STDs

[roadrunner019]

hey i need some advice. I think i might have an STD or something but I wont be able to get tested until August and I was wondering if it would be bad for me to wait its been a long time since i noticed any symptoms but i can get tested free at my college and i dont want my parents to know about this plus i cant drive so i have no way of getting to the doctor.

thanks

 

[cubedbee]

You should definitely not wait until August. There are two major reasons why it is bad to do so

1) Until you get treated you are very contagious. You must be having sex if you think you have an STD---so aer you going to stop having sex until August or risk infecting your partners with an untreated and undiagnosed STD?

2) Untreated STD's can lead to bad things, such as sterility. Both the testicles and the uterus can get attacked by the STD and become irreversibly damaged. The longer you let the infection go untreated, the greater your likelihood of this is.

It is stupid and irresponsible to wait until August to get tested. You really should just come clean with your parents and confide in them that you screwed up, but if you're unable to do that then find a way to get to the doctor yourself. The doctor can't legally tell your parents the reason for your visit---so get a ride from a friend or tell your parents you just need to go for an annual checkup or take the bus or find some way to get there.

 

[roadrunner019]

hey thanks for ur advice. I think i could get a ride from one of my friends but i just cant tel l my parents because i know they would be really mad. but i think the visit and all would be really expensive and i dont know a way i can explain to them where all my money went. And if i used the insurance card i think theyd find out .

 

[cubedbee]

As far as your insurance goes, I work for an insurance company, and if you are over 18 then your parents do not have a legal right to your medical information from your insurer. You can confirm this for yourself by calling your insurer and asking them if your parents have access to your information under the HIPAA privacy laws.

If you don't want to use your insurance, many states have free/very cheap STD testing sites. Call 1-800-227-8922, the national STD hotline, and they should be able to tell you a site in your area.