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Open from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Tuesdays and Thursdays
Walk-in only
The clinic accepts cash, check or your credit card (the clinic does not accept American Express).
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Frequently Asked Questions |
| The STD Testing Process: | |
| How do I get my results? | |
| Hours and days of operation | |
| Common STD facts |
You do not need an appointment. Our clinic is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00-6:00pm on a walk-in basis.
You do not need insurance to be seen. We accept Maine Care. We do not bill private insurance.
The clinic fee is $40. Please note, if you cannot afford the fee, we ask that you pay a portion. Your payment helps us sustain our services. The clinic accepts cash, check or credit for payment options. The clinic does not accept American Express.
Your results are treated with strict confidentiality. No one outside of STD clinic staff and those responsible for your care and treatment have access to your results. If you would like your results to be released to you or another medical provider, you must sign a release of records.
If you would like a copy of your results you must first sign a written release of records for your file.
Conclusive STD test results are usually available one week after the test date. These results can be obtained over the phone and our counselors will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
HIV results are usually available one week after the date of the test. These results will only be given in person and will not be given over the phone.
Hepatitis C results are usually available two weeks following the date of the test. These results will not be given over the phone.
Appointments are available throughout the week for HIV and Hepatitis C results. Please call the front desk at 874-8446 to schedule an appointment.
Some preliminary results should be available on the day that you are seen. Conclusive results are usually available one week following that date.
Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), and HPV is the human papiloma virus. HSV can cause blisters, lesions and general redness or irritation; sometimes there are no symptoms. HPV can cause visible genital warts and abnormal cellular changes on the cervix. This can lead to cervical cancer in some women. Therefore, it is very important for women to have pap annual smears. About 90% of HPV infections are asymptomatic, and most resolve within 2 years.
We test for chlamydia, non-gonococcal urethritis, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV. The clinicians will also do a visual exam for signs of other infections, such as herpes and genital warts (HPV). Hepatitis C testing is also available for qualifying individuals. For women, the STD screening also includes tests for trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis (BV), and yeast. A clinic visit includes hepatitis A and B vaccinations.
Blood tests for herpes can be inconclusive. Herpes is most reliably diagnosed during an outbreak when a lesion can be cultured.
The HPV vaccine is available through our immunization program. The vaccine is not available at this time as part of our STD clinic services. If you are female and under 19, you may be eligible for free HPV vaccine. Please call 874-8446 for more information.
For both sexes, the initial portion of the visit involves an intake process to identify symptoms, sexual history, and potential risk factors. Blood will be taken and a visual exam will be conducted by a clinician to look for signs of other infections. For males, a urine test will be performed and any discharge will be collected and cultured.
For women a swab of the vaginal area will be performed.
If I test positive for something, how will I get the required treatment?
A treatment plan is made for each individual. Most of the medications are provided at our clinic and their cost is covered by the visit fee of $40. It is sometimes necessary to provide prescriptions for medications and/or refer people to their primary providers.
STDs cannot be diagnosed over the phone.
In accordance with medical guidelines, anonymous HIV tests are kept for six months after a result is given. Confidential STD and HIV results are kept for six years. With a confidential test, your name and birthdate are used to identify you and your test result. With an anonymous test, you are given a number to identify both yourself and your test.
This depends on the amount of people in clinic on a given day, however a typical visit will least approximately 1 to 1 ½ hours.
Individuals who are currently, or have recently taken, antibiotics should wait for two weeks after finishing the course of treatment before coming to the clinic.
If you are a male, do not urinate for at least 1 hour before your visit and be sure that you are not currently taking any antibiotic medication.
If you are female, we ask that you are not having your period, or taking any antibiotics.
Your partner is welcome to come with you to the visit and wait in the waiting room. However, the STD screening is a confidential process and is done on a one-on-one basis with the counselor. Following the completion of your visit, if you or your partner has further questions, we would be happy to see you together at that time.
STD Testing Process
What to expect during your visit
-We ask that you please refrain from urinating for at least 1 hour before coming to clinic.
-Upon arriving at the clinic and checking in, you will receive an identification number that will be used to identify you throughout your visit.
-A counselor will then collect information pertaining to your sexual history as well as blood and urine samples.
-A clinician will then examine you to check for any visual signs of sexual infections, as well as give the hepatitis B and possibly the hepatitis A vaccines.
-If you test positive:
§ At this time, the clinician will devise an individualized treatment plan that MAY include treatment provided by the clinic or treatment referrals to outside services.
-We ask that you please refrain from coming to clinic if you are currently having your period.
-Upon arriving at the clinic and checking in, you will receive an identification number that will be used to identify you throughout your visit.
-A counselor will then collect information pertaining to your sexual history as well as blood samples. A clinician will then perform a test similar to a pap smear. At this time the clinician will also examine you to check for any visual sign of sexual infections, as well as give the hepatitis B and possibly the hepatitis A vaccines.
-If you test positive:
§ At this time, the clinician will devise an individualized treatment plan that MAY include treatment provided by the clinic or treatment referrals to outside services.
IMPORTANT- If you have your immunization record, please bring that to your clinic visit
Conclusive results for confidential STD screenings are usually available 1 week after the date of your visit. These results can be obtained over the phone and any questions will be answered by one of the counselors.
HIV results are usually available 1 week following the date of the test. These results will not be given over the phone. Appointments are set up at various times throughout the week for HIV results and can be booked by calling the front desk at 874-8446.
Hepatitis C results are usually available 2 weeks following the date of the test. These results will not be given over the phone. Appointments are set up at various times throughout the week for Hepatitis C results and can be booked by calling the front desk at 874-8446.
Our STD clinic is open from 3:00-6:00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The clinic is run on a walk-in basis, so no appointment is needed. We ask a fee of $40 for testing. If you cannot pay this fee, we ask that you pay whatever amount you are able to. No one is refused services due to inability to pay, however we do appreciate your efforts in making payment, as this helps us sustain our services.
Some sexually transmitted diseases that we test for must be reported to the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you test positive for one of these infections, you will be contacted by one of our Disease Intervention Specialists. The DIS will ensure that you and your partners get testing, treatment, and accurate information about your diagnosis.
Chlamydia: Chlamydia is the most commonly reported STD in the United States and it often has no symptoms. Many people do not know they are infected. If symptoms do occur, they may include discharge from the vagina or penis, burning during urination, and abdominal pain. Chlamydia can be cured. Without treatment, Chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, urethral infections, scarring in the fallopian tubes, lasting pain and infertility. An infected person’s sex partners need to be notified, tested and treated. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 208 million people are infected with Chlamydia each year.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.) 2005 Trends in Reportable Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the United States. Retrieved April 30, 2007, from http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats/trends2005.htm
Gonorrhea: Gonorrhea is a bacterial STD which is curable with antibiotics. Symptoms of gonorrhea can include discharge from the vagina, penis or anus, pain or burning with urination, pain or swelling of the testicles, and bleeding between periods. Gonorrhea can also be found in the throat. Without treatment, an infected person may develop arthritis, heart problems, pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. According to the CDC, it is estimated that more than 700,000 people are infected with gonorrhea each year.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.) 2005 Trends in Reportable Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the United States. Retrieved April 30, 2007, from http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats/trends2005.htm
Syphilis: Syphilis is spread through direct contact with an infectious sore. The first sign is a painless sore on the penis, vagina, anus, mouth or elsewhere on the body. The sore lasts an average of 3 weeks and heals on its own. After a month or two, new symptoms may appear, such as rashes on the feet and hands, or multiple skin lesions. If untreated, there may be damage to the internal organs, complications for pregnancy or death of a newborn. Syphilis is curable with antibiotics. According to the CDC, there are approximately 35,000 new cases of syphilis each year.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.) 2005 Trends in Reportable Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the United States. Retrieved April 30, 2007, from http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats/trends2005.htm
Genital Warts (HPV): Genital warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV can cause growths or bumps to appear in the genital area. They can be raised or flat, single, multiple, small or large. Some people do not show any signs of infection. Genital warts are treated with liquid nitrogen or a prescription cream. There is an HPV test for women. Currently there is no HPV test for men. There is no cure for HPV. According to the American Social Health Association (ASHA), about 20 million people are thought to have HPV at any given time, and that 80% will be infected at some point in their lives. It is estimated that 45% of all HPV infections are in women ages 20-24.
American Social Health Association. (n.d.) HPV (Human PapillomaVirus). Retrieved April 30, 2007, from http://www.ashastd.org/learn/learn_hpv_facts.cfm
Herpes: Herpes is a virus that causes cold sores on the mouth or genital areas. There are two types of virus: herpes type 1 and herpes type 2. Some people have no symptoms while others suffer from multiple outbreaks. There is no cure for herpes. There is, however, medication to help with outbreaks but it does not kill the virus. It is possible to spread herpes even when you are not having an outbreak. According to CDC and ASHA, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 5 men have genital herpes type 2, or approximately 60 million people over the age of 12. It is also estimated that 30% of all new genital herpes infections are type 1.
American Social Health Association. (n.d.) Learn About Herpes. Retrieved April 30, 2007, from http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_questions.cfm
Trichomoniasis: Trichomoniasis is a parasitic infection. Symptoms in women may include unusual discharge with strong odor, irritation and itching in the vaginal area, and pain or discomfort with intercourse or urination. Most men do not show any symptoms. If a man does show symptoms, they may include irritation inside the penis, discharge from the penis, or a mild burning with urination. Trichomoniasis is curable with antibiotics. According to the CDC, an estimated 7.4 million new cases occur each year in men and women.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.) Trichomoniasis. Retrieved April 30, 2007, from http://www.cdc.gov/std/trichomonas/default.htm
Molluscum Contagiosum: A skin disease that is caused by the molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV). MCV is generally a benign infection but may cause small lesions. In some cases, symptoms may self resolve.
American Social Health Association. (n.d.) Molluscum Contagiosum. Retrieved April 30, 2007, from http://www.ashastd.org/learn/learn_mc.cfm#1
Remember - No one can diagnose you by phone or the internet. It is important that you see a medical provider if you are concerned about symptoms you may be having or if you are concerned that you my have an STD or HIV.