What if I have an STI? Help! *TMI WARNING*

[Tallis123]

NC for this as it’s rather embarrassing. I’ve tried google but it’s not coming up with the answers I need so posting here for traffic.

About 18 months ago I had a random pain in my side and as part of my Dr’s investigations I had a full sexual health check. All came back clear. I had been with my DP for nearly 18 months at this point (now nearly 3 years together).

I had a course of antibiotics for a throat infection about 4 months ago and as always I developed thrush, I treated it with a pessary and cream. Itching cleared up but I am still having very heavy discharge.

I home tested for bacterial vaginosis with the Canesbalance swab test and it came back positive but also said it could be indicative of Trichomoniasis which I had never heard of. I’ve had BV before so I just bought the internal cream treatments and thought that would sort me out.

It hasn’t and now my discharge is very muscus like (almost like snot) and has taken on a greenish tinge. After googling it is suggesting an STI and suggesting Trichomoniasis.

My problem is, if I was STI tested only 18 months ago and have had no new sexual partners then how could I have this? Is it possible I could have got a false negative before or ...... does it mean what I’m fearing. .... could my partner have cheated on me?

Does anyone know the answer to whether you can only develop a positive test result after such a long period of time?

OhWot really? Eczema? I didn’t know you could if it on your lady bits so I’ve learnt something new!
I don’t think it is “just me” as it’s a new development over the last 3-4 months.
There’s no odour or itchiness just a very heavy, sticky (think copy paste glue - I could actually pick it clean off the gusset of my knickers like slime) and now it’s taken on a greenish tinge. No pain, not even during or after sex. But my knickers are constantly wet with discharge

No reason to distrust DP at all, I think that’s why I felt quite sick after googling my symptoms because it hadn’t even occurred to me that it could potentially be an STI. I did panic when I read it though, but only because I was cheated on in the past and hadn’t seen it coming.

OP did you see my post?

You tested positive for BV, yes?

Some BV need oral antibiotics. It's just the way it is.
Don't complicate things, just see your GP.

Yes What I did, thank you for taking the time to reply. I have appointment with my GP but the next non-emergency appointment is nearly 3 weeks away. I think I panicked and got myself worked up!

That’s good 😊

From what MrsF has said, it sounds more like BV & like they wouldn’t have tested you for TV last time. Did you not get a record of what you were tested for?!

I’ve just had a read about vagjnal eczema - every day is a school day...

The page I read (various vaginal/vulval issues) m also said you can make the issue worse treating with anti fungus if it’s not an anti fungal. So maybe just wash with plain water until your appointment (apparently the various fem washes aren’t actually that great either).

Can you save yourself and the GP time and just explain it over the phone?
They haven't got to test, you've already done it so you just need the meds.

That's what I did with my GP.
I realise not all practices work that way though. Annoyingly!

3 weeks is a long time to suffer.

THREE WEEKS?! - bloody hell, just take one of the ‘emergency’ ones or go to the GUM clinic. I know you don’t want to wait in the queue, but just wear your dark glasses, you’ll get over it, it’s better than waiting three sodding weeks for the GP then longer for the GUM.

Where I work we don't have separate GU clinics, it's just Sexual Health clinics - people come to see us for contraception, screening, menopause, vasectomy counselling, sterilisation counselling, smears. I'm not sure what the service is like in your area, but attending our service doesn't mean you're only wanting an STI screen.

You know the GUM clinic isn't that simple unfortunately.

I tried going down that route as well and for some reason they turned me away. I can't remember why now. It was over a year ago.
People do reel out the "go to your gum clinic" but it isn't as simple as people think.

Mine was in a major city as well. I'm buggered if I can remember what the issue was.

And all the other sexual health clinics were for under 25's as well.

Trichomoniasis is horrible, you need proper treatment for that and, yes, it is an STI so do not ignore it. Flagyl used to be given for it, maybe something different now.

Annie I have a very public job unfortunately and I’m well known in my hometown. I would rather suffer than bump into people I know. Our GUM clinic is attached to the walk centre and bloods clinic, same open plan building but on a different level.
When you get referred you go to see a doctor on level 1, rather than the STI drop in clinic on level 3 IYSWIM so it would be obvious what I was there for.

Might ring the Dr’s office on Tuesday and explain and see what they can do

X-post!
I guess some clinics are good then!

walk in centre* I meant

FWIW the antibiotic treatment for BV and TV is exactly the same.

The thick discharge you are explaining does not sound like TV from what i am reading online. Does your discharge have a foul odour?

Symptoms could be BV or TV. TV is usually frothy discharge and a fishy odour though. As the person who works in GUM said, they may not have tested you before. Even if they did, false negatives happen. It’s a microscopy test, and if the parasite has died on route to the lab, it’s not always easy to see.

Is there a GUM clinic in a neighbouring town you could use? Hopefully you’re doctor will be able to see you sooner than 3 weeks, but if not, not sure I’d want to wait that long with symptoms.

The symptom thing can be a red herring.

I had no symptoms apart from simply feeling very sore. This was the one reason why I suffered for so long, because I didn't have the typical symptoms of BV, so neither my GP or I thought that's what it was.

OP did you ever resolve this? I'm having similar drama! X wondering what your outcome was after all this time.