Aids HIV FAQ

Quick Wedding Info Needed

Question:

: >I wonder what they do if they find out people have health problems in : >these exams?  Can you then not get married?  That seems silly.  Or do : >you just have to tell the other person?  I’m not worried about this : >myself (unless I have a nasty surprise coming ) Liz, We are getting married on Saturday (If anyone noticed I was using the wrong date in my signature, sorry) and got our blood tests last Wednesday.  We then applied for the marriage license.  Stacey went to the doctor yesterday to get his signature and the receptionist said we had to come in for an exam.  Boy was that scary!  When they drew blood at the hospital, they just said we had to have our doctor read the results, nothing about an exam. Well it seems that our doctor (we go to the same guy now) has to sign that he examined us and we were ok.  He wanted to examine us before signing.  Anyway, we went today, he took blood pressure, listened to our hearts and lungs, then signed.  No problem, but I think someone could have told us to expect an exam. I just thought I mention it in case it happens to anyone else. Michael (and Stacey, who should have a license in her hands by now) July 30, 1994

Response:

  (Andy Dingley) writes: >> What is this US pre-wedding blood test thing ?  We don’t have it in the UK, >> and I’ve always wondered what exactly was being tested. >We don’t have it in Canada either, but from my understanding they test for >STD’s.   >Some states have >discussed HIV testing, but I’m not sure if any have actually >implemented it, many people objected, and was considered unreliable >due to the 6 month testing window for HIV.  The exam/test requirement from

Illinois required an HIV test for a while in the mid-80’s, but it was repealed.  There was a *huge* public outcry, with people driving to surrounding states to avoid the test. I don’t know about any other states. >Lisa M. Losito                         "Dilute, Dilute, Dilute. OK!"

– How many brewers does it take to change a light bulb?  One third less than a regular bulb…

Response:

>I wonder what they do if they find out people have health problems in >these exams?  Can you then not get married?  That seems silly.  Or do >you just have to tell the other person?  I’m not worried about this >myself (unless I have a nasty surprise coming ) but I’m curiuos as to >thbe purpose.  And about rubella, if it causes birth defects, would >people not get married b/c of it?

We were married in California, which requires syphillis tests for both spouses and rubella for the bride.  Well, it turns out that I didn’t have the rubella antibodies, so the nurse told me that I ought to get an immunization after the wedding (since the shot can make you break out a little, e.g. a mild case of German Measels).  She also stressed that after getting the shot that we should not plan getting pregnant for at least 90 days.  Oh yeah, and not to plan getting pregnant before the shot either. I made a point of warning others that I had the shot in case THEY were pregnant; rubella does cause nasty birth defects. California offers HIV tests as part of the pre-marital screen but they are not required.  They are also expensive; last I heard you could get them for free (well, your tax dollars pay for it) from the County Health department. — Centigram Communications Corp        San Jose California  408/428-3553 "A catchy slogan should appear here"  –Dave Barry

Response:

>I wonder what they do if they find out people have health problems in >these exams?  Can you then not get married?  That seems silly.  Or do >you just have to tell the other person?  I’m not worried about this >myself (unless I have a nasty surprise coming ) but I’m curiuos as to >thbe purpose.  And about rubella, if it causes birth defects, would >people not get married b/c of it? >Liz

I live in CA, where they test for syphillis for both partners and for rubella immunity in women.  I"m not sure what the point of the syph. test is these days, but rubella at least used to have a point.  Back in the days when no one had children until they were married (bit of an exaggeration…) this was a good time to test women for immunity.  If you’re not immune, they recommend strongly that you have a booster immunization (i.e., easy fix, no reason not to get married and have kids, but it’s a good time to check it out).   Of course these days marriage and family planning seem to have little to do with each other, and I believe that CA is considering dropping the requirement altogether. Anita Barnes Reimann

Response:

The test are performed to make sure both the male and female do not have syphallis and the women has had her rubella shot to prevent birth defects. The syphallis law is an old law that has been on the books for years and has not been updated to todays standard.

Response:

>I wonder what they do if they find out people have health problems in >these exams?  Can you then not get married?  That seems silly.  Or do >you just have to tell the other person?  I’m not worried about this >myself (unless I have a nasty surprise coming ) but I’m curiuos as to >thbe purpose.  And about rubella, if it causes birth defects, would >people not get married b/c of it? >Liz

I’m sure they’d let you get married, they’d just have you get a antibiotic shot for syphilis, and you MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) immunization if you haven’t had it.  I didn’t know they tested for TB, but that’s treatable too.  They are lots of confidentiality laws…you spouse would probably notice that the license was delayed, but they probably can’t tell the other party without permission…just deny the license until they’re treated. Lisa — Lisa M. Losito                             "Dilute, Dilute, Dilute. OK!"

Response:

I wonder what they do if they find out people have health problems in these exams?  Can you then not get married?  That seems silly.  Or do you just have to tell the other person?  I’m not worried about this myself (unless I have a nasty surprise coming ) but I’m curiuos as to thbe purpose.  And about rubella, if it causes birth defects, would people not get married b/c of it? Liz

Response:

> > 2) What else is needed besides the blood test to get married? > What is this US pre-wedding blood test thing ?  We don’t have it in the UK, > and I’ve always wondered what exactly was being tested. > — > Andy & Avril

Hi Andy, Not all states in the US require blood tests.  The tests are usually for syphillis and/or tuberculosis.  The logic as I understand it when these were established was that it should be known before one got married whether you or your future spouse had one of these diseases.  No state I know of requires AIDS testing before marriage, though you can request it when (and if) they do the blood test. I always thought it was silly to require the tests, as if not having the one or two diseases for which they test meant that you had a perfectly clean bill of health.  Also there is the somewhat arcane assumption that you are catching these people before they have their first sexual contact. — Lisa W.

Response:

>> What is this US pre-wedding blood test thing ?  We don’t have it in the UK, > and I’ve always wondered what exactly was being tested. >We don’t have it in Canada either, but from my understanding they test for >STD’s.  This way the person you are marrying finds out before hand wether >you have anything they don’t want to have to deal with.  Kind of a disclosure >clause I guess.

It’s not a national thing in the US, each state has different requirements.  Somne are very easy (creating popular wedding spots like Las Vegas for "quickie" weddings) and others are more difficult (blood tests, waiting periods, license fees, etc.)  Maryland reqires one partner to show up with ID from both people, (drivers license, passport, birth certificate, military ID etc.) pay $35, and pick it up 48 hours later. (You must have the ceremony in the county it was obtained in.) The District of Columbia is $12, but you need a blood test, and anyone can submit the application( 5 day waiting?).  In Virginia both parties must appear, pay $20, and you get it immediately, no waiting. YMMV, everyone should call their county court house, or marriage licensing bureau to check. The medical exam/blood test/immunization requirements vary.  As I recall, and someone mentioned, they often concern rubella becasue of the link with birth defects, and test for syphilis.  Some states have discussed HIV testing, but I’m not sure if any have actually implemented it, many people objected, and was considered unreliable due to the 6 month testing window for HIV.  The exam/test requirement from a public health point of view is considered antiquated, and not very effective.  I’m told they don’t find very many people with a problem. Lisa — Lisa M. Losito                             "Dilute, Dilute, Dilute. OK!"

Response:

> > 2) What else is needed besides the blood test to get married? > What is this US pre-wedding blood test thing ?  We don’t have it in the UK, > and I’ve always wondered what exactly was being tested.

We don’t have it in Canada either, but from my understanding they test for STD’s.  This way the person you are marrying finds out before hand wether you have anything they don’t want to have to deal with.  Kind of a disclosure clause I guess.

Response:

> 2) What else is needed besides the blood test to get married?

What is this US pre-wedding blood test thing ?  We don’t have it in the UK, and I’ve always wondered what exactly was being tested. — Andy & Avril

Response:

i have been a lurker here on alt.wedding here for some time…  i finally have a reason to post… a friend of mine proposed to his girlfriend last night.  They want to get married before November…  This raises a few questions… 1) Does a girl, age 17, need parental consent to get married in the    state of FL? 2) What else is needed besides the blood test to get married? Thanks for your help…  CD – THE NOISEMAKER —    "Off the modem…Through the phone line…nothin’ but net." – Unknown

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->i have been a lurker here on alt.wedding here for some time…  i >finally have a reason to post… >a friend of mine proposed to his girlfriend last night.  They want to >get married before November…  This raises a few questions… >1) Does a girl, age 17, need parental consent to get married in the >   state of FL? >2) What else is needed besides the blood test to get married? >Thanks for your help… > CD – THE NOISEMAKER >– >   "Off the modem…Through the phone line…nothin’ but net." – Unknown

Christie– Good lord, what’s their rush? As for details, it’s probably best to call or stop by your town hall.  They will have all paperwork there and details about when and where and what needs (by law) to be done.   I have a feeling you’ll be posting some more…5 months is real tight and 17 is awfully young these days…

Response:

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