Transcription Symbols
C: do you consent to be recorded?
P: Yes I do
C: Okay. So what brings you in to get tested tonight?
P: Um well I needed I I needed to I just started a new relationship
C: Okay
P: And he wants reassurance and ah my last test was in May and that kind
of covered the last person I was with so I feel safe I this is but I want
to do it (.) as a reasurance for him
C: Sure (.5) that makes sense. So you're both in to get tested.
P: Yeah
C: Okay. And how long have you been together?
P: Ah we just met a month ago we just [started
C: [Okay.
P: (1) stuff last night.
C: Alright um (1) What I'm gonna do is just um fill out this sheet
P: U huh
C: with some demographic information
P: U huh
C: This is the State Form it's all anonymous
P: Yeah.
C: And then we'll do a risk assessment
P: Okay
C: And then umm just make sure you understand about [HIV transmission then
P: [m hm
C: you'll go get your (.) blood drawn [and
P: [m hm
C: then you'll be on your way and you'll come back in two weeks to get the
[results
P: [okay
C: Okay. Is this your first test?
P: No it's my sixth.
C: [Sixth test
P: [Fifth or sixth I kind of lost count
C: Okay so okay and when was your last one?
P: May of 95.
C: So that's five ninety five. We're you in the window period for that test?
Do you remember? Do you know what the window period is?
P: Um yeah. Well It's down to three months isn't it?
C: Well it's yeah it's always been about three months but we use six months
because like maybe five percent of the people take a little [bit longer
than
P: [m hm
C: three months
P: yeah. Um yeah I I started a new relationship in January
C: M hm
P: And so yeah.
C: Okay.
P: That's why I did it then. Ac well, barely yeah
C: yeah
P: yeah
C: okay. And then for this test you said that you'd been having protected
sex
P: yeah
C: Okay so how long has it been since you've had unprotected sex?
P: (1) Oh um with the last relationship? Um
C: yeah
P: Um November.
C: November
P: Late November.
C: Okay so that's November, December,
P: But but see that's that person (1) wasn't in the window period that was
the person I was
C: Oh okay [okay
P: [See so that's why I was having unptrotected sex
C: Yeah
P: So
C: Okay
P: So I feel like (1) this test is very redundant but
(2)
C: yeah
P: It's redundant you know technically it not going to cover November but
C: You
P: it's the same person I was seeing all [for six months ago too
C: [yeah and you had been tested (1) yeah you'd been tested since
P: [This basically goes back to July
C: [that that was before yeah
P: This goes back this is actually a good confirmation I guess for that
relationship
C: Okay (1) yeah. But mostly it sounds like you were coming because of your
partner wanting you
P: Yeah yeah. He you know he basically he doesn't I don't totally have to
but this was the most convenient testing (.) time so I just thought I'd
do
C: Yeah, well it's good you come in.
P: Right i'm a little worried about where he iHHHs
C: Right well you know let's hope he (.) shows up. Um your race or ethnicity?
P: White.
C: And your age?
P: 44
C: And um the county you live in?
P: ______________.
C: And what's your zip code?
P: ______________.
C: Any chance that you're pregnant?
P: No.
C: And how were you refered to this clinic?
P: I used to work here twenty years ago and I've known about it for twenty
yeaHHHrs. I mean I called around. I guess he was the one who knew that you
had a clinic
C: Okay. Um and so and so your reason for coming in to get tested I'll put
down as what?
P: New Relationship
C: New Relationship.
P: That's what you have down on your form?
C: (5) Great. Okay and these are some questions sexual history [to kind
of
P: [M hm
C: assess you risk
P: okay
C: Um so next to each (.) kind of sexual act (1) or type of thing there's
a little space here where I write in a number one to nine that corresponds
to the number of years since you've done it so if it was in the last year
P: u huh
C: I'll put down a one. If it was something you haven't done in say four
years I'll put down a four.
P: Okay.
C: Okay
P: Okay, with it says with condoms?
C: So Well then I'll that's a separate kind of question.
P: Oh oh okay
C: So so [Vaginal a year and then well
P: [Vaginal a year
C: sometimes always or never with condoms?
P: Um except for last night never. But in the last year? Let's see what
date is it today? So (.) are we goint to count last night or not? HHH
C: Umm
P: In the last
C: Well in the last year that would kind of include like your last partner
who you you used condoms sometimes right
P: but not within the last year?
C: Okay. Um I think that um they want to know (1) um (.) I guess it's really
relevant since your last test. That's let's say let's use [maybe
P: [m hm
C: March since March is
P: Okay Well I guess I have to say sometimes cause I just started cause
I will yeah
C: Okay. Um any anal receptive sex?
P: A::hh I don't think so. Cause ah not that Oh in the last year? Oh sinc
(1)
C: You know [it's actually like your whole P: [yeah
C: history that they're asking for [because P: [okay
C: I can put down up to one to nine. So um
P: Okay so well anal receptive with men? Is this talking about (.) with
men? Or just fingers?
C: U::m I think they really want to know about um (1) there's a separate
question about fingers.
P: Yeah
C: Okay. So let's do so penile anal.
P: So with men it would be um 93 1993.
C: So
P: So Two three years ago.
C: Three years and condoms with that?
P: No.
C: A::nd um:: I'll say no for anal insertive.
P: (.5) Oh yeah.
C: Okay And then oral sex?
P: Um yeah the last within the last year.
C: And do you use any condoms or barriers with that?
P: Well (.) last night (.) I did [but not
C: [okay
P: with the ( ).
C: So maybe sometimes I'll put.
P: I guess [yeah.
C: [Okay
P: I know they're going to use this info it's not coming out right really
cause [they don't
C: [well
P: allow for cause they basically do safe sex when I haven't been when I
don't know the test result. The once the test result
C: Right yeah and ah is that ah so you it's kind of based on monogamy?
P: Yeah
C: okay
P: That's the assumption
C: And you're real open with your partner about talking about what that
means to you and everything
P: Oh uh huh yeah
C: Cause people define the term differently
P: Oh really HHHH
C: you know so just to make sure that you you know that you and your partner
have the same [definition what that means
P: [yea::h most of the people I'm with I mean we're all sufficiently paranoid
that monogamy seems like a good choice these days
C: Yeah (2) Alright ah so you've had a male partner in the last [year
P: yeah [year
C: Female partner?
P: Um yeah not in the last not since eighty-seven.
C: okay
P: Back then I had a whole bunch of female ten to fifteen years of women
partners.
C: Okay and the last one was eighty::: so
P: eighty seven
C: let's say nine.
C: Okay. And any partners that have been HIV positive that you know?
P: No. No there was a woman who had slept with someone who was (.) HIV positive.
But she wasn't.
C: A:nd u::m. Have you ever injected any drugs?
P: No.
C: And your partners have had other partners before you?
P: ( )
C: An:d uh any (.) male partners who've had sex with other men.
P: Um yeah (.) but those male partners were in the early eighties.
C: Okay
P: And that's why I started getting tested.
C: Okay. (1) So early eighties so the last time would be
P: um for me or them
C: Umm (.) for you. So contact with a male partner who's had other male
partners.
P: Yeah well eighty-five would be the last time but he would have gotten
tested right before that.
C: Okay. How many partner have you had in the last twelve months.
P: Hm. I guess counting last night two:.
C: Two, okay.
P: HHH
C: So you just started your relationship last night.
P: Yeah yeah well we just started we decided to start sleeping together
last night.
C: Oh okay. And that's when the whole idea that's when the discussion about
coming [in to
P: [no no
C: get tested
P: we'd already planned to come today and then we felt oh we can have safe
sex. We weren't really going to plan to wait for the test. We just didn't
know when we would start.
C: Yeah. (1) M hm. (2) Good. Um. Okay. And ah (2) Okay any of your partners
injected drugs?
P: I don't think so. Um
C: And ah have you ever had any sexually transmitted disease?
P: Herpes.
C: Herpes. Uh, when was that diagnosed?
P: Uh (1) in the seventies.
C: C: Okay. [And
P: Uh (2) [PID is not sexually I mean I've had yeast and (.) the usual (.)
little things but none of the big stuff.
C: Okay
P: Chlamyida probably.
C: You've had chlamydia? If that could be related to the PID. Isn't PID
like a bacterial infection or something?
P: Yeah yeah I mean I'm not sure if I had chlamydia. It all would have been
in the early eighties.
C: Okay. Um they only give us up to nine so I'm just putting "nine."
P: OkaHHy
C: These forms you know it's never going to be the exact truth [you know
so I've just
P: [yeah
C: given up. I just give them some approximaHHtion and let them deal with
the discrpancies. Um how are you managing the Herpes?
P: Um, great now that well first of all its a it's a much lower level than
the eighties. The seventies version was not that virulent.
C: Uh huh.
P: But there's that great new drug Zovirax.
C: Uh huh.
P: And I just took it for two or three years and then my doctor said get
off it. And it's really to manage genital herpes [which I've
C: [uh huh
P: had none of since I've started doing that.
C: Really
P: Now I've had none and it keeps the lip stuff down too.
C: Good.
P: And now I'm off and nothing has happened yet either so.
C: Okay and have you heard about lysine?
P: Um That's a topical right.
C: No it's a it's a just a um nutritional supplement. It's an amino acid.
P: ohh I tried it once but it didn't seem to do anything.
C: It's not going to be as strong as the zovirax but also not going to have
any those side effects
P: yeah
C: its not as like (.) it's not as harsh a chemical as zovirax.
P: Yeah, you know I couldn't get any (.) story about the side effects I
had the who PDR book
C: uh huh
P: I didn't have any of the side effects that were in there.
C: Yeah okay.
P: I thought I had swelling in my (.) pain in my legs and then that went
away.
C: Good.
P: They all claim that there are no side effects of course but then my doctor
said I shouldn't be on them for very long.
C: You know antiviral drugs you know it's like AZT and those kind of
P: That's what it's like? That's what it is?
C: Well I mean that's the only other thing that's kind of like it um I mean
it kind of blocks the replication of the virus.
P: uh huh
C: But if people can I mean it's also expensive for some people that's a
real issue.
P: Yeah
C: But I I've lysine I've used I've just had mild oral and um it kind of
um I haven't had any break ups but when I do feel one coming on I take some
lysine. Just a little like a tablet [a day with a meal P: [uh huh
C: and it just either it ends a lot quicker or it never happens.
P: Wow
C: Yeah and it's cheap it just doesn't do anything to your body I mean you
get the same effect by eating fish really.
P: Uh huh
C: It's in food.
P: So it's non prescription?
C: That's right you can get it at Whole Foods
P: Whole Foods. Okay
C: Um L-y-s-i-n-e.
P: Okay. Any form? Any form
C: So so for someone who has you might want to take like one a day with
a meal to kind of keep it in your system [so that P: [oh okay
C: you never have it. Or if you are really up on feeling what it feels like
right before you get one?
P: Yeah
C: To take it then and it'll probly curtail it.
P: Yeah mmh.
C: But it's worked for me
P: Yeah okay
C: It certainly doesn't do any harm. Um have you ever had sex with a prostitute
or sex worker?
P: Or se no no no.
C: And have you ever received money or drugs for sex?
P: Ah no.
C: And when you're having sex do you do anything that results in blood to
blood contact anything rough like S/M, tattooing or piercing?
P: Um just biting I mean
C: Okay
P: and menstrual blood.
C: yeah
P: But nothing it's kind of more accidental than
C: yeah okay that sounds like that's not the P: anything
C: stuff. Yeah because the risk would be if if um both of you are say doing
something causing each other to bleed then there's a real likelihood that
of transmission [cause blood is so
P: [yeah
C: much more infectious than any other body fluids
P: even semen
C: Oh yeah.
P: yeah
C: It's really the quantity of white blood cells
P: oh
C: that determines. And that's why semen, vaginal secretions and blood are
the three. You can find white blood cells in urine [but it's such
P: [uh huh
C: a tiny concentration [that it's doesn't P: [yeah oh
C: it's not a factor for transmission.
P: And menstrual blood I assume
C: Menstrual blood is the same that goes under [blood. So um
P: [Right Yeah yeah um yeah
C: Okay so if you if you bite u::m then if there's blood then you would
still I mean you don't have any cuts on you that it could come into contact
with
P: Right right. This is assuming you don't know someone's status. But once
you know their status then that's what I do that's the way I deal with it
C: That's your that's that's very (.) very (.) very good (.) good method.
P: Okay this next question kind of covers a lot of ground not necessarily
related to HIV transmission but it's about (.) um fingers inserted in mouth,
anus, vagina [and it also
P: [yeah
C: includes sex toys. So anything in that
P: Well (.) well I've inserted fingers in all those places I guess
C: Okay
P: And dildos
C: Okay. The risk is mostly for transmitting STDs that um are transmitted
through fecal oral contact. So hepatitis A and any kind of am _
bi c thing any kind of gastro you know enteric thing so you
know be real careful to wash you hands
P: Yeah I'm pretty paranoid. I mean I'm (.) pretty paranoid to make my partners
wash with me.
C: Yeah. And you can use condoms on dildos as well.
P: Yea::h yeah. I think we used to do that.
C: Okay.
P: Then I had my own I just used it alone.
C: Right then that's not an issue. It's only if it's with someone else.
Oka::y. A::nd do you work with blood samples at your job?
P: No.
C: A::nd um have you ever had a blood transfusion?
P: Um I don't think so ( ).
C: Any other risk?
P: Any other risk
C: That you can think of?
P: What was the thing you said before? Fingers and stuff. You said something
with that.
C: Okay. Um yeah that it's not so much ah it's one here about you know HIV
but I can't really think of too many ways that that could be a risk for
HIV.
P: Oh it's the sex toys I'm sorry.
C: Sex toys.
P: We covered it yeah.
C: Yeah but it sounds like you're very conscious of that so that's not an
issue.
P: Yeah.
C: Okay. Good. (2) And ah (1) So when do you get tested is it usually when
you start a relationship is that usually when it happens.
P: Yeah I mean especially when there's a slight overlap or when the partner.
I mean people have been good. Men have been really good getting tested when
I just have asked them. No good reason you know. And so I feel like I need
to reciprocate.
C: Okay.
P: So it seems like
C: And has the trust issue in terms of once you do that and you both get
tested [and
P: [uh huh
C: keeping monogamous. Has that been um pretty okay?
P: It hasn't been an issue cause I've picked people that have been really
really clear about monogamy.
C: Good good. [As long as you don't have any
P: [yeah
C: illusions about that. I mean you really know that they're. Because some
people the only reason it would come up as a concern you know I talk with
a lot of people who kind of ah use the test and then monogamy and [then
they
P: [yeah
C: break up and then they and so they're always getting tested and getting
then breaking up because the monogamy's broken. But it sounds like [you
know so
P: [o::h
C: I`m just
P: uh huh Are they younger?
C: Yeah [sure. I mean I know you've probably P: [HHH
C: been [around and you know
P: [I know I know we all did that to each other in our twenties and I don't
want to do that you know [we could we could do it then.
C: [You know we deal with so many students here
P: Oh go:d. I mean I feel sorry for them they can't just play around without
worrying about all this.
C: There's so much ah you know ah STDs going around on campus. Just so much
unprotected sex and so much low self- esteem that it's really hard to get
people to care enough
P: That must be frustrating
C: It's very frustrating. (2) But (.) But yeah I know you're together but
I just I always check in with people about [that P: [m hm
C: whole monogamy issue because the test doesn't confer any protection it's
just what you (1) you know
P: Right it's then what you do with it and wha [how you whe whether you
know your C: [exactly
P: partner (1) there's that windo::w
C: yeah
(1)
P: It's really put the breaks on how I used to live I mean I've longed for
the seventies it was much more fun then but it's probably better anyway
( )
C: But um has using condoms been a real drag?
P: Yeah
C: Yeah
P: Yeah. Mostly cause men (1) don't seem to stay erect very much when [they
wear
C: [ahh
P: condoms. It's always been a really hard period to wait during that (.)
the condom part [(1) so
C: [yeah yeah what I tell men in that situation is just um is it because
they're not er haven't used condoms that much and it's kind of unfamiliar
[to them
P: [I don't think so
C: Okay
P: I mean it wasn't a problem for us that really actually but you know it
just kind of shy not shy:: but just kind of it's just an irritation or a
drag and they you know with people my age we've all had it without so long
that it's not it's kind of like having to backtrack
C: yeah and if people um people in your generation used them in the past
they probably weren't as good quality as the ones [that we
P: [mm mhm
C: have now. So that's another factor which makes a lot of people resistant
to them
P: Oh:: yeah
C: yeah so they were not as good
P: Mm
C: And now we have these Japanese condoms which are just really reliable
P: Oh really
C: I mean it makes a difference
P: Oh
C: It's not the same as natural sex but it
P: [yeah
C: really comes a lot closer
P: Better than Trojanz? Have you have a brand recommendation
C: Well I'd recommend the Japanese ones because they're just like some of
the Trojans are probably made in Japan and you know you [can
P: [uh huh
C: look on the fine print
P: uh huh
C: Um Sheik is a good one. It's really a question of the size [and how it
fits
P: [m hm m hm
C: you. That's the most important [thing. So
P: [m hm
C: The other thing is to try a little lube
P: yeah
C: in the tip ah inside.
P: Inside?
C: yeah. You know when it's still rolled up you put a little bit of water
based lubricant and I have some samples.
P: Yeah. No I have lubricant. I'm just cause I actually asked my partner
last time if he wanted that and he said no no it would make the whole condom
slip up and down.
C: Right, but if you just put it in the tip it's just going to lubricate
the end
P: uh huh
C: And that's the most sensitive part of the penis[ so it's kind of have
that extra
P: [oh uh huh
C: layer of lubricant there so there's a little play in the tip [it
feels less
P: [oh
C: contraining. And then I think it also reduces the friction so if it's
a you know if you're using condoms a long time it's less likely to break.
P: Oh. Hmm.
C: So I would try that.
P: That's a good idea
C: Just a little bit in the tip not to make it you know
P: Yeah
C: Don't put it on the penis first you know but just inside the [condom
and then put P: [oh okay
C: the condom on.
P: Oh okay.
C: Ahh any questions
P: Huh.
C: Okay. You've been tested so many times so I'm sures there's nothing I
can tell
[you
P: [yeah
C: that you don't already know
P: It's just a blood.
C: Ah yeah, I don't do that. You are going to go to the nex that room over
there.
P: Okay.
C: yeah
P: Oh well I haven't been here before.
C: Okay
P: For testing
C: There's a in the dental section we have phlebotemists.
P: OkaHHy
C: They're really good. And uh
P: You have what in the dental section?
C: Phlebotemists, people that draw blood.
P: Oh th oh the HHH HH
C: What did you think I said?
P: I don't know plattipusses [or I thought C: [plattipusses?
P: it was a machine.
C: some kind of weird
P: Or a disease you know like phlebotemism.
C: Sounds like some kind of skin growth or [something yeah.
P: [yeah
C: That term is probably not that current.
P: HHH
(6) (Filling ou t lab slips)
C: So the clinic I bet has changed a lot since you've
P: Yea::h it actually seems more organized and peaceful. I was doing crisis
counseling.
C: Okay.
P: ( )
C: Yeah. It's definitely mo::re I mean just the rennovations just really
changed the feel of the place.
P: Yeah.
C: And this is just the form that goes to the state the lab the county lab.
The test can come back either reactive or non-reactive, okay. Non reactive
means we didn't find any antibodies. Okay.
P: I just have a question about the time.
C: Yeah.
P: It's two weeks from today. Do I have to come between four and five or
can I come after five. My mother is visiting until five.
C: Okay. Five to seven is when it's marked down here.
P: And I noticed that they were taking the blue people first. Those are
the results, right?
C: Those are the results.
P: And then how long does it, how long can I anticipate being here?
C: For tonight?
P: No, oh well both I guess.
C: Yeah okay. Just a few more minutes for tonight
P: yeah
C: until they draw your blood and give you your form. And then you come
back in two weeks. And then u::m next time when you come it's very quick
because we do
P: we draw it we draw your number
C: Uh yeah and we show you the results and then we kind of go over if you
had any questions
P: right
C: And you get another counselor basically
P: Yeah okay.
C: You know they might ask you about the window period again. And just you
know what to say. It might be me and thenit would be real quick becaue I
know your situation. Okay? Any other questions?
P: Um ah no no that's good.
C: Okay.
P: Yeah.
C: Let me turn this off.
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