|
|
|
|||
|
ABOUT BESTD
BEYOND THE CLINIC
WHAT WE DO
STD RESOURCES
BESTD.ORG |
||||
|
You're not alone. Chances are someone's had the same question! You're more than welcome to contact us to find answers to your own personal STD and HIV questions. The staff and volunteers at the BESTD Clinic are happy to help you find answers, so we have provided answers and suggestions to some commonly asked questions that can be difficult to ask. We also recommend
www.gayhealth.com as another source for answers to many STD/HIV questions.
Feel free to take a look at the regularly updated list
of F.A.Q. below: STD Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I make an appointment for HIV and other STD testing as well as receive Hepatitis B vaccinations?
A: If you are able to come to BESTD Clinic on a Monday or Tuesday night between 6pm and 8:30pm, you will not need an appointment. We are able to do hepatitis B, syphilis and HIV tests for both men and women. We also offer the hepatitis B vaccine for free, if our test shows that you are not currently vaccinated. BESTD is focused on male STD testing and treatment in the gay community. We refer most of our female clients to Planned Parenthood if tests other than those mentioned above are needed or requested. They can be reached at 800-230-PLAN or online at http://www.ppwi.org Also, if your schedule allows, visiting on a Monday night usually means more attention and a shorter stay; Tuesdays get very crowded - very early.
This question
was answered by: Back to more Questions
Q: Can heterosexual women use the resources of the BESTD Clinic only for LGBT persons? A: There are services that BESTD Clinic offers to women, regardless of sexual orientation. We offer testing for Hepatitis B, Syphilis and HIV. We also offer Hepatitis B vaccinations if your test shows that you are not already immune. For all other STD testing and treatment, we refer our female clients to Planned Parenthood. Their phone number is 800-230-PLAN and their website is http://www.ppwi.org
This question
was answered by: Back to more Questions
Q: What do I need to do before coming to BESTD for testing?
A: At BESTD Clinic, the only thing you need to bring for an STD test is yourself. We work on a first-come, first-serve basis so there are no appointments to be made. We generally see the first 25 people to arrive, so please arrive as close to 6:00pm as possible. If you only need a general screening, you can stop in on a Monday or Tuesday evening. If you have possible symptoms of an STD, please come in on a Tuesday evening (we can only treat STDs on Tuesday, but we can test for them on both days). This question
was answered by: Back to more Questions
Q:
What services can BESTD
Clinic provide for women? A: There are services that BESTD Clinic offers to women. We offer testing for Hepatitis B, Syphilis and HIV. We also offer Hepatitis B vaccinations if your test shows that you are not already immune. For all other STD testing and treatment, we refer our female clients to Planned Parenthood. Their phone number is 800-230-PLAN and their website is http://www.ppwi.org. This is due to federal regulations (under CLIA). There are moderately complex testing and treatment methods for some STDs in women that are not used with men. Being staffed entirely by volunteers we cannot commit the necessary resources it would take to get certified on female STD tests. This question
was answered by: Back to more Questions
Q: I recently had genital and oral sex with a woman who has been asymptomatic for the herpes virus for 21 years. Do you recommend that I get tested? When can I come in? A: We can see you on Tuesdays between 6:00pm and 8:30pm for a general screening of STDs and HIV. However, BESTD Clinic does not test for herpes in the absence of symptoms (sores, lesions). This is because cold sores are a form of herpes. If a person has ever had cold sores, their test will show that they have been exposed to herpes, so you can see how inaccurate this is. Also, there isn't much to be gained by knowing if you have herpes since the only time you would take medication as treatment is during an actual outbreak. This question
was answered by: Back to more Questions
Q: I have heard a lot about the OraQuick HIV rapid test. Could you please tell me what I need to do to get tested?
A: The BESTD Clinic at 1240 Brady Street in Milwaukee offers the
OraQuick test which can provide results in as little as 20 minutes. Since
we ask each of our clients to speak with an HIV testing counselor before
taking the test, actual in-clinic time may be longer. Back to more Questions
Q: How can the herpes virus be transmitted? I've heard that cold sores can transmit the herpes virus during oral sex, is this accurate?
A: Herpes is a nuisance viral skin condition
that occasionally causes major health problems. Usually, it causes only
nuisance blisters & sores wherever the virus initially entered the body--
Lips around the mouth, penis, vulva, anus. It can occur in less common
sites, like the finger, the nipple, the eye, etc. This question
was answered by: Back to more Questions
|
||||
|
|
The BESTD Clinic is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. | |||
| Copyright © 2008 Brady East STD Clinic (BESTD Clinic). All rights reserved. |
Last updated on
Tuesday March 11, 2008. |
|||
