What is the Planned Parenthood of Germany?
January 1, 2010 10:25 AM Subscribe
I am a man who appears to have a very common STD. I live in Germany, and I very badly hope to have it treated, but I don't feel comfortable going to my GP about it. What are my options?
I have public health insurance, but the only STD clinic I can find in my area is city-run and targeted at prostitutes, which I am not. Should I go to another GP, or is there a specialist field for sexual health that I should look up? Or should I take the train to a larger city like Munich and use an anonymous clinic there? I've never had to do this before and obviously don't feel comfortable asking friends about it. My throwaway email is thisisathrowawayacct@googlemail.com. Thank you for any advice in advance!
I have public health insurance, but the only STD clinic I can find in my area is city-run and targeted at prostitutes, which I am not. Should I go to another GP, or is there a specialist field for sexual health that I should look up? Or should I take the train to a larger city like Munich and use an anonymous clinic there? I've never had to do this before and obviously don't feel comfortable asking friends about it. My throwaway email is thisisathrowawayacct@googlemail.com. Thank you for any advice in advance!
Dude, just go to the free clinic. The doctors and nurses have seen everything, so your seeping sores are all in a day's work to them.
And you'll be treated more gently than the prostitutes, because the doctors/nurses won't see you as a repeat patient who flouts medical advice, but as someone of their own social class who made a one-time error in judgment. That's not quite fair, but in this case class and gender privilege is going to work for you.
posted by orthogonality at 10:50 AM on January 1, 2010
And you'll be treated more gently than the prostitutes, because the doctors/nurses won't see you as a repeat patient who flouts medical advice, but as someone of their own social class who made a one-time error in judgment. That's not quite fair, but in this case class and gender privilege is going to work for you.
posted by orthogonality at 10:50 AM on January 1, 2010
If you're afraid to tell your GP this, what will withhold from them in the future. Ideally, you need to find someone you can tell anything to.
Remember that doctors are not there to judge, they're there to treat problems. I say tell your GP, get it treated. If things go as poorly as you dread (which they almost certainly will not), then switch GPs.
posted by inturnaround at 11:01 AM on January 1, 2010
Remember that doctors are not there to judge, they're there to treat problems. I say tell your GP, get it treated. If things go as poorly as you dread (which they almost certainly will not), then switch GPs.
posted by inturnaround at 11:01 AM on January 1, 2010
If you can provide a little more info it would be good, perhaps through a mod? Unless there is something very specific about your GP that makes you uncomfortable I wouldn't worry about stigma, they are highly unlikely to bat an eyelid. If there is something specific about your GP then the next town over would likely do you fine.
FWIW here in Sweden I have had colleagues ("nice" midde aged ladies) inform me about the various STDs they have had without the least embarrassment. On their part that is...
Me, I would ring to the free clinic, even if their primary purpose is treating sex workers, they will at the very least be able to point you in the right direction or even treat you themselves.
I must admit though, I am curious about a town with enough prostitutes to warrant a dedicated clinic, but only one GP for the rest of the population!
posted by Iteki at 12:01 PM on January 1, 2010
FWIW here in Sweden I have had colleagues ("nice" midde aged ladies) inform me about the various STDs they have had without the least embarrassment. On their part that is...
Me, I would ring to the free clinic, even if their primary purpose is treating sex workers, they will at the very least be able to point you in the right direction or even treat you themselves.
I must admit though, I am curious about a town with enough prostitutes to warrant a dedicated clinic, but only one GP for the rest of the population!
posted by Iteki at 12:01 PM on January 1, 2010
If you can't even say what the STD is while posting anonymously, you may have bigger problems. I'm not here to beat up on you, though, just go to your GP. They don't care. If you really really can't do that, find a clinic. Seriously, just deal with it.
You know how you say it's a "very common" STD? That's an advantage in dealing with it.
posted by rhizome at 12:29 PM on January 1, 2010
You know how you say it's a "very common" STD? That's an advantage in dealing with it.
posted by rhizome at 12:29 PM on January 1, 2010
Your GP really, seriously doesn't care. If it's gonorrhea or chlamydia, it's a shot in the arm and a pill and then you're treated. Your GP has seen everything as well as the STD clinic (it's an STD clinic, so yes, by nature, it's going to be more targeted at sex workers, but I'm sure they're well equipped to handle a non-sex worker man.)
posted by gramcracker at 1:17 PM on January 1, 2010
posted by gramcracker at 1:17 PM on January 1, 2010
Go to the free clinic -- they are usually very professional, very discreet, and will be more familiar with issues of sexual health than most GPs. And thought they may have been organised to serve sex workers, they will likely be perfectly comfortable with a non-sex-worker; you may just want to clarify your situation. (I had one doctor at a clinic thinking I was very naive when I insisted that I was in a monogamous relationship and that I trusted that he was not sleeping around; she clearly had seen many women burned but didn't understand just how very geeky my boyfriend and I were : )
You may want to check if they have specific days for men as opposed to women.
posted by jb at 1:33 PM on January 1, 2010
You may want to check if they have specific days for men as opposed to women.
posted by jb at 1:33 PM on January 1, 2010
you live in germany and you have the gesetzliche Krankenversicherung? why then not go to another gp if you are not comfortable with going to your usual one with this? you are free to choose any GP you like. this is a totally normal occurrence for your doc, you won't be sticking out or judged at all.
posted by krautland at 5:01 PM on January 1, 2010
posted by krautland at 5:01 PM on January 1, 2010
Seriously. The crazy, irritating, manipulative and completely odd things we see day in and day out make an STD like a brief vacation from the day. Your GP will thank-you. In his/her head, just the same. Otherwise, yeah, change GP's. Life only brings more embarrassment, if that's your concern.
posted by docpops at 10:52 PM on January 2, 2010
posted by docpops at 10:52 PM on January 2, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
If it's because you are embarrassed, I urge you to reconsider this. Doctors' careers, oath, and professional ethics exist to help their patients in situations that are often embarrassing and uncomfortable. Do not deny yourself the caring treatment of a physician who knows you, simply because you are worried about what the doctor may think of you. It is the doctor's job.
posted by jayder at 10:44 AM on January 1, 2010