[Anonymous]

If you need to have 'swabs' at a sexual health clinic, what do they actually do? Also, can you swab yourself? I'm really self conscious and hate the thought of someone else prodding about downstairs

[*Joanna*]

Male or female? For female, they swab inside your vagina and around your urethra I think. I also did a self swab chlamidya test at uni, but at the doctors/clinic etc I don't think you'd be allowed to do it yourself.

[Anonymous]

Female

[5697]

I know it can be quite embarrasing having an STI test but you have to remember that this is the persons job and they do this everyday. Its not like they havn't seen it all before. If you have a full STI test then they will take a urine sample, do a swab and take blood. You can request to have a female doctor if this would make you feel better.

[Anonymous]

I really don't want to go
I dont think i actually have an STD, but theres definitely something going on. I've only ever slept with one man, my boyfriend, and i know for a fact he's clean. I keep getting weird discharge though, which has changed again since yesterday. Is there anything i can do to avoid having to be examined at the clinic?

[Calloom]

I don't know if this would be any more appealing to you, but you can go to your GP for such matters, and since you (presumably) already know your GP, it might be slightly less embarrassing/impersonal. Just a thought

[Findlay6]

For Clymidia you can swab yourself, im sure if you say your uncomfortable you can ask to do it yourself if she tells you waht to do etc.

[5697]

Go to your doctor like Calloom said. I know this may sound really strange but you could always take your knickers along.... so they could look??? Although I think they would still want to have a look. Im not sure you how you could get around it.

[tom_tom_tom]

I know it can be very embarrasing and i dont like bareing myself in public, but i think the best thing to think about is, the person has seen it before, and its your sexual health and health in general, i think i would be willing to grit my teeth and withstand it just for the fact if there was anything wrong at least it would be caught quickly.

[5697]

And also if you say you know that your boyfriend is clean then it propably wont help going to an STI clinic as it is more likely that you have a yeast infection or something like that so you are better off going to your GP.

[dannicottell]

Could be Thrush?

[louboutin*]

Well my friend went to the STI clinic and they gave her a swab to do herself in the toilet, but that have just been for Chlamydia.I really wouldn't worry about it thought they will have seen it all before and I'm sure they have seen plenty worse things than strange discharge.Yes it will be embarassing for the 5 minutes that you are in there but you are never going to have to see the person again and at least you will be able to stop worrying. I do agree with the post above though maybe your GP should be your first stop as it does sound more like a yeast infection or thrush.

[sophisticated]

Its really not a big deal, honestly. They make you feel totally at ease. Think about how many people they see day in, day out. You're just another job.

[polka_dott]

Sounds like thrush, best to go to your GP to see what they say?

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies, keeping my knickers on doesn't seem like an option at all from what i've read online but i'll ask. I know it's not going to be anything they havent seen before but... but!

[Anonymous]

And yeah, seeing my GP does seem like a better option.