Aids/HIV information, Symptoms, treatment

Regular gynecological examinations (tests of your reproductive system) can help diagnose infections. Early diagnosis of a problem usually means it can be treated with fewer drugs or minor surgery.

There are two parts to a regular gynecological examination, and a rectal examination (an examination of the inside of your ass) may be done as well.

External visual examination: Your doctor examines the outside of your vulva (cunt) for lesions (such as herpes, genital warts, or any other evidence of infection.

Internal examination: While wearing latex gloves, your doctor will insert two fingers into your vagina and gently press the other hand on your abdomen (belly). If there is any swelling of your uterus (womb) or ovaries, this may feel uncomfortable or even painful. Discomfort or pain can indicate an infection. Next, your doctor may insert a plastic speculum into your vagina. The speculum keeps your vagina open and allows your doctor to do a Pap smear. A tiny brush and a wooden spatula are brushed gently over your cervix (the entrance to your uterus). Fluid and cells cling to the brush and spatula. The sample is sent to the lab for testing.

   Internal rectal examination: Although these exams are more commonly done for men, women may request them as well. Infections that usually appear inside your vagina can “travel” to your rectum (the inside of your ass). This is especially true of genital warts. The doctor will insert one gloved finger into your rectum.

Pulmonary” means “of the lungs.” This series of tests can give your doctor an idea of how well your lungs are working. These tests may be done if you’re having trouble breathing, if you feel a tightness in your chest, or if you get tired easily when walking or climbing stairs. If you have symptoms of a lung infection, like PCP, your doctor may order these tests, as well as blood tests and an X-ray of your lungs. The tests are simple: first, you will be asked to breathe out though a tube in your mouth, as hard and as fast as you can. The tube is connected to a machine which measures the flow of air, the rate of the flow, and the volume of air. Second, you will be asked to breathe in through the tube, as deeply as you can. The results of these tests can help your doctor figure out the cause of your shortness of breath.

 Regular gynecological examinations (tests of your reproductive system) can help diagnose infections. Early diagnosis of a problem usually means it can be treated with fewer drugs or minor surgery.

There are two parts to a regular gynecological examination, and a rectal examination (an examination of the inside of your ass) may be done as well.

External visual examination: Your doctor examines the outside of your vulva (cunt) for lesions (such as herpes, genital warts, or any other evidence of infection.

Internal examination: While wearing latex gloves, your doctor will insert two fingers into your vagina and gently press the other hand on your abdomen (belly). If there is any swelling of your uterus (womb) or ovaries, this may feel uncomfortable or even painful. Discomfort or pain can indicate an infection. Next, your doctor may insert a plastic speculum into your vagina. The speculum keeps your vagina open and allows your doctor to do a Pap smear. A tiny brush and a wooden spatula are brushed gently over your cervix (the entrance to your uterus). Fluid and cells cling to the brush and spatula. The sample is sent to the lab for testing.

 Internal rectal examination: Although these exams are more commonly done for men, women may request them as well. Infections that usually appear inside your vagina can “travel” to your rectum (the inside of your ass). This is especially true of genital warts. The doctor will insert one gloved finger into your rectum

Regular physical examinations of your genitals, anus (asshole), and rectum (the inside of your ass) can help diagnose infections. Early diagnosis of a problem usually means it can be treated with fewer drugs or minor surgery.

External visual examination: Your doctor examines the outside of your penis and scrotum (balls) for lesions (such as herpes), genital warts, or any other evidence of infection.

Internal rectal examination: Your doctor will insert one gloved finger into your rectum to feel your prostate gland. Swelling of this gland can indicate cancer. Infections that usually appear on your penis or scrotum can “travel” to your anus or rectum, especially genital warts and herpes lesions. The doctor may also do a rectal Pap smear .

Some tests look for germs that may be causing problems, or may cause problems in the future. These include tests for the germs that cause such AIDS-related infections as toxoplasmosis, CMV, and MAC, as well as tests for several other infections (including STDs [sexually transmitted diseases]) common in people with HIV. Examples of some tests are:

Stain: Blood, stool (shit), mucus, urine (pee), sputum (saliva coughed up from your lungs), phlegm, spinal fluid, and tissue samples can be stained and examined under a microscope. If there are germs in the sample, the stain can make them easier to identify.

Culture: Samples of body fluids or tissues can be tested by culturing them. Samples are observed to discover which germs grow in them. Some germs, like those that cause MAC, are very slow growing, so it may take several weeks before a germ can be identified.

Scope: This is a very thin flexible tube with a light source and magnifying lens at one end. A variety of scopes are used to allow doctors to visually examine the inner parts of your body. A test done in this way is called an endoscopy. A gastroscope is inserted through your mouth into your stomach; a colonoscope is inserted though your anus (asshole) or colon (large intestine [gut]); a bronchoscope is inserted through your nose into your windpipe and lungs; a colposcope is inserted into your vagina to examine your cervix. Scopes can allow doctors to see lesions (abnormalities) on internal tissues and to take samples (biopsies).

Biopsy: A small sample of skin, muscle, lymph node, or even organ is removed from your body. The tissue sample is then examined under the microscope. The shape, number, and type of cells that make up the sample are studied and compared to the normal range. Biopsy samples may also be stained or cultured.

 Imaging tests: These tests include X-rays, computerized tomography (CT or CAT scans), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. All create images of the inside of your body. A radiologist (a doctor who specializes in the study and interpretation of these tests) will examine the images in order to make a diagnosis. Each type of infection or tumour or broken bone will show a different pattern on the image. For example, the pattern of PCP looks very different from the pattern of tuberculosis on a chest X-ray.