No PCP, need STD test. Halp?
March 29, 2016 5:58 AM Subscribe
I am a guy in west Los Angeles. I would like to get a 'preventative maintenance' STD panel before embarking on a new relationship. I do not yet have a primary care physician. Hope me?
Back in the day this is the sort of thing I'd go to my campus health center for, but I'm out in the real world now. Assume I know that I need a primary care physician and I'm working on that, but right now I just want to make sure my knowledge of my sexual health is current and accurate, for the protection of my potential partner. I have not been sexually active in years so this is not urgent as in "I think I might have something," but it is urgent as in "this woman and I are mutually attracted and would like to do things safe and right."
I have pretty great health insurance, thank goodness. Assume that paying a deductible is no problem.
Is this something I could ask for at a walk-in urgent care? Planned parenthood? I feel silly having to ask but I'm not quite fully up to speed on adulting yet!
Back in the day this is the sort of thing I'd go to my campus health center for, but I'm out in the real world now. Assume I know that I need a primary care physician and I'm working on that, but right now I just want to make sure my knowledge of my sexual health is current and accurate, for the protection of my potential partner. I have not been sexually active in years so this is not urgent as in "I think I might have something," but it is urgent as in "this woman and I are mutually attracted and would like to do things safe and right."
I have pretty great health insurance, thank goodness. Assume that paying a deductible is no problem.
Is this something I could ask for at a walk-in urgent care? Planned parenthood? I feel silly having to ask but I'm not quite fully up to speed on adulting yet!
+1 for planned parenthood.
posted by masters2010 at 6:03 AM on March 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by masters2010 at 6:03 AM on March 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
You can totally do this at urgent care if that's the most convenient. Planned Parenthood is also a great option. For anyone who doesn't have insurance or for whom the cost of a visit is prohibitive, the Department of Public Health in most cities will offer free or very low-cost STI testing (sometimes in partnership with a nonprofit). Here's the start site for LA County.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 6:40 AM on March 29, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 6:40 AM on March 29, 2016 [3 favorites]
Many gay oriented health clinics have quick and inexpensive STI testing.
posted by Candleman at 6:50 AM on March 29, 2016
posted by Candleman at 6:50 AM on March 29, 2016
Urgent care is not ideal for STI testing, because most places will not do tests like HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis because of lack of pre and post test counseling opportunity and lack of rapid test results (i.e. you don't get a positive HIV test result called to you on the phone!).
posted by treehorn+bunny at 7:08 AM on March 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by treehorn+bunny at 7:08 AM on March 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
Hit up the LA Gay & Lesbian Center's STD test clinic in West Hollywood! They are walk-in, have the full slate of tests, and will also accept donations.
posted by naturalnumbers at 7:28 AM on March 29, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by naturalnumbers at 7:28 AM on March 29, 2016 [4 favorites]
The SPOT on Santa Monica Blvd. 8745 Santa Monica Blvd (323) 957-5280
Opens at 11:00 AM
posted by Sophie1 at 7:47 AM on March 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
Opens at 11:00 AM
posted by Sophie1 at 7:47 AM on March 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's already been said, but yeah, Planned Parenthood.
posted by MexicanYenta at 8:57 AM on March 29, 2016
posted by MexicanYenta at 8:57 AM on March 29, 2016
Do not under any circumstances use Planned Parenthood for STD testing if you have any financial concerns. I had a partner go in some years ago and it was absurdly expensive - several hundred dollars - which they did not disclose to him until after he had already gotten the tests.
posted by corb at 2:09 PM on March 29, 2016
posted by corb at 2:09 PM on March 29, 2016
I have had bad luck getting STI tests and information from my PCP.
I have been very happy with my experiences at Planned Parenthood and I have only heard good things from others who have gone there (for testing and for long-term birth control devices). They are absolutely the right place to go. They will interview you about your history and then help you choose the appropriate tests.
I have always asked what the tests will cost, and they have always told me ahead of time. I know the prices are different for people in different situations, so ask.
Good luck adulting! You'll do fine!
posted by fritley at 2:22 PM on March 29, 2016
I have been very happy with my experiences at Planned Parenthood and I have only heard good things from others who have gone there (for testing and for long-term birth control devices). They are absolutely the right place to go. They will interview you about your history and then help you choose the appropriate tests.
I have always asked what the tests will cost, and they have always told me ahead of time. I know the prices are different for people in different situations, so ask.
Good luck adulting! You'll do fine!
posted by fritley at 2:22 PM on March 29, 2016
FYI Planned Parenthood and some doctors will not order screening tests for herpes in the absence of lesions, and that's because the CDC's recommendation advises against it. If you and your partner want to know your herpes status you'll need to make sure HSV-2 and HSV-1 IgG blood testing is ordered. Most STD panels do not include herpes testing.
posted by txtwinkletoes at 3:58 PM on March 29, 2016
posted by txtwinkletoes at 3:58 PM on March 29, 2016
Txtwinkletoes is sort of correct, sort of not. As I recall, Planned Parenthood does do that, but that may be what ratcheted up the costs into the several-hundred-dollars range. They initially didn't want to order them, but did upon further request. They may order them but just charge high prices for them?
posted by corb at 4:03 PM on March 29, 2016
posted by corb at 4:03 PM on March 29, 2016
Planned Parenthood should take your pretty great health insurance, but if you are concerned about cost as someone above mentioned, call and ask!
posted by Toddles at 6:52 PM on March 29, 2016
posted by Toddles at 6:52 PM on March 29, 2016
Planned Parenthood took my Medi-Cal and did an STI test for me without charging me anything.
posted by divabat at 11:18 PM on March 29, 2016
posted by divabat at 11:18 PM on March 29, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by kat518 at 6:00 AM on March 29, 2016 [21 favorites]