- Apply for a Medicare card
- Find your nearest STI clinic
- Phone to see if they do bulk billing
Exploring the benefits and purpose of a dental dam Dental dams may not be trending across social media but could this lesser-known barrier method be a good option for you? What is a dental dam? A dental dam is a thin, stretchy piece of latex or polyurethane that can be […]
If you’ve been diagnosed with a sexually transmissible infection (STI), you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed, worried or unsure about what’s next. It might seem scary but getting an STI is not the end of the world. In fact, 4 million people in Australia will get an STI at […]
Have you ever been having sex and noticed that things were getting a bit…dry? It happens to the best of us and there’s a super easy solution. ENTER: lube. Honestly, lube does not get the love and attention it deserves. Not only can lube make sex feel more comfortable, but […]
Exploring the benefits and purpose of a dental dam Dental dams may not be trending across social media but could this lesser-known barrier method be a good option for you? What is a dental dam? A dental dam is a thin, stretchy piece of latex or polyurethane that can be […]
If you’ve been diagnosed with a sexually transmissible infection (STI), you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed, worried or unsure about what’s next. It might seem scary but getting an STI is not the end of the world. In fact, 4 million people in Australia will get an STI at […]
Have you ever been having sex and noticed that things were getting a bit…dry? It happens to the best of us and there’s a super easy solution. ENTER: lube. Honestly, lube does not get the love and attention it deserves. Not only can lube make sex feel more comfortable, but […]
STI tests can be completely free – as long as you’re eligible for a Medicare Card and go to a bulk billing doctor or clinic for your test.
Bulk billing is when the government pays for the total cost of seeing a doctor if you have a Medicare Card. This means you pay nothing whatsoever – it’s absolutely FREE. You’ll just need to check that the service you’re requesting does bulk billing (just ask at the front counter or when you’re on the phone), as some doctors don’t. Bulk billing is a common practice and many doctors will bulk bill people under 16, students, and healthcare cardholders. A lot of medical centres also bulk bill.
The most important thing to remember is that you need a Medicare card.
If you’re 15 years or older you can get a Medicare card of your own. If you don’t have one already, just follow these simple steps to get one, because you’ll need it when you visit your doctor.
A few more points to consider:
This handy tool lets you find your nearest STI clinic or doctors surgery.
Have you ever visited the Play Safe forum? It’s packed full of conversations on all things sexual health from young people across NSW. One of the topics they’ve been tackling recently is tips for getting an STI test. Here, we round up their advice. 1. Try to relax “Remember that […]
Getting an STI test is a normal part of a healthy and confident sex life, but sometimes it can feel daunting or confusing.
Did you know that the types of STI tests you need differ depending on the type of sex you’re having? There are a few different types of STI tests – urine tests, vaginal swabs, throat swabs, rectal swabs and blood tests. Each one has a different purpose. In Australia, a […]
So you’ve just had sex, but the condom has disappeared? No need to freak out, here are a few steps you can take. Find the condom The first thing you should do is try to get the lost condom out yourself. If you were having PIV (penis-in-vagina) sex, it might […]
Want a session you’ll never forget? 1. Talk Talking about sex, makes the actual sex better. Share what you like and don’t like. 2. Laugh Let’s face it. Sex has its funny moments. Ever bumped your head? Fanny farted? Yep. There’s only one response. You know it. 3. Get tested […]
Let’s talk about Pubic Lice, or Crabs. What are Pubic Lice? Pubic lice are tiny insects that generally live on the pubic hair around the genitals. They can sometimes attach to chest, underarm or other body hair, but they are not the same as head lice. They are spread through […]
What’s World AIDS Day? Held worldwide on 1st December each year, World AIDS Day provides an opportunity for everyone to: Remember those who lost their lives to HIV and AIDS Show support for people living with HIV Address HIV-related stigma that’s still present in Australia You CANNOT catch HIV through social contact. What’s HIV-related stigma? HIV-related stigma refers to […]
It can often make women feel embarrassed, miserable and even dirty. But thrush, also called Candidiasis, is more common than you think! It happens in around 50% of women at least once in their lifetime. What is it? Thrush is an overgrowth of naturally occurring yeast in the vagina called […]
Hey, Nurse Nettie here for a quick chat about gonorrhoea or “Gono” for short. I’ve even heard it called the “Clap” (no round of applause please!). Gonorrhoea is an STI caused by bacteria called Neisseria Gonorrhoeae. What a word! Just know that anyone can catch gonorrhoea by having oral, vaginal, […]
What’s normal? For guys, the urethra runs through the middle of the penis to the opening at the head of the penis (glans), and carries urine (pee) during urination or semen (cum) during ejaculation. Penile discharge is not urine, but a watery or thickened fluid that sometimes comes out of […]
What’s normal and not normal? All women have some vaginal discharge (fluid or semisolid substance that flows out of the vaginal opening). It’s a way the body maintains a healthy vagina. Vaginal discharge is part of the vagina’s inbuilt self-cleaning system. Bacteria that are normally found in the vagina create […]
Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types: HSV 1 (usually known as cold sores) and HSV 2 (usually known as genital herpes). It’s really common! In fact, 1 in 8 Australian adults aged over 25 years have HSV 2, and 7 out of […]
I’ve been getting questions lately from people worried about lumps and bumps on and around their genitals (penis, vagina, and anal area). To put you all at ease I asked a good colleague, Dr Chris Bourne, a Staff Specialist at Sydney Sexual Health Centre, to answer all your questions. Over […]