Throwaway for obvious reasons.
It’s insane to me that STD testing, consultation, and medicine aren’t covered by national health insurance. I had minor symptoms and wanted to get tested, and it was by far the most expensive medical experience I’ve ever had in Japan. Almost 2万 for a urine test + common antibiotic. I’ve literally had surgery for less than half that.
No wonder syphilis is on the rise and antibiotic resistant bugs are proliferating here.
Even in the US county health centers often offer free testing. If you’re doing some aspect of healthcare worse than the US you know you’re fucked.
24 comments
Sounds like you went to one of the STD specialist clinics – those operate off-insurance.
It’s actually covered if you have any sort of symptoms – so just go to a regular doctor and tell them it itches when you urinate, and you’ll be covered for most STDs.
People used to avoid doing this because the details would show up on their annual healthcare statement, but now it only shows the facility and not the treatment you got – and your work doesn’t get to see the contents anymore.
It shouldn’t cost that much. Just go to your local hospital.
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A lot of Health Centers (保健所) have completely free and anonymous STD testing.
Some only do HIV, but many do the more common ones. Check out “hivkensa.com”.
Dont go to korea 😂😂
No nama after nama beer
The problem starts with the fact that many people aren’t very strict about using contraceptives…😬
Plus people just don’t use condoms here. The number of women I banged in my younger years who didn’t want me to wear a condom was far too high. 生がいい is a big thing, it seems.
As far as getting tested goes, there are plenty of free testing clinics, and you can use insurance if you go to a normal clinic or a urologist and ^^[claim ^^to] have symptoms.
If you think STDs are that common in Japan, that’s because sizable number of sexually active people are too embarrassed to go to a clinic.
In fact, hokenjo provides free HIV, hepatitis B&C, chlamydia and syphilis tests.
Citation needed.
This sub constantly impresses me. One experience will just decide everything and anything for you guys
3 seconds of Google research will tell you that many public health centers offer free testing several times a month.
You got scammed OP. I’ve never paid more than 3000¥ for tests/meds.
I went to a free anonymous testing center in Shinjuku. Never even asked my identity. I got a number and I had to show up one week after with it and get my results.
I went recently
2000 yen for test + treatment
You paid more cause you’re stubborn and stupid
Sorry bro
Just keeping it real y’all
I got tested 2 months ago (blood and urine test) and it was covered by insurance because I said I saw a symptom I was worried about (ended up being nothing). As many others have already said, you got ripped off. Unless there’s more to this story, you should name and shame the clinic for misleading you like that.
I’m curious though, and you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but did you end up catching something? If so, would you mind sharing how you think you caught it?
We in Japan know to tell the doctors that our genitals itch or hurt to get free STI screenings. In turn, doctors know that we’re lying and they don’t care. But if you don’t give them something to write on the paperwork then it will cost full price just like if you went in with no pain or injury and asked for an x-ray or MRI.
STDs spread like wildfire if people don’t protect themselves. Here or anywhere else xD
Nothing related to testing or price & you did that to yourself. You take the risk or you don’t. 🤷♂️
Nah, got a screen last year covered under insurance for a couple sen (max 3). Just go into a urologist complaining of discomfort and hey, cheap screen.
Sex without condom is rife, though, even for pros.
You need to say you have symptoms.
You can get tested for free in Tokyo. It’s a blood test.
Baka gaijin
“No wonder syphilis is on the rise and antibiotic resistant bugs are proliferating here.”
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Antibiotic resistance is due to antibiotics being handed out like candy or even worse, bought over the counter. Holding them back to be used correctly is how we prevent resistance – [https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/antibiotics/antibiotic-antimicrobial-resistance/](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/antibiotics/antibiotic-antimicrobial-resistance/)
When I got tested the doctor told me that Syphilis is huge here because people don’t use condoms and a lot of (married) men go to sex shops and also don’t use condoms so STD’s here are a lot more common.