhibits few symptoms and so people who have put themselves at risk of contracting the disease neglect to get themselves tested as soon as possible and start treatment.
If you believe you have put yourself at risk of contracting an STD it is important that you undertake tests to find out whether you have caught a disease and start treatment.
Diseases such as Chlamydia, Syphilis and Gonorrhoea are all treatable and curable.
A trip to your GP can get you a referral to an STI clinic where the first thing they are likely to do is test you for these diseases, along with HIV.
They will then recommend additional tests according to what your risk is.
There is a new "embarrassing illness" service in the UK launched in April 2011 for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea which means that people over 16 years old can get tests and treatments for the diseases.
The tests and treatments cost between £20 and £40 pounds each.
The scheme is being run by Superdrug and uses assessment via an online doctor to receive the prescriptions.
The scheme will also be able to provide the contraceptive pill and cystitis medicine.
It will be interesting to see the take up of this service as whilst it involves no embarrassing face to face with your local GP, the cost of the diagnosis and the treatment may see people summoning up their courage and attending the STD clinic.
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