Being a woman (over 40) who loves men and everything about them I date. Sometimes I date more than one man at a time (gasp, oh my petticoats), don’t worry I am honest about it. Sometimes I date couples, bi men, straight married men, kinky men. I am in it for the experience, and maybe eventually a partner.
Being a responsible person I use condoms, all the time, but sometimes accidents happen. So I go to the walk in clinic, tell the doctor I have multiple partners and I would like to be tested. The doctor being a very gracious, wonderful woman who does not care about my sexual preferences gives me the swab for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and the blood requisition for the rest.
Today I am told by the blood lab that they will not process my swab because I am a woman over 40, apparently women over 40 don’t have sex. If I were a man, I would not be receiving this call. WTF. Ohhh, my Irish temper…
In the past I have gotten my testing done at my family doctor and she always had to write “unfaithful husband” on the lab work, which at the time was true, and I honestly thought this “women over 40” need an excuse thing was just her and the blood lab she dealt with. But I hated it because the receptionist, who was my next door neighbour, and the blood lab technician, who has kids that same age as mine always saw this on the paper. It was embarrassing. So I thought I would try the walk-in, in the city where I didn’t know anyone.
Apparently, this is a province-wide requirement at blood labs, they do not process STI testing for women over 40. Where to start on that one…discriminatory, sexist, violation of privacy, ignorant, downright stupid, everything the Canadian health system should not be. —L
This article appears in Mar 8-14, 2018.
WTF!!!
You serious OP?!!!
OMG I thought it was bad in NS when I left. It’s worse than I thought!
Holy shit!!! Shouldn’t they test for STI’s regardless of age!!!
Goddamn that’s ageist.
Sorry, I do not believe that. That claim is ridiculous.
T R O L L
You know what? This isn’t like me but I’m so curious about that claim I’m actually going to send an e-mail to the Health Authority and find out. Because that’s a serious allegation and if it IS true, it belongs in the CBC/CTV newsroom…not the bitch section of The Coast.
I was a little skeptical too…I just don’t understand WHY that would even be a policy. I googled but found nothing to support or disprove. Was going to ask a friend in the medical profession, lets us know what you find out please Try_The_Truth.
please note the copied guideline cut off above. Screening is recommended in sexually active patients is the real take home message.
Attempting to clarify the cut off guideline in the first post. Screening is recommended in sexually active people, those with new partners, those who are pregnant ,IVDU, those with a STD in the past year, and unprotected sexual contacts. Not done over age 45 without risk factors.
Interesting — obviously I didn’t look hard enough. So what this is saying is that they don’t do these tests (for women or men?) after the age of 45 unless there are risk factors? Wouldn’t OB’s situation constitute as ‘risky’? This is a really stupid policy either way…people don’t go and get tested for STI’s because it’s super fun…I think a risk factor can be assumed here, no?
Here is the e-mail I received today from NSHA. What they are essentially saying is that unless you have a REASON to get tested they’re not going to “screen” for it which is a far cry from the original post. It makes perfect sense to me, although it is a bit of a ridiculous formality because let’s face it : NOBODY (unless they have way too much time on their hands) is going to go to the trouble of getting the blood work done unless there is a reason to, right?
So to the original bitcher…here’s what ya do. If that did INDEED happen, it means the NSHA is not following its own policy because for you, testing is absolutely indicated. File a complaint.
The only thing I don’t like about this policy is that it does indeed apply only to women. I wouldn’t call it sexist but I would call it ridiculous because women can be sexually way more cray cray then men over the age of 40. By 40, men are kinda going…”OH god…the prospect of sex…well ok….wait until I finish my beer…and my other beer…and my other beer…and my video game…oh nap time…” and then they just jerk off and fall asleep.
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Hi there,
Im following up to your email to We Are Listening at NSHA, regarding the testing of women over 40 for STIs. There seems to be some confusion.
Please see the response below from our director of pathology and laboratory medicine:
There is criteria regarding the utilization of this testing that was put in place a number of years ago by the laboratory physicians. This criteria is based on studies indicating that positive results from testing for females greater than 45 years of age is less than 0.3%. For this reason screening is not indicated and testing for females greater than 45 years of age is limited to those at risk (i.e. with symptoms, known or suspected exposure or multiple partners).
For testing to proceed in this case the Lab needs to be advised of these indications through notation on the requisition. The wording At Risk or Risk Factors can be used and would enable the testing to proceed.
Thanks,
Carla
Thank you TTT!
To The Coast:
Given the seriousness of the allegation, I’m surprised that you posted this Bitch.
It would seem prudent to make a quick call to check so that people who read it don’t end up with false information.
Even with TTT’s debunking of OB’s claim, will the reader also read the comments?
Personally, I would pull it. I encourage you to do so. Or you can Dislike me.
Thanks TTT for the clarification.
So OP posts about not getting her bloodwork done when she requested it, and the Bitch Brigade jumps all over her as a troll, telling her that didn’t happen.
You nitpick over her wording, which pretty much says the same thing “we don’t test over 40s unless a special note is made on the paper” means “you need an excuse” in layman’s terms.
Back pats for the patriarchy, well done. That hard to believe a woman, eh?
If the Patriarchy means asking questions, thinking for yourself, and verifying unsubstantiated claims … then sign me the fuck up. You feel free to swallow whatever you like, not my problem.
ZOMG people on the internet asked questions about a statement a woman made they mussst be sexist white thupremithithts.