[GTJ]

Howdy all.

This is a thread I posted on another J forum, to no reply. The folks here are a lot nicer so I thought I'd try again here.

I hope I can get some input from you few who have been in Japan a hot minute now!

Hi all!
I'm moving in with my girlfriend in Japan in a few weeks. Now, one of the things with cohabitation I've learned is you've got to both be tested and sure of what you do or don't have in terms of STDs or other diseases. I just got all my results back today and I'm happy to say I'm completely clear of everything they could think to (or I asked them to) test me for.

However, I would of course like for her to get tested as well. I'm sure if I talk to her about it, it won't be a problem, but I have a few concerns I was wondering if anyone could help me out with:

- In America, an STD panel doesn't include HSV (herpes) types I or II, as well as one or two others. When you ask for an STD test, they won't put this on there unless you ask. There is a lot of talk in the HSV communities about how doctors do everything they can to avoid a diagnosis and so forth. So in order to get those tests you need to specifically ask for them. Is it similar in Japan? I really have NO idea about how bloodwork and STD testing goes there, so I'm not sure what they omit or include by default.

- Does anyone know what kind of cost is incurred with this kind of testing?

- Is there anything else I should know, should I need to be tested again come my next physical? Or anything I should need to know when talking to my girlfriend about this?

Thanks!