Made a recent trip to the Sexual Health Service Tasmania http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/sexualhealth/sexual_health_service_tasmania Nice experience!!

My visit was for two purposes - to get tested and report on how it went to you all, and also to throw the Tassieswingers hat in the ring and see what services and support the Sexual Health Service Tasmania might be able to provide to Tassieswingers and to swingers in Tasmania.

The Appointment - rang the Sexual Health Service Tasmania 1800 number (1800 675 859) and was only asked for my first name. I was given an appointment for the following week. I was told not to urinate for two hours before the appointment (males only).

The Visit - showed up at the appointed time (a little early for the first visit) and filled in a simple one page client details form for their medical records. I was given a card with a number on it and this is all I need to make future appointments. It was told by the receptionist that SHST is completely confidential and also sensitive and discreet. All test samples are sent for analysis just using the code number - no names.

The Consultation - what a lovely girl !! Non judgemental and even a little excited about the sex life of a swinger. She asked me about my recent and past sexual activity. We had discussions about types of STDs and their seriousness and protection. We discussed the swinging lifestyle a little and I passed on information about Tassieswingers and what it does. Gave a urine sample, two swabs from my mouth and a blood sample. She did a bit of a check of my genitals and asked me if I thought that I had any symptoms of any STDs such as discharge from the penis or sores or rashes - none of which I have except for a bit of a rash from epilating for the Saints and Sinners Ball. She said that she could give me a product to ease that a bit but forgot to get it at the end of the visit.

Results from the tests will be ready in a week and I have to make a personal visit to get those - so more on this next week.

The Future - From the information that I gave and the conversation, we hope to provide easy access to the Sexual Health Support Service for anyone who would like to take advantage of it Statewide. It is already available to everyone but we hope to make it a bit easier to find and access. We also will be providing links to their website for information on their services and fact sheets on STDs - http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/sexualhealth/publications/fact_sheets