In addition to prenatal care our schedules were filled with annual exams, diagnosing causes of pelvic pain, painful urination, vaginal discharge and more. Routine initial prenatal labs included a VDRL (syphilis blood test) and Gonorrhea /Chlamydia cultures. Diagnosis of gynecological symptoms often entailed testing for sexually transmitted disease (STD). Anytime I spotted a positive test result, I would sigh and put my head in my hands. I hate when that happens. It likely meant I would be late for dinner again. Positive results require a phone call to the patient to explain the infection, prescribe treatment and describe follow up. One never knows what the response will be when you tell someone they have a STD. Most have questions, some cry, others are nonchalant. Been there, done that. Sometimes I was perceived as the bad guy by revealing some secret or truth in a relationship. Sometimes phone numbers were bogus or disconnected. Sometimes the person answering hung up on me as soon as I identified myself.