Post First Gyno Visit Questions

[letgodc5.livejournal.com]

Ok, so I had my first gyno visit Monday. When I filled out the paper work, it said medical information could be given to my mom. Does this mean that they will tell her I am sexually active? Secondly, I got a pap test and a clymidia and ghonnorea(wow, I can't spell...sorry) test. How will I know the results to these? Do they send them to you in the mail? And how long does it usually take? At my appt, it was really weird. Basically zero talking or explaining of anything, and I don't know if by signing my moms name under giving her medical info(just in case something bad happens to me and she needs to know), if they can tell her I got an STD test. Hope that makes sense....Thanks!!!

Comments

[chaeri.livejournal.com]

how old are you? what state are you in? is this under thier insurance? the answers to those questions will determine whether your parents will see them or not.

[letgodc5.livejournal.com]

i am 18, almost 19. Florida, and yes it is their insurance. at my appt they never really asked if i was sexually active or anything at all. they just saw that i circled yes that i was in a sexual relationship on my papers..

[chaeri.livejournal.com]

if you are 18 i am pretty sure that they can't tell your parents anything, even on thier insurance. now, if you pick up scripts or get tests it might show on the insurance bill, but i am not sure how its itemized or anything.

[letgodc5.livejournal.com]

yeah i don't care about the prescription information, and i mean im not trying to keep it a secret, i just didn't know what the deal was, and i just want to keep my life private unless i decide to say something otherwise.

[chaeri.livejournal.com]

*nod* in my state HIPPA covers 16 and over, definitely 18 and over is covered.

[letgodc5.livejournal.com]

what is hippa?

[chaeri.livejournal.com]

i meant HIPAA...can't spell apparently. HIPAA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_Insurance_Portability_and_Accountability_Act)

[kaelstra.livejournal.com]

I think it's a mixed bag. You did sign something stating your mother could have access to your medical information, and you are on their insurance.

As far as I'm aware, this does not include you being sexually active.

However, it can include, say, if you did have an STD. You also mention it gives her access to prescriptions, which, if say, you got something prescribed for chlamydia or something, she'd know, especially if you're on her insurance and they mention it to her at any point.

[letgodc5.livejournal.com]

yeah, that makes sense. thanks!

[nephron.livejournal.com]

The other thing I would imagine it would cover, is if you got *really* sick, they'd be able to tell her what's going on. So, if (to take an extreme example) you had a horrendous miscarriage, haemmorhaged and were taken to hospital, they'd be able to tell her that.

[w-wellington.livejournal.com]

When I got my first pap, I don't think it took that long. I want to say I got the results within a week. The way they did it (it was my university health center) was they send out a card where they checked off the tests they had run that came back normal (caused some slight confusion when I saw "chlamydia...check"), but your place might be different.

[drownophelia.livejournal.com]

for all of the STI checks i've received from various health care professionals over the years (pediatrician, planned parenthood, an lgbt clinic, a university health center and a private OB-GYN) has been a call-back method, within two weeks. it has always been a no-news-is-good-news deal, meaning no call within 14 business days mean i'm free-and-clear, and a call would have been placed if something had come back questionable or positive for something.

if you're concerned, just give your office a call, and let them know the date of your appointment, and they should be able to tell when they expect to have your results.

[drownophelia.livejournal.com]

also, i'm a little unclear as to part of your question--did you specifically authorize giving your mother your medical information, or did you indicate your mother as your emergency contact?

the former would probably indicate that your mother would be allowed to ask and receive answers to questions she asked, but doesn't mean they're going to call her up and say "OMG your daughter has teh sex!!" the latter would mean that, should you have some sort of emergency DURING your appointment (such as the unlikely event that you started hemorrhaging, or had a psychotic episode), they would have somebody to call.

[letgodc5.livejournal.com]

i think it said give her medical info...she was like staring at the paper so shes like PUT MY NAME. haha. my mom told me that if anything happened to me that she would be able to find out what it was if i put her name...but it was not just emergency contact. it was sharing of info.

[archangelbeth]

You could probably call the place back sometime and say, "I think I signed something that I'm not sure I meant to sign. Can you check and see if my parents are allowed to access my files? I would rather have a bit more privacy than that -- how can I rescind the signature?)

[letgodc5.livejournal.com]

if it is call back, they won't like tell my mom my info right? i doubt they will, and also, i asked my mom when i find out what the deal was and she said i was soposed to fill out a post card with my address on it to get the results, but i never filled one out. i don't know. we'll see.

[drownophelia.livejournal.com]

according to most privacy laws, they shouldn't be giving your medical information to anyone but you, however, that may be complicated by your waiver to allow information to be shared with your mother. so i can't say anything for sure.

i do suggest giving the office a call, and you might just want to indicate specifically you don't want the results to be revealed to anyone except yourself.

good luck!

[foureyeddarlin.livejournal.com]

To find out for sure, call your doctor and ask about their policies and to explain what you consented to.

[letgodc5.livejournal.com]

yeah, good idea.

thanks!

[dayglow.livejournal.com]

Where I've been (I've gone to both my normal GP and the university health center) for my paps have the same sort of system. You get a letter in the mail within a week or two if your results are fine, but a phone call if they're not.

[revolte-avecmoi.livejournal.com]

i'm pretty sure they still can't tell her anything. i signed one of those as well when i first started going to the gyno and i wasn't sure what it meant, so i asked when i got in there and the doctor told me that no, she can't break doctor-patient confidentiality. now as for what that waiver thing was for, i'm still not sure..but they've never told my mom anything. i contracted herpes from my boyfriend and my doctor wouldn't even give my mom information as to why she was calling, she just told her to have me call back. now, i doubt my mom pressed the issue with her, so i don't know..
i'm seventeen and in jersey, if that helps.

[letgodc5.livejournal.com]

yeah, i thought there was always that confidentiality unless they like actually ask you otherwise...makes sense though. thanks for your input!!