I'm pretty sure I have an sti - has anyone else had one? What's your experience?

[pineapplehead48]

Hi ladies, I'm not going to go into the circumstances fully although it does involve a cheating boyfriend and pissed unprotected sex with a friend during the heartbreak stage, so is probably my own stupid fault anyway.

I'm waiting on results for a chlamydia and gonnorhea test I ordered from lloyds pharmacy online as I'm too ashamed to go to the gum clinic. I've been having abdominal pains, and a few days ago I was checking as I'm 'symptom spotting' and inserted a finger inside with white toilet paper (sorry about the tmi) and it came out yellow :( it's not sore or smelly and doesn't actually 'come out' into my underwear yellow but I'm aware it's not a good sign. It seems more likely to be gonnorhea Ifeel so horrible and ashamed. Has anyone else had one? What was the treatment like? Guess I just need a hand hold - even though I'm a complete tit.

I had chlamydia when I was 17, I didn't know I had it, got picked up by a smear test (I had heavy bleeding so was given one early) i don't have any proper advice to give you expect don't feel ashamed or embarrassed. Xx

They are great at the GUM clinic. Seriously, you don't have anything to worry about there. And the sooner you get it sorted, the better - you know that.

I know, I definitely don't want it in my body.. but half of me wants to pretend it's not happening because I feel like a complete horror when I have to acknowledge it. I sent the test off his morning so hoping I have the results by the end of the week as it's going to a specific centre in London and not the local hospital. I'm assuming that's because I paid for the test, so hoping I will get the results quicker than usual. I always swore I wouldn't put myself in this position. And just kind of went into self destruct mode and got myself the fucking clap

If I were you I'd look up your local GUM clinic and go to the first possible appointment. You don't want to be sitting around thinking you're infected with something for longer than you have to.

MyBrilliantDisguise - I have already done a vaginal swab which was sent off today, I just have to wait for the results to be uploaded onto my lloyds patient record which I will be notified by text.. so I'm hoping I get them before the weeks out, and I will go straight to the GUM for treatment.

But if you've got to go to the GUM clinic anyway (as there are other things they test for, too) then why wait?

Sorry, I know you must be feeling really down about this.

Because going the GUM clinic involves the same swab test I've taken and I still have to wait upto 2 weeks for those results, so I'm not going to be diagnosed any quicker by going for the same test if you see what I mean? Once the results come back I will be going to the GUM clinic and getting the full screening of course. Yes I am down about it, but it's my own stupid fault more than likely, so I suppose I need to quit the pity party!

why do you think you have to wait 2 weeks for the swab results from a gum clinic? syphilis involves a blood test but I thought the swabs were looked at there and then under a microscope. I went to a gum clinic years ago and got the results there and then. (clear apart from some non specific infection.) If there is any doubt they would possibly give you penicillin anyway.

you also need to be aware that the home tests are not 100% accurate.

Polly - I've had several routine sti screenings and every one has involved a urine sample or a swab. I've always had to wait for the results to be texted to me and been told if I don't receive results within 2 weeks to call. This was always in my local clinic. I have checked the main city centre abacus and the website also states 2 weeks

I'm a doctor at a GUM clinic. If you have abdominal pain we need to assess you as we may need to treat you differently from a "simple" case of chlamydia. We will also do swabs on the day for alternative causes as there are other things this could be which won't be diagnosed on a self taken swab for chlamydia and gonorrhoea

User - that's really helpful info thankyou. I will wait for my results in the meantime but I will go to my local clinic tomorrow as I'm not in work. I just feel so ashamed of myself, which I know is stupid as that's exactly what they are there for

Don't feel ashamed. Anyone who has EVER had sex, even once, can get an STI. I don't think it's that different from any other infection really, it's just harder to diagnose because it's hidden away and people feel embarrassed.

Your story will be so tame to ones they hear every day at the clinic. No one is judging you and you are doing the right thing getting it checked out.

Gunpowder - that was a really kind response, thankyou. I know what you're saying, there's a stigma attached and it makes you feel 'dirty'. I'm just so angry with myself that I let my ex affect my behaviour to the extent that I did something I wouldn't normally and now I've got myself into this mess! I'm 25 for fuck sake, I shouldn't be having to deal with consequences of my stupid drunken behaviour, I know better then that

OP I checked the NHS website before posting and it says clearly that some GUM centres will give you results there and then if they can look at the samples at the time. This won't apply to urine which may need to be cultured but it may well apply to other stis.

If you have had routine tests before I assume you mean at a GP not a gum clinic- they are different.

I'm not sure why you were so reluctant to go to a gum clinic if you have been tested so often before.

I don't know what being 25 is all about. The biggest rise in stis is in the over 60 age group! age is no guarantee of being sensible :)

Polly - it's not so much reluctance In going, it's more having to explain my stupidity. Any other time I've been was a routine screening as I was in the 16-24 age bracket so was always pushed to get tested as it's more likely among that age group. I was in a relationship for a lot of years so I never worried that I was exposed, which may be why I didn't feel embarrassed ingoing. I have had one done at he GP but I also attended the local sexual health clinic for several tests over the years, which catered for people under 25 and there was always a wait. Now I'm 25 I have to go the abacus clinic, and it specifically says they have a TAG (test and go) service with results within 2 weeks. I suppose I could call and ask if I get book an appointment rather than walk in, maybe I could get the results on the day?

Please don't feel ashamed. You wouldn't feel ashamed and stupid of you'd caught a cold by snogging someone, or a sick bug, would you?

Hope you get sorted out quickly. Gum clinics, whichever age group they are for, are fantastic and very professional. They deal with people who have been far, far 'dafter' every single day.

No one will pass judgement on you. Their job is to be professional. You don't have to confess to anything other than unprotected sex. What do you think they are going to ask you? You could be there for any reason- including an unfaithful partner. They aren't remotely interested in your private life.

At 25 you are still very young so not sure why you think that by being 25 you somehow never make a mistake! Especially when the biggest rise in STIs is amongst those over 60!

In other words there are people 40 years older than you going to Gum clinics!

I think you need (and I'm being kind here !) 'get over yourself' on this one. You aren't special, no one cares at the gum clinic what you have done, you just need to get sorted.

Roomba - I know I'm being silly by feeling ashamed, like I said I have been tested before, and they've always been great. I just feel embarrassed having to admit how stupid I've been!

Polly - I know what you mean, I do need to stop the pity party, and I know they see worse things day in day out. It just feels like the worst thing in the world because it's happening to me, and I'm kicking myself for putting myself in this position in the first place. I completely know what you mean with the age thing, I know I'm bound to make mistakes, it's just something I never did when I was a teenager and now I'm an adult I'm bloody doing it! Grrrr

I know how awful it feels to discover you have an STI. As PP have said, try to let go of feeling stupid. Having said that it took me a few months to fully recover mentally from the horror!

I'd only had sex five times in my life when i discovered mine. I felt a toxic mix of ashamed, stupid, embarrassed, bitter, angry, upset.

You'll think I'm mad but the thing that helped me feel better about it was telling a couple of friends and my sister about it. It took away the dirty secret element of how I felt about it.

The GUM clinic were brilliant and so so kind. In future I'd just get myself straight there as they're the experts on this and were also helpful at helping me come to terms with it.

INeedNewShoes - thankyou, it's nice to hear someone else's opinion who knows how I'm feeling (although it's not nice!)

I'm going to tell my mum about it, I know she won't judge me or go mental that I've been silly. We are close. But yes you hit the nail on the head. It does feel like a dirty little secret. Everytime I go the toilet I feel sick at the thought of finding something in my underwear. I just feel so gross about it all. I think it's because it's a sexual
Infection, people assume you've been promiscuous which isn't the case. As I said in a PP, I think the stigma of having one plays a massive part in the horrible feelings I'm having!

You're welcome OP.

The guy who gave me mine ghosted me shortly after we DTD. I've never heard from him since. The STD (warts) was then discovered more than a year and a half later when I had a miscarriage and my immune system plummeted allowing the STD to take hold. To say it was a grim time would be a massive understatement!...

To be honest it wasn't until the treatment had worked (and for warts it was week after week of repeat visits to the GUM clinic for weekly treatment) that I could start getting over it.

It will seem like a huge deal now but will likely seem insignificant in the not too distant future.

OP, just to echo a PP's post, my poor mum contracted herpes at 60, from her now husband. Until then she had only ever had sex with my dad, who died ten years before. STIs are indiscriminate! Really hope you get everything sorted.

INeedNewShoes - gosh, I'm flapping about the immediate symptoms of chlamydia and gonnorhea - I know I could be exposed to anything, and I will get the full screening.im not naive and I know I could have anything from having unprotected sex. I'm just taking it one step at a time. Without trying to sound ridiculous! I genuinely want to thankyou for sharing that info - I know you're 'anonymous' if you like but it's still a massive personal thing to share! And your honesty and personal experience is truly appreciated! 😊

Judy - thankyou. I know age is not a factor, I made a point of telling my age as I didn't want people to think I was a naive 'young' poster. There is a Chance I caught something from my ex who admitted to cheating (I found out) but I think it was probabaly from the pissed sex during the self destruction period as I didn't exhibit symptoms before that. I know that's absolutely not a concrete thing and I could even have something without any symptoms. If (when) I get the dreaded results I will of course inform both parties. I hope your mum is ok, and I think it's nice that she told you that - for the sole reason she is comfortable enough to disclose that! I hope my mum would feel the same way if ever she was presented with that situation