I was thinking this morning about safe sex and began wondering, out of SH's community of swingers, how many had actually ever been to a G.U.M. Clinic? Better still, how many actually know what a G.U.M. Clinic is??
We often get the odd condom thread lerking around the Cafe forum which most of us have a good debate on what our risk levels are and what we do and don't agree with.
However, no matter how we play, how many of us out there can actually say, hand on heart, with a certificate dated in the last six months, that we are completely clean of any
I'm sure that 99% of the swingers out there have had more then one sexual partner in their lifetime and even if they have used condoms each and everytime, can be past via penertration, oral, needles (talking tattoos as well as drugs here!)and in some proven cases, via broken skin. So how sure are you that your completely clean, without some proof of testing?
At the clinic you will get free, confidential advice, testing and treatment. You can go to a clinic anywhere in the country, it doesn’t have to be your local one and you don’t have to be referred by your doctor.
Some people worry about being outed as a swinger (or having more then one casual partner)but the law guarantees your confidentiality. Your visit or any treatment that you may or may not need never gets placed on your medical record unless you consult your doctor and they put you forward to a G.U.M. clinic.
Anyways the reason for this post was to; (a) get some people to think and perhaps attend a G.U.M. clinic, and (b)Send an idea SH Staff's way about promoting safe sex within the swinging community by generating a G.U.M. clinic directory for SH's users to access at any time.
This is a very good idea, I must admit maybe being with Si so long and always using condoms I assumed its ok but you have made me think again and I will seek further advice for both Si and myself. Thanks Chaos for waking me up to the dangers I never even considered before.
Well, for us, as soon as I was certain we were both definate about going into the swinging scene and clubs etc, I insisted we visit our local GUM clinic, for us its in the center of Birmingham, Whittal street Clinic... we were made very comfortable and answered honestly as to why we were there...
because we NEEDED to know that BEFORE we played we were positive that we were both clear of any problems... neither of us have had any problems in the past, but we have both had a few partners although in the last few years together have been more or less faithful to just each other so we were relatively sure that there wouldn't be any problems...
Happily there weren't amd we left with a HUMONGOUS bag full of condoms, femdoms and leaflets galore... (lol, find a place to hide that lot from an inquisitive 11 year old!) and a promise that once we started swinging, firstly we would always use protection and secondly that we would be visiting the clinic every 6 months, the nurses and doctors we spoke to RESPECTED our honesty, asked sensible questions and gave useful safety advice, not simply about sexual health either... things about ensuring our safety when meeting people for the first time, most obvious, some not so, but never did we feel wrong about our (intended) actions, we have to say THANK YOU to everyone there and we look forward to seeing you all again in the Summer!
Seriously, there was no feeling of being judged, only respect for our decision to pro-actively ensure ours and everyone elses we came into safety and health in the best way we could...
I just thought I would stick GUM into Google
This is a Free and confidential sexual health site which also has a phone number and if you stick in you post code it will tell you where your nearest clinic is.
There aims are to provide information and advice about health, illness and health services, to enable patients to make decisions about their healthcare.
The purpose of the Family Planning Association is to enable people in the UK to make informed choices about sex and to enjoy sexual health. You can also put in a post code or location to find the nearest one to you
There is also the link we have on site at the moment
http://www.swingingheaven.co.uk/advice/sexual-health.html
Excellent idea!
I'm a GUM regular and also, just for the hell of it, I wasted NHS resources and picked up one of those DIY Chlamydia tests from the Family Planning Clinic.
Pee in a bottle, post it off, they text you the results!
just for those who don't know. All the STI tests show are whether the person getting the tests has contracted anything. It doesn't actually mean that the people they have had unprotected sex with have anything. So please don't think that your results are any indicator of another's 'status'
and yes, I go regularly.
I've been to a number of GUM clinics. One time I ended up going to 3 for one set of tests - faulty equipment, staff off sick etc. Trouble is each time I turned up they handed me a bag of condoms and I didn;t like to refuse. And I get a bag full every time so I now have a drawer full of the things.
One nurse asked what size I wanted. I thought for a second and said "best make it a mixed bag" and the look on her face was a picture as she tried to avoid asking why LOL.
hi guys brilliant thread...we use our gum clinic on a regular basis and have been quite open with our nurse that we are swingers..but we were surprised when he told us that they had seen a drop in swingers attending the clinic for reg checks in the last 3 yrs...perhaps there are less swingers in our area now or they go somewhere else,or just dont say they swing??we have never been made to feel uncomfortable with our sexual activity there and welcome the advice and resources they hav to offer if needed(loads of free condoms lol)..xx
I go about once a year, the good thing about these clinics is the results or test don't go on your medical records. This is important because when you go for life insurance, the insurance company check your medical records and can put up your premium if they think you are a higher risk.
Was told this when I was selling insurance for Allied Dunbar.
Some insurance companies also ask directly if you have ever had a test for HIV... simply that, no questions as to why, just have you ever been tested... if you answer yes you're classed as a higher risk...
Not exactly fair on a 14 year old victim, or someone who's een tested due to an alert from the blood bank after an operation 12 years ago, I can think of a myriad of examples where the answer would be YES yet you've only ever had one sexual partner, if any, in your whole life...
Point to add though.. if you knowingly say you have not had a HIV test when you have, no matter what the reason, if you (or anyone else for a end-of life claim) goto claim and they discover you have lied, they will not pay out. (and bear in mind, they will avoid paying out if they can.)
Some fasttest clinics are happy to never put your name to the tests if you're concerned on this level... you are given a codename and pin number (at least thats how they worked it in Devon 12 years ago) and your name never goes near any paperwork. can be worth asking about anonimity if you're concerned.
I go regularly to my GUM clinic, and the nurse was surprised at me mentioning that i was a swinger. Apparently in 4 years of practice, i was the first she'd ever met!!!
Not sure why people are reluctant to mention it because they offer advice according to our lifestyles, and it's not something to be embarrassed about surely?
Sx
we go regulary to gum clinic, you don't need to be referred by your doctor you can either just drop in or ring for an 've always found the staff very polite and they seem to like our you get free condoms as well as the advice. with this kind of thread though its unlikely anyone will print their against such visits even though theres an increase in bareback / risk of pregnancy meets in the chatrooms on here i've noticed.
)
Definitely worth the time and experience.
