Penile genital swab and std exam?

[Dirac]

I got engaged recently and we've decided to lose the condoms and just stick to the pill. We're really sure that we're clean since we've been exclusively together for years but my future wife said that she heard some std's have no symptoms so just to make sure we're getting tested.

I did a bit of reading up and heard that sometimes a penile swab is used. Just wondering if it's painful since quite often "discomfort" equals pain in the medical jargan. Also is it true that I should not urinate up to 2 hours before going to the clinic?

I read on one site that one person said it was the most painful experience in his life even though he had cancer in the past. Now I'm getting kinda worried. He's probably exaggerating but another person on that site said it burned for several days when he urinated and sometimes at night he would have pain. Is the exception or the norm?

Thanks

[Ducy]

Well let's look at it this way.

Rough cotton swab. Up your sensitive penile canal.

Most likely there will be some pain. The "burning for days" was probably just microtrauma caused by the rough swab scratching the lining of your eurethra (sp?). Similar to how penetration before a woman is aroused can lead to tiny "tears" in her vaginal canal.

The only 2 people I've ever know to get those said they hurt but it wasn't the end of the world. And from what my grandfather tells me about his stage four lung cancer. Its uncomfortable but its not this seering pain or anything. Its sorta like a tightness in his chest accompanied with a hacking cough. he always thought cancer was similar to having your body eaten from the inside out but he was mistaken

[big916]

Please read the topic "testing question" is this section. Your question has been answered and blood and urine tests are standard for testing for these diseases.

[Dirac]

Originally Posted by big916

Please read the topic "testing question" is this section. Your question has been answered and blood and urine tests are standard for testing for these diseases.

I just read it and people say they'll do a urine test unless your high at risk. Then the topic goes off in a tangent. So that doesn't answer my question. I don't know about other countries (I'm in Canada btw) and clinic policies but I went to the website of the one in my neighborhood and it mentioned that after a physical genital exam, they swab and then get a blood and urine sample since doing the swap after after urinating within 2 hours affect test results.

So I still want my initial questions to be answer please.

Thanks

[big916]

i don't see where it said you would not get a urine test if you were considered high risk. is this something you heard? btw you wouldn't be considered a high risk if you have been in a long term monogamous relationship and using condoms with her. anyways the doctor will usually check gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV. the first two can be tested with urine and the HIV tested with a blood sample. they will check more if you are considered a high risk after telling them your sexual activity.

so far as i have read in the US a urine sample can be given instead of a swab test. state that you prefer to give a urine sample. and yes do not urinate 2 hours before giving a urine sample. i can not give a reason, that is just what i was told before giving one.

and yes there are std's that may not show symptoms, one being chlamydia. it is one of the easiest to treat, but if not can cause serious damage to the reproductive system and make a person sterile.

[Ducy]

I think it would be odd not to urinate before a swab test. The moment that thing enters your bladder I could see it acting as a needle on a ballon. The doctor would be getting a golden shower. Not too pretty.

[RedRoses]

Dirac, just want to say it's really good you'd want to get tested!

Originally Posted by big916

i don't see where it said you would not get a urine test if you were considered high risk. is this something you heard? btw you wouldn't be considered a high risk if you have been in a long term monogamous relationship and using condoms with her.

I think this is referring to my post from Testing Question:

Originally Posted by RedRoses

Don't know where the OP is from, but here in Holland they take a urinetest and a bloodtest (for HIV). Only when you are in a high risk category (uprotected sex with multiple partners for instance) or the results of the urine come back ambivalent, they will take a swap.

As said; that's what they do here. I don't know if that's the case in other countries. And I don't know what exactly are the criteria for high/low risk.

As an example: I asked my bf to get tested about 3,5 years back prior to having unprotected sex with him. He has had several sexpartners throughout his life (one girl a time). If not (yet) steady with a (sex)partner, he used protection. He's had unprotected sex with his exclusive partners. He nor his partners ever did an STD-check-up. He didn't have or has had physical complaints downstairs. He was considered a low-risk category by his primary physician.

Why not make a call to hospitals in your neighborhood? Or visit your primary physician or sexual health &education center? Just to get some information on how things work. Policies may differ. Like: we've got a sexual health clinic in Amsterdam where women can take vaginal swabs themselves. Whereas in most other hospital you have to get on the examination table and have a doctor's assistant do it for you.

[lnt1103]

I've noticed with a great many medical "procedures", shall we say....its bark is worse than its bite. In other words, the psyching yourself out in anticipation is worse than getting whatever done.

Having said that, I've never had to have anything down there swabbed.

[RedRoses]

This vid from the UK shows and explains the procedure (yes, it really shows!). It should cause no pain, possibly slight discomfort:
Know more about male STI check-up - Sexperience

Of the same series I saw an episode, in which they swapped an entire football-team. I remember most guys thought it was a bit uncomfortable, not painful. One was actually smiling on the examination table saying it felt pretty good. To add: the nurse was a pretty lady I think it was Series 1 | Episode 4 | The Sex Education Show (not allowed to watch episodes on this site, perhaps you can?)

And agreed with Int! We can sometime nerve ourselves far more than needed. I know all about that

Yet admittedly; it is good to feel prepared and know what is going to happen. It calms your nerves and makes you feel more confident. I've walked into examinationrooms and felt overwhelmed. Since that happened a few times, I've decided to always go in prepared and with the proper prior attitude of standing up for my needs as a patient (this is the ultimate owner of this body speaking and I'm pretty much attached to it, thank you )

[big916]

thank you for sharing that link RR it was very informative and showed that yes it may uncomfortable but not painful. i think the only men that would feel pain is if they already had a disease. i too agree with int. though i am not really afraid of anything that can happen at the doctors, talking about anything is fine and needles do not bother me. it is just the thought of something going into my urethra was the only thing that really made me cringe.

we certainly need a show like this in America. it would be helpful for all but probably even more so for those in areas where the abstinence philosophy is preached.