What’s it like?
Yet too embarrassed to get screened for whatnots?
The Himerus Clinic, Heytesbury Street, Portobello (above).
A new clinic for the sexually active, possibly hip, yet shy bed hopper lover.
Dr Aisling Loy writes:
I would be grateful if you could bring to the attention of your readers our new STI clinic in Portobello, Dublin. We have just launched in advance of world AIDS day next week and want to promote safe sex and regular STI testing. As well as routine STI screening, sexual health consultations, we also offer a self taken swab service for those who want screening but are too embarrassed to have all the swabs taken by a Doctor. Rapid HIV testing, with results in 10 mins, is also available as well as free cervical cancer screening. Our clinic is delivered by consultants so unlike most other STI screening services we can treat infections on site without onward referral…
Finally.
Neither cash, favours nor self-taken swabs given for this post.
I think what makes people shy away is the cost of procedures, not the swabs. There are possibly two places that you wait in line for free if you are not a student. Are they free tests in this place? Probably not
Obviously it will cost money, if you want an efficient & professional service. It’s not a free for all, people running this facility need paid, labs, doctors etc. There are standard rates out there for these procedures & theirs are probably similar
But we need one that is a free-for-all. The famous Gay Men’s Health Crisis centre (http://www.gmhc.org/about-us) in New York has been providing free checks since the early ’80s, led by volunteers and funded by donations.
Those who are most vulnerable to worst STIs, such as intravenous drug users, tend to be less likely to be able to afford to pay for checkups. Free checks in St James’ one day a month, early in the morning, is good but hardly enough.
There actually already is a Gay Men’s Health Service clinic in Dublin too – they have free walk-in STI screening clinics on two evenings a week (Tues and Wed I think). Also, Jame’s have a free walk-in screening clinic twice a week, not once a month. I’ve used both services, and they’re totally professional and helpful (treatment free too). They’re the only two I’ve used, but there are free clinics all over the country. Pretty sure there are lists on the websites of the HSE and Dublin AIDS Alliance and other places. Worth checking out.
Everyones afraid to comment on this :-)
On a more serious note. When I lived in Cork, my then GF and I decided to get tested before we abandon the ol’ rubber prophylactics, so I called the South Infirmary to set up an appointment. They said there was a 3 week waiting list. That’s a ridiculous time to wait. My knob could have fallen off by then if I had anything.
A shocking service for the second largest city in the country. That was about 7 years ago, so maybe it has improved since then, although I doubt it.
I went to a GP and paid 70 euros to get the test done which was no problem for me, but a lot of people don’t have that money.
I note you say “then GF”. Must’ve had a vicious case of knobrot, hah?
wire brush and dettol
Wisdom from the North West of England (specifically Ramsbottom -{Ooo matron}). The best way to get rid of crabs is to fill a tin bath with diesel and immerse yourself in it.
This place looks nice, Obviously it costs money to see a Doctor but if there’s something wrong with me I’d rather pay than wait hrs in the public clinic.
The pea green seats and minimalist grey tones, would do it for me.
my last trip to the cockdoc cost me €100. Can these guys do it for €50? otherwise let us ride with impunity
again, wire brush and dettol.
you wanted their labs, instead ya got crabs? ;)
I just watched the 2nd (was it 3rd?) episode of The Knick last night. I had NO idea that could happen from syphilis. What was she doing with her nose like?
Clean as a whistle though, ladies.
I read or heard somewhere once that a pronounced philtrum is a sign of syphilis: apparently that’s why Mugabe’s gone bonkers, as he’s riddled with it. I have never seen any other mention of that anywhere else, though. I might’ve been dreaming.
That scene is mad…. I’m squirming thinking of it…. great series though, I love when they touch on the various aspects of the surgical procedures, or lack of, of that the time.
Thats a lot of seats for an STD clinic.
At least someones getting it.
Actually, wouldn’t mind a knee trembler at the mo.
when did the Meath hospital building move to portobello
dhaughton, wire brush and dettol for you too.
You can get tested at your local hospital, free of charge, and there’s no swabs, just a blood and urine test and a quick physical.
No, that’s your local army recruitment office. Enjoy the next five years, delacaravanio.
That explains why things got weird when they asked me to give the salute.
The last time I got checked, the lackey in the well woman clinic was too embarrassed to give me the umbrella :/
The bloods came up clean though :)
They don’t do the umbrella anymore and haven’t for some time. Urine test is fine for men.
Lucky bastards.
wbad.
It’s €120 for a standard screening though (which is a fairly standard price for private STD testing). Don’t say “in advance of world aids day” like you’re part of some kind of drive to prevent AIDS. It’s a business offering a service, not a charity. If you’re going to give free advertising to anything give it to the Dublin AIDS Alliance who provide FREE HIV testing in conjunction with St. James on the second Wednesday of every month.
Also their website says that “chlamydia treatment prescription” costs €60 – also known as a prescription obtainable from your GP for whatever your GP charges. Like is the €60 for a prescription given when they find chlamydia from the €120 test?
I mean when you go to a GP and get your diagnosis you pay €50-60 and that includes the prescribed treatment if it’s a standard. I’ve gotten blood diagnostics done in the past and not had to pay additional charge for the treatment of what they found as they can fax the prescription to a pharmacy. Seems like an additional charge to me.
STDs are becoming a real problem in this country and the huge expense of testing is part of that problem. People are too embarrassed to get checked to start with and then can’t afford it when they’re willing to.
The only thing I’ll give them here is that the rapid HIV test is only €30 which isn’t too bad I guess but then I can’t find anything to compare it to.
Had just about forgotten about the chlamydia test I had a few years. Sweet jesus… no disease could be worse than what they did to my penis.
‘I guess but then I can’t find anything to compare it to’
guess..?
guess
ɡɛs/
verb
1.
estimate or conclude (something) without sufficient information to be sure of being correct.
Odd. Comment didn’t post properly.
Anyway:
guess
/ɡɛs/
verb
1. estimate or conclude (something) without sufficient information to be sure of being correct.
Abstinence is of course frowned upon in this shrine to public immorality, simply a beacon to all those who worship at the altar of unnatural sexual practices. Liberalism continues on its crusade to rid us of upstanding alpha males who value and respect women within the institution of marriage which is fast becoming a ‘whatever you’re having yourself ‘ denatured sacrament.
Of course Pope Francis’ comments yesterday ring all the more strongly.
Gas.
What is an “upstanding Alpha Male,” ABM? And we’re being rid of them? Do you think gays are multiplying? That’d be a sight, but in the words of Jeff Goldblum, life, ugh, finds a way.
“shrine to public immorality” ….we’d better get Bodger & Co to put a few Harry Clark’s in the windows of Broadsheet Towers so…. if Karl’s mum allows it :)
Did Harry Clarke’s work feature lads with lads with big lads?
abm , sex is fun. pre marital, between marital, whatever as long as among consenting adults. try it
marriage is madness
abm has a drawer full of wire brushes and a tank of dettol in the shed. he knows what i mean..
What’s ‘Having Sex’?
You know that long ‘hug’ your uncle gives you?
That.
Apart from sexual, what other sort of infectious diseases could do such harm and yet still be ignored by the authorities? This has very little to do with sex and everything to do with health care but, I have no problem with a ‘for profit’ advert saying that you pay for sex eventually.
Honest query – the consultants in this clinic appear to be attractive women. Is it easier for straight men to approach male medical staff for this type of check, or attractive female medical staff??
I’ve found it more comfortable approaching women and have, by chance, only ever dealt with them getting checked. Not sure why I feel that way. Perhaps something Oedipal going on.
Male or female makes no difference. Getting these kind of tests pours a big volume of cold water on things.
Unless you have a medical fetish of course :-)
+1 @ Sidewinder – this is a private practice offering health services at private prices, calling it a clinic doesn’t make it some sort of public health initiative! Also, there must me more money in STIs these days, they seem to have changed track…
http://www.btxclinicdublin.com/#!about/cipy
Ah just realised the name Himerus, is the Greek god of desire, clever.
Ah just realised that Himerus is the Greek God of desire, clever.
I know these 2 consultants and they are brilliant . Professor Mulcahy was the youngest consultant appointed in1989 and was awarded Irish woman of the year for the work she did in HIV so sidewinder I think you are seriously off the mark in that one.yes it’s clearly a private clinic but the big difference in this clinic is that it is consultant led therefore all genital conditions can be managed by them for example penile psoriasis , vulvodynia and a whole lot more including HIV management. They treat everything including syphilis and herpes on-site which is a completely different ball game compared to most STI services out there.Most in Dublin ,apart from the GUIDE clinic and Gay men’s health service in Baggot street which are brilliant .are nurse led or GPs with minimal experience in your sexual health , instead they are offering simple blood and a urine test and invariably end up referring people on elsewhere for the complex care which ends up costing people double .
Sometimes , shocking idea that it is it’s better to pay someone 180 quid and get sorted out properly.( just a thought)
Also didn’t comment on the quality of the physicians at all so again don’t know why you’re pointing that out.
Oh yes and sidewinder I’ve just realised that both of these consultants also work in St.James GUIDE clinic- the biggest public HIV and sexual health clinic in the country so to suggest that this post is disengenous regarding world AIDS day on Dec 1st is at best misguided but more likely insulting . I used to work in that clinic and its a phenomenal place with an amazing value system particularly towards marginalised members of society ( asylum seekers, drug users, sex workers and men who have sex with men)-over crowded yes and under resourced but the majority of the staff there have taken at least a 20-30% pay cut over the past 5 years ( as have everyone else I know) but perhaps it’s okay for someone to try and enterprise and open a new avenue for patients who might prefer the discretion of a private clinic?
Yeah that’s great that they work in the GUIDE clinic but that’s not what they’re promoting is it?
I agree some people would prefer a private clinic, I never said otherwise. I’m simply pointing out that the “in advance of world AIDS day” line is misleading.
And I know the GUIDE clinic is amazing. Why are you acting like I criticised the GUIDE clinic?
Also worth pointing out that the info you’ve just given on consultant led treatment was not something I read on the site or that was promoted here. If that’s what is different and better about they should really push it a bit more as it sounds good.
I guess I was just responding to the inference that they seemed to be using world AIDS day to push a private medicine agenda whereas I think all and any references to this day should be welcomed regardless of the clinic type. Cheers for the reply though