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Question:
I have constant burning and terrible odor. No unusal discharge. I believe I've contracted STD's.
Where can I go for "confidental" testing?
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Answer:
by Georgan Gregg: (06/18/2004)
In the information you shared along with your question, you mentioned that your recent partner had been diagnosed with trichomoniasis (or trich, pronounced “trick”). It was unclear to me whether you had both been treated simultaneously. You also said you were embarrassed to go back to your OBGYN. By the way, confidentiality is offered by all medical settings unless you file insurance (in which case that company sees why you are tested). If you meant no records at all (anonymous testing), there are clinics you can find in the yellow pages or searching the net, which don’t require ID to be tested. Many women use such facilities to give a Jane Doe type name & come back for the results. Hopefully I can give you some information that will help you decide what to do next.
Although trich is considered a sexually transmitted disease (STD), many other situations can pass it on: moist towels, bathing suits, underwear, washcloths & toilet seats. Therefore, we don’t know whether your partner was unfaithful & passed trich on to you or not. By the way, even if you were initially treated by your doctor, it’s very common to become reinfected with trich &/or another vaginal infection.
You could go to another physician or clinic to be tested for vaginal infection & STD, but I feel as though your OBGYN should be someone you feel comfortable with even if it is a return visit of a sensitive nature. If this is not the case, you should consider looking for a new doctor who has the nonjudgmental, approachable personality we all need.
This information will not, in itself, respond to the concerns you expressed about your partner’s faithfulness. Your worry that you may have other STD is realistic if you have other reasons not to trust that your partner was monogamous. I hope that you have the kind of OBGYN you can talk with openly about any questions you have regarding your sexual health, or will find one in the near future. Wherever you choose to go to be diagnosed & treated, please ask questions as they occur to you. There’s a 24-hour hotline you can phone anonymously, if that helps: the CDC National STD & AIDS Hotlines at 1-800-342-2437 or 1-800-227-8922. They provide referrals, answer your questions & have free written information.
Let us know if you need further help resolving your concerns. Good luck!
Reviewed by Sexual Health Editorial Team
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