Do it yourself

I am reporting on something new I encountered at my gyno's office: a do-it yourself swab. I had inconclusive results regarding a yeast infection. I was told I could come in and do my own swab, so I wouldn't have to pay. When I came in, ! was given a q-tip type swab and a tube. I did the deed, put the swab in the tube, and put the tube at the little door in the restroom. What's next? Do it yourself pap tests? :

One can only hope. I'm really uncomfortable with pelvic exams of any kind. I like this idea. Although I'm not sure the pap test expertise could be replicated by an amateur - I wish it could.

Well....hmm. I think I prefer a medical professional to do the testing, just because they have more experience with it. Kind of like calling a professional from my gas company to light my pilot light instead of trying to light the thing myself and wondering what the heck I'm doing wrong, why it won't stay lit. Or something like that

I'm all for it, No copay ! For a pap? well that needs to be done at the cervix, but for a yeast infection? Would be really hard to screw that one up Haha.

In the past I worked for a Doctor that didn't require patients to come in for Urinary track infection. He was of the mind set " Seriously I can I charge a patient to come pee in a cup" So people came in , We sent it off to the lab the next day we called in the correct prescription. He was a great human! He was a Doctor to help people not empty out there wallets and bank accounts.

I prefer the professionals doing what needs to be done. there are in fact many way someone can screw up a test like this, sounds simple a quick swipe of a q tip but not to be graphic or anything but like with any problem a yeast infection can be signs of other things too. I know someone who did their own yeast infection swipe\deposit in the door and leave routine. the test came back positive she got a prescription called in to the doctor unfortunately she was being treated for a yeast infection when all she needed to do was change her laundry soap and change her shower gel. she paid mega bucks on prescriptions because of a do it yourself swipe. finally she went through the actual professional exam and found out the swipe was a false positive for yeast infection for an allergic reaction to soaps and detergents.

i have also gotten false positives from do your own swipes when it was actually something more serious, and in other cases less serious.

for me its the professional routine every time now, i would rather pay the doctor visit fee and know whats wrong with me then to waste my time, money and needless worrying.