STD Testing & Gynecologist Accuracy: What You Need to Know

Question
Hi Lawrence,

Sorry if this question not what you normally deal with. My girlfriend started feeling cramps wednsday 6/21 which usually means her cylce is starting. But later in the evening the cramping was getting really severe so her roomate took her to the hospital where they said she may have chlamydia. After being discharged she went to her gynecologist who did some testing (not sure what kind) which came up negative. So my question is how accruate are gynecologist at diagnosing STD's and if they are accruate, what kind of test exactly do they give.

Answer
You should absolutely consult with a gynecologist to detect STD. If chlamydia is suspected, a culture of the vagina is made and if it is positive, it is easily treated. We also check for Gonorrnea (along with the chlamydia), herpes simplex,syfilis (by a blood test). A gynecologist is definitely the type of doctor to be seen for any problem of the genital area.