Test results show Chlamydia

[babymilkmama]

Good morning,

We have been ttc for almost two years and have started all the tests etc to try and find out more about why we haven't had a baby. My first dc was conceived without even trying three years ago and so we were a bit disappointed as to why we are struggling.

My gp has just called me to say one of my blood results has shown evidence of a previous chlamydia infection and I'm booked in for swabs next week. I'm absolutely devastated and don't know how I'm going to tell my DH! I've never had any symptoms of an sti so must have had it for years and years. It's been five years since I slept with anyone except my husband and it must have caused some massive damage 😢 he's going to hate me and think I'm disgusting. The gp said not all chlamydia is sexually transmitted but looking online it says it is. I don't know what I'm going to say or do 😬

All STIs are not routinely tested for in pregnancy. The current national guidance is syphillis, hepatitis B, HIV and rubella

They do test for the infection itself using swabs that I'm book in for on Monday anyway. I'm so worried. I must have had it years and years without knowing and at least two years before getting pregnant the first time. I don't know how long it takes to cause damage. I literally slept with DH once and fell pregnant so no problems then. My previous relationship was 5yrs too and I was tested during it before being put on contraception and it was clear. There's no guarantee he was faithful though.

@mummyme87 I have no idea what they tested for. I had blood tests every few weeks for one thing or another 😆 I am so upset that we won't have more children and I've given DH something horrible. He'll never forgive me

I think in my area if you are 25 and under you are automatically tested for chlamydia in pregnancy unless you choose to opt out so if you are older than that that might be why.

I'm a sexual health doctor. I don't comment on mumsnet very often but there is something about a chlamydia thread and the stress and worry of situations like this that makes me want to clear up a few things.

An antibody test is a test for lifetime exposure to chlamydia which is why you need swabs to see if you have an active infection now. It is not good enough to distinguish between types of chlamydia so like your GP says, it is possible this is a form of chlamydia that isn't an STI. However, as STI chlamydia is very common and the other types less so, the balance of probabilities is that at some point you have been exposed sexually.

Chlamydia is NOT routinely tested in pregnancy. Women are all screened for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B which may be described by some midwives as an STI screen, hence the confusion. Those under 25 (and all who request) should be offered testing for chlamydia and gonorrhoea but I suspect this is patchy across the U.K.

Chlamydia can cause tubal infertility which is why the test has been done. However this is much more likely in women who experience symptoms than in those who carry the infection unaware. The fact you have had a pregnancy before make it likely this is a red herring but further infertility investigations will confirm if your tubes are okay.

Finally, it is possibly to clear chlamydia without treatment or clear it if you took certain antibiotics for something else. So it is entirely possible you had the infection years ago, no longer have it and do not need any treatment.

@user1471464906 thank you for your reply and giving a professional point of view. I'm still going to worry as I've not got good odds in things like the chances of an epidural failing... that was me! Sorry to annoy you asking questions but IF I do have tubal infertility is it treatable?

Unfortunately I'm not a fertility doctor so not best placed to comment. It depends on the severity or scarring. IVF bypasses your tubes though so there are definitely options.

I really wouldn't make the assumption that you do have tubal infertility though. Chlamydia is exceptionally common and most infections will not lead to problems. Your GP/gynae may be prompted to do more investigations to look at your tubes but until that point I really wouldn't assume there is a problem.

I'm not sure whether it's different in other areas but round here you are tested for chlamydia amongst other Sti's during pregnancy, so I'm assuming if you had it you would have found out during your first pregnancy.
Is it possible your Dh could have cheated?
It has to have have come from somewhere and if you 100% haven't cheated the only other explanation is him.

Sorry just properly read users post. Ignore me.

@highmaintenancefemalestuff I am certain I haven't cheated on him. If I'm not at work I've got a toddler glued to me so I'm shocked I even find time to sleep with one person let alone another. He wouldn't cheat on me I wouldn't have thought. If he had we would have to work it out but he's really secretive about past relationships so he'd not tell me.

Users post makes it seem more likely there could be another explanation.
I hope everything goes ok for you.

Your dh isn't interested in sex and you have got chlamydia.

Sounds like he could have cheated on you and passed it on.

Really hoping it's nothing OP, but am I the only one who finds it odd that DH is 'really secretive about past relationships'?

You do routinely get tested for sti's when you have your first appt with all the bloods etc, but I'd maybe be speaking to your oh.

The fact that he's not interested in sex apart from ttc is alarm bells for me

He's a really good boy and wouldn't cheat. Plus he comes home straight from work and only ever goes out to play sports or have a drink with his dad! It must have been in me for years.

He's secretive about everything. I don't know what he earns, what relationships he's had, what his job involves. My job is housewife, mother and 9-3 teacher for 38 weeks a year!

You are very trustworthy of such a closed book op!!

So sorry but user has confused me and it's not hard but if you had chlyamidia at some stage (since being with your husband) as an sti, but it cleared with antibiotics you may have taken for something else then surly your husband would still have it and have passed it back to you if he hadn't been treated either?

And sorry op but you sound way too trusting. Who lives with a man they know absolutely nothing about? If you know so little about him and his past he could well have infected you. You are either being nieve or stupid. I'd be hedging yo the sti clinic and getting answers now.

Hedding to.

@patriciathestripper1 I haven't actually taken antibiotics in years so it might have been before him it was treated and gone. I guess the tests on Monday will give us answers.

I still feel disgusted with myself but can't do anything till I know for sure. If it's positive though he'll kill me!

It's not new him being secretive. He doesn't tell anyone anything. I was 26weeks pg before he told his parents about the baby!

Uhm...i would say there are bigger problems in the relationship than your potential chlamydia. The secrecy,lack of sex unless trying for a baby,your absolute fear and worry about his reaction when he finds out etc. STI or not,this does not sound healthy at all.

He doesn't sound trustworthy. He sounds dodgy as hell and you sound naive.
If you tell him what is the betting he will deny all knowledge and beat you over the head with it.

I don't think anything can be inferred until you have had a swab done and tested. As user said, the antibodies could be from years ago, or an non-sti (I think there is a form of chlamydia skin infection you get from dirty Jacuzzis) and that would be unlikely to be the cause of your current fertility problems if you had no trouble before.

But it would do you both good to talk to each other a bit, so maybe this could be an awkward start ....?

Your relationship couldn't sound dodgier if you tried.

I'm not naive or stupid. It's just the way he is. His family think it's hilarious how closed he is even with them. He doesn't want to know about my past either so I think he'd rather ignore things like that.

I'm worried about his reaction yes because I think telling anyone you have an sti is pretty scary. He's going to think I've cheated on him and think I'm dirty! I think I'm dirty! The fact I've only just found out about this but have had it for years means I feel bad because I could have given it to my 2yo when pregnant and I'll have certainly given it to DH.

As only having sex ttc I think with a toddler around it's sometimes hard to find the time and energy. He was also traumatised by my last birth so part of him doesn't want to do it again I expect. He's still coming to terms with it and needs a lot of help processing it.

@everythingeverywhere1234 how is it dodgy? Because he's not open? He wouldn't have time to cheat as he's at work or home. The only time he goes out is with his dad on a weekend or his friends (that's only a couple of times a year).

The money he earns and stuff is because he thinks it's unimportant. My dad never tells my mum what he earns and DH only knows mine because it's nationally published. Also his job is boringness said so he doesn't really talk about it.

He's lovely and a brilliant dad. He stood by me without question when my DB said our baby wasn't his (my brother is a dong) and stuck by me when I was on court after my sexual assault.