Hello,

I am long overdue for my annual exam, which for me typically includes testing for STD's (annual reassurance). I have not come across the best health care options in Chiang Mai, so I would appreciate a referral. I also do not like the idea of going o the hospital for something like this. BTW - it is something that can be done here right (I assume so given the amount of medical tourism to this country)? I have asked my Thai girlfriends who become a bit uncomfortable before telling me they do no such thing (obviously Thai women do this stuff, just not as commonly as back home I am assuming yet again).

Many thanks in advance for any suggestions/referrals you may have.

I have no knowledge of Chiang Mai, but I know about Surat Thani and Trang, and your best bet in both of those places is to go to one of the good, local private hospitals and ask for the gyno department. They will offer the most inclusive service, they have labs on sight and generally the standard of medical care is very good. You don't have to explain what you need at the front desk, say what department you want and they won't press you for more information. When you are there you can request to speak to a doctor without saying why.

Don't worry it is very routine, they will speak english and they will know exactly what you are after - it will not be a new request for them. Only difference is in England you can just request a general work up and they will test you for everything. Here they usually ask you what you want to be tested for so best to do a bit of research first.

I would say post in the Chiang mai thread, but I tried that on the Samui forum when I was researching it there and I got such immature responses I wouldn't reccommend it! But try and find out what the best, most reasonably priced hospital is (beware of the hospitals catering soley to farangs - Bangkok Samui hospital charges about 7k for a whole check up, at my local hospital it is not more than 2k!)

Mssabai - Thank you so much for taking the time to write such an informative reply. I will do as you suggest after after finding out which hospital has the best rep in Chiang Mai. All the best.

That said, I am still open to suggestions from women who have dealt with this in Chiang Mai.

As sa male I have no personal experience but I just taken my partner for a Pap Smear at THe Special medical Clinic at Sripat Hospital and she was really impressed by the service she got. The lady doctor seemed extremely pleasant. Costs ere amazingly cheap aboutr 300 baht in all which she said was cheaper than the clinic she used to attend. We went a little late so did have some waiting time. About an hour and a half in all. There is a male american doctor in the clinic (Dr Greg) if you need to discuss things with a westerner.

Sripat is hard to beat for specialties and price. Not Maharaj; Sripat

I asked this question before in the Chiang Mai forum envirogirl, didnt get as much response as i hoped, but heres the link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Health-Quest...-s-t260300.html

You have reminded me thought that i STILL havent had my check up, and its something i should do soon. I will probably go to Sri Pat or Ram Hospital though, not a clinic. When i finally get round to the check (will mark it up for next week) up ill post up on how i rate them.

Thank you all for such informative and sensitive responses to a topic like this! It is very much appreciated.

I will probably go to Sri Pat or Ram Hospital though, not a clinic.

Thanks for referring me to your previous post on a similar topic. I wonder why you say not a clinic? I liked the idea of not dealing with the 14th floor of a hospital I'll have to find on the map first. I know exactly where the clinic that one of the members referred you to on your post is, so I was going for the easy route. That said, I am somewhat new to medical care in Thailand and although it is available everywhere - quality is so variable that I don't want to take chances (hence my posting) so I am willing to go to where the best quality care is.

Hi environgirl, in the UK i would go to a clinic..but (and of course i could be VERY wrong in thinking this way) im wary of trusting a clinic in Thailand. I just dont know what the regulations/standards are. They have to send the results off to a hospital right? So, there are too many steps for me for things to go wrong. I trust Sri Pat as they have been very good to me, plus i know the perform a lot of tests like this and the testing process is all done in the same venue so..for me just seems more trustworthy. I dont wish to gamble with my health (plus i had a very bad experience here of testing getting mucked up regarding something else..so im cautious. Actually, that experience was at Ram Hospital. I suggest you have a read over the Ram thread in the Chiang Mai forum. However, it was a different department and apparently the Gyno department at Ram is very good).

In the UK we have family planning clinincs, or well women clinics. Or you go and see your GP. Here you go and see a specific doctor for you specific needs. If you have a gyno issue, you go and see the gynocologist. To my knowledge they don't have anything in line with drop in clinics for sexual health like we have in the UK. Instead here you self refer yourself to a gyno. There are gynos who have private surgeries outside of hospitals, but often they are very busy, and you will have to find them! Usually the doctors also work at a hospital so only has surgeries at specific times. Inside a hospital, service is usually fast and easy. Testing can be done onsite as well (clinics will usually send off samples).

Don't worry about going to the hospital. They make it all very easy for you. Usually a nurse from the front desk will escort you to the right department.

There is an excellent clinic that specialises in women's health called Kullapat Clinic. I've been there for Pap smears, and regular checkups too. All of the doctors there come from Sri Pat Hospital. It's off the Superhighway near Wat Jed Yod. They work from 5pm on weeknights and all day at weekends. They also have a website -

www.kullapat.com

Alternatively, the OB-GYN dept of any hospital can do the testing for you. Sri Pat is probably the best and not too expensive. I have a friend who goes to Lanna and raves about it but it's one of the more expensive hospitals.

Finally, I can recommend the doctor at Loy Kroh Clinic, Loy Kroh Rd, opposite the temple. They can organise all sorts of blood tests so STD testing would be no problem there. The wait to see the doctor can be quite long though.

As for your Thai friends, I suspect they may be telling you the truth. None of my Thai friends get tested, and wouldn't unless they suspected there was a specific problem. The idea of regular testing for STDs would mean admitting that they were sexually active with several partners. And a good Thai girl would never do that!

Good luck!

MCL