Let’s Get Tested by Hien Pham
on 03/24/2026 at 12:02 am- Comic »
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What does STI testing look like in Australia? Why would I want to get tested? Why wouldn’t I?
This story is my thank-you letter to sexual health clinics, nurses, and doctors everywhere! And more specifically: thank you to Peter from Perth’s own M Clinic and Stewart from the WAAC for their time, patience, and expertise for helping me bring this comic to life!
Matts Added Note: Hot dog, thank you so much M Clinic, WAAC AND Hien for todays amazing collaborative, and educational comic. We’ve got a whole lot of comics on STI’s and testing too, if you’d like even more resources to read over.
Our STI Testing Comics!
How to disclose your STI by Erika Moen (2026)
Our mega hitlist of STI’s (2019)
Erika and Matt’s decade old comic on Getting Tested (2017!)
We’ve also got way more to list, so here is…
The Health Category
And the Search Results for ‘STI’
Getting tested can be stressful, hopefully todays comic can help you make that leap!
—
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↓ Comic Transcript
Today’s comic is by Hien Pham. He draws his comic with the full gamut of colors, but the majority of his backgrounds in today's comic are in blues with spots of green and other accent colors to make it spring to life. Hien is a dark-skinned, heavyset man with thinning hair and a bushy beard, wearing a floral yellow shirt above some pink shorts.
Page 1
We see the exterior of M Clinic 20, and above it, word balloons between Hien and Peter, who is shown later to be a blonde-haired, masculine, stocky doctor with stubble, wearing a dark polo shirt,
Peter - Hey, Hien! How are you?
Hien - Hey, pizza! I’m sweating in this heat… You?
Peter - I’m well, thank you. What can I do for you today?
Hien - One STI check-up, please!
The camera joins Peter and Hien in a doctor’s room, with a cheeky smile, Hien continues.
Hien - I actually feel fine, but it’s been a while since my last screening… It’d be nice to have peace of mind in case any sexy comic research comes up.
Peter - You’re doing the right thing!
The camera turns to look at Peter who smiles back.
Peter- You know, the majority of infections we detect here are in asymptomatic folks
Hien - Really?!
Peter - Yeah. That’s why regular testing is key to preventing those infections from spreading to more vulnerable folks.
Usually, we chat about your sexual history and determine what tests would be right for you… But if you’re after a thorough screening, may I recommend the whole suite of tests?
Hien - I’m down!
Page 2
This page is broken up into four panels, which highlight and showcase four different sample techniques. They are drawn with a marshmallow way and exaggerated cartoon effects to support each of the scientific drawings.
First pass urine sample
- A genital swab might be offered instead, depending on your consultation!
- Wipe down areas as instructed, then collect the first part of the stream.
A small chibi Peter holds up a bagged test sample
Peter - Fill up about halfway, and please make sure the lid is closed properly!
Throat Swab
- Swab the tonsils on both sides of the back of the throat, where the uvula is visible
- Secure the swab back in its container.
A small chibi Hien swabs, a big giant mouth
Hien - I usually self-collect the sample, but a clinician can also assist!
Rectal Swab
- Self-collect in the bathroom with one leg on the toilet and one hand reaching from behind.
- Insert the swab two centimeters, almost an inch, into the rectum and rotate for 10 seconds
- Secure swab back in its container
Peter explains to a shocked Hien
Peter - You can also lightly wet the swab under tap water for easier entry
Hien - I’ve been raw dogging it dry this whole time
Blood sample
-Collected by a clinician
Page 3
Hien is drawn all wobbly and melting into his chair as Peter tippy taps into his computer
Hien - Peter, I think I’m all sampled out… Are we finished?
Peter - We’re done! The test results can take up to a week, and the M Clinic will only notify you if anything comes up. Usually, no news is good news.
Peter winks at him, and Hien smiles back
Peter - If you can wait for any potential result before getting up to anything. But I do understand it’s not always a realistic expectation.
Hien - I’m always happy to stick to cuddles!
Hien leans back, thoughtfully, scratching his chin
You know, with how efficient these STI screenings are in Australia… I wonder why some folks don’t get tested…
Peter - Well… Outside of clinics like ours, there could be a cost barrier.
Peter crosses his leg as he continues.
Peter - M clinic screenings are free, and even our $35 consult fee can be waived for a lot of folks, but they may not have a way of knowing that. Folks from backgrounds where sexual health is to boot could be afraid of how they’re viewed if they seek help, or they could be intimidated by the unfamiliar process.
Page 4
We see a side profile of Hein as he is drawn, looking slightly more serious.
Hien - It did take me a while before I got tested for the first time… It’s wild what growing up in a sex negative environment can do to your head.
The camera zooms into his hands as they fidget lightly.
Hien - There was this impossible demand for sex to simultaneously be something so dangerous that I couldn’t be educated about it… And something I was expected to know exactly how to perform, and how not to get hurt.
At times, the pain of a festering illness was easier to bear than the shame and punishment I’d have had to face simply by asking a question
Peter listens with a mirrored camera angle at his serious face as Hien continues.
Hien - The first time I went to an outreach clinic, the way everything was discussed so frankly and openly completely disarmed my nerves.
The background is of drawn, STI news bulletins inside the clinic, offering things like counseling services, PrEP education, helpful guides on being newly positive and other good things like that.
Hien - It felt like we were all in this together, talking, treating, healing, one test at a time. After that scary first step, everything felt so much easier. So much lighter.
Page 5
We see Hien in his comical style being all jiggly and teary as he earnestly switches tracks back to Peter, who smiles back and waves his head 'no'
Hien - Although I’m still nervous about a urethra swab… I won’t have to do one next time… Will I?
Peter - Well, everything you do here is with your consent, so if you don’t want to, you don’t have to. Your urine sample usually covers all that.
Hien turns around and his shadowed as he strikes a winning pose.
Hien - Got away with it!!!
Peter, in the background, smiles and continues.
Peter - Although if you have certain symptoms or if you can’t collect your urine… We’ll definitely talk about why a genital swap would be necessary!
Hien stands up and makes his way to the door, where he spins around.
Hien - Will swab that dick when we get there! Thanks for today, Peter! I’ll see you soon!
Peter - See you soon!
Halfway out the door, Hien looks back with a serious face
Hien- -But… Hopefully not, though…
Peter grinning back - Not until your next check-up at least!
Today’s comic was drawn and written by Hien Pham for Oh Joy Sex Toy, with consultation from the good folk at WAAC and Clinic M. It was then transcribed by Matthew Nolan on 3/23/26
Page 1
We see the exterior of M Clinic 20, and above it, word balloons between Hien and Peter, who is shown later to be a blonde-haired, masculine, stocky doctor with stubble, wearing a dark polo shirt,
Peter - Hey, Hien! How are you?
Hien - Hey, pizza! I’m sweating in this heat… You?
Peter - I’m well, thank you. What can I do for you today?
Hien - One STI check-up, please!
The camera joins Peter and Hien in a doctor’s room, with a cheeky smile, Hien continues.
Hien - I actually feel fine, but it’s been a while since my last screening… It’d be nice to have peace of mind in case any sexy comic research comes up.
Peter - You’re doing the right thing!
The camera turns to look at Peter who smiles back.
Peter- You know, the majority of infections we detect here are in asymptomatic folks
Hien - Really?!
Peter - Yeah. That’s why regular testing is key to preventing those infections from spreading to more vulnerable folks.
Usually, we chat about your sexual history and determine what tests would be right for you… But if you’re after a thorough screening, may I recommend the whole suite of tests?
Hien - I’m down!
Page 2
This page is broken up into four panels, which highlight and showcase four different sample techniques. They are drawn with a marshmallow way and exaggerated cartoon effects to support each of the scientific drawings.
First pass urine sample
- A genital swab might be offered instead, depending on your consultation!
- Wipe down areas as instructed, then collect the first part of the stream.
A small chibi Peter holds up a bagged test sample
Peter - Fill up about halfway, and please make sure the lid is closed properly!
Throat Swab
- Swab the tonsils on both sides of the back of the throat, where the uvula is visible
- Secure the swab back in its container.
A small chibi Hien swabs, a big giant mouth
Hien - I usually self-collect the sample, but a clinician can also assist!
Rectal Swab
- Self-collect in the bathroom with one leg on the toilet and one hand reaching from behind.
- Insert the swab two centimeters, almost an inch, into the rectum and rotate for 10 seconds
- Secure swab back in its container
Peter explains to a shocked Hien
Peter - You can also lightly wet the swab under tap water for easier entry
Hien - I’ve been raw dogging it dry this whole time
Blood sample
-Collected by a clinician
Page 3
Hien is drawn all wobbly and melting into his chair as Peter tippy taps into his computer
Hien - Peter, I think I’m all sampled out… Are we finished?
Peter - We’re done! The test results can take up to a week, and the M Clinic will only notify you if anything comes up. Usually, no news is good news.
Peter winks at him, and Hien smiles back
Peter - If you can wait for any potential result before getting up to anything. But I do understand it’s not always a realistic expectation.
Hien - I’m always happy to stick to cuddles!
Hien leans back, thoughtfully, scratching his chin
You know, with how efficient these STI screenings are in Australia… I wonder why some folks don’t get tested…
Peter - Well… Outside of clinics like ours, there could be a cost barrier.
Peter crosses his leg as he continues.
Peter - M clinic screenings are free, and even our $35 consult fee can be waived for a lot of folks, but they may not have a way of knowing that. Folks from backgrounds where sexual health is to boot could be afraid of how they’re viewed if they seek help, or they could be intimidated by the unfamiliar process.
Page 4
We see a side profile of Hein as he is drawn, looking slightly more serious.
Hien - It did take me a while before I got tested for the first time… It’s wild what growing up in a sex negative environment can do to your head.
The camera zooms into his hands as they fidget lightly.
Hien - There was this impossible demand for sex to simultaneously be something so dangerous that I couldn’t be educated about it… And something I was expected to know exactly how to perform, and how not to get hurt.
At times, the pain of a festering illness was easier to bear than the shame and punishment I’d have had to face simply by asking a question
Peter listens with a mirrored camera angle at his serious face as Hien continues.
Hien - The first time I went to an outreach clinic, the way everything was discussed so frankly and openly completely disarmed my nerves.
The background is of drawn, STI news bulletins inside the clinic, offering things like counseling services, PrEP education, helpful guides on being newly positive and other good things like that.
Hien - It felt like we were all in this together, talking, treating, healing, one test at a time. After that scary first step, everything felt so much easier. So much lighter.
Page 5
We see Hien in his comical style being all jiggly and teary as he earnestly switches tracks back to Peter, who smiles back and waves his head 'no'
Hien - Although I’m still nervous about a urethra swab… I won’t have to do one next time… Will I?
Peter - Well, everything you do here is with your consent, so if you don’t want to, you don’t have to. Your urine sample usually covers all that.
Hien turns around and his shadowed as he strikes a winning pose.
Hien - Got away with it!!!
Peter, in the background, smiles and continues.
Peter - Although if you have certain symptoms or if you can’t collect your urine… We’ll definitely talk about why a genital swap would be necessary!
Hien stands up and makes his way to the door, where he spins around.
Hien - Will swab that dick when we get there! Thanks for today, Peter! I’ll see you soon!
Peter - See you soon!
Halfway out the door, Hien looks back with a serious face
Hien- -But… Hopefully not, though…
Peter grinning back - Not until your next check-up at least!
Today’s comic was drawn and written by Hien Pham for Oh Joy Sex Toy, with consultation from the good folk at WAAC and Clinic M. It was then transcribed by Matthew Nolan on 3/23/26
