does anyone know what they test for in routine vaginal swabs and urine tests?

[arggg]

had both lately and was just wondering.

Not an expert but would imagine they test for the presence of candida (thrush), and chlamydia (quite common these days so no reflection on the person having the tests iykwim). I think when they get vaginal swabs in the path lab they have a set routine and just test for all the usual offenders but obviously it will depend on your symptoms. Urine tests usually just look for the presence of infection in the urine generally, they can test for chlamydia this way too. There are lots of bugs which can take a hold in the urinary tract and which can be treated well with antibiotics. I think if you arehaving gynae and or urinary problems/pain they tend to do both sets of tests as the syptoms can kind of mimic or be difficult to distinguish from each other.

I don't think they test for any other STD's with 'routine' swabs, i think you have to go to a GUM clinic (Hope I haven't offended you but wondered if this was worrying you?)

Hope someone else comes on who can give you more specific advice!

Urine test with 'stick' tests for sugar, protein, blood, infection. Urine test 'to the lab' tests for infection usually, or specific protein if you have diabetes.
Routine vaginal swabs checks for infection, mainly thrush, something called bacterial vaginosis and some sexually transmitted diseases. A different vaginal swab (or urine test in some parts of the country) check for chlamydia.

stupidly and sadly, yeah, that is what i'm worried about. (i say ' stupidly' because there is absolutely no reason that i should have anything)
i#ve just been feeling er, 'unwell' for a while and so sick and tired of it.
but i know that if something came back positive that would be the end of my marriage and i can't face that.
i've been with my DH for over 10 years, we have a 2yo. btu i've always had problems 'down tehre' and i'm a bit of a hypochondriac.
this is pushing me into a spiral of depression though. so i know i need to do something. i just can't.

(both routine tests came back 'normal' btw)

helpmepleaseijustdon'tknowwhattodo.
ohgodohgod

why is htis hapenning to me? what did i do?
and par t of me keeps saying its' because i am a bda oerson. i don't deserve to be happy.
fuckfuckfuck

please help me.
please make it all jsut go away.

What's happened ,are you ok?

Are you OK, you sound pretty upset

i'm tryong to make myself phone to make an appointment with the gp, and I CAN'T.
i'm just sitting here sobbing.

Hands hankies with hug

Now.. you know you have to see GP to talk about it all. Have you got a sympathetic one?

it's a big clinic so you kind of get who you get.
thank you for this. i'm being pathetic. i know i am. i'm a grown woman ffs. but right now i feel baout 12.

That's OK, I feel about 3 some days And there's nothing pathetic about being upset when you haven't been well for a while!

Even in big clinic you should be able to specify who you want to see but you may have to wait I suppose.

i'm just so afraid.
if something comes back...
i've not been with anyone else and i'm 99.9% sure my DH ahsn't either.
he;ll never believe me. he'll hate me. he;ll leave me. i have no money no job. no family here. i'm just so afraid.

Can you talk to DH about how you feel? There's no reason to think you've got STD. There are other things that can cause symptoms, sometimes even being down can make you think there's something.

i so wish i could tlak to him. i just can't.
be wouldn't understand. he;s a lovely man but he wouldn't get it.
i woudl say 'i have this irrational fear'. he would hear 'i'm a cheating whore.' (there are jealousy issues)
i've had depression in the past. he knows i'm really really down right now. he knows i've had recurring thrush lately and that it's making me feel even more depressed.
he's being so sweet and trying to help me to feel better. i just love him so much.

That would be a problem if he wouldn't understand you without jumping to conclusions. But maybe he'd surprise you?? But I can understand that you wouldn't want to put it to the test, especially when you're feeling down.
Can you bring yourself to get on the phone to the health centre and get an appointment? It sounds you know you need to...

RIGHT Firstly: BREATHE!!!

There is absolutely no reason, from what you have put on here to suspect an STD, no reason whatsoever! As others have said, these routine tests will test for things like thrush, chlamidia, PID (pelvic inflammatory disease - not so bad as it sounds) Urine infections etc. All things that can make you feel pretty shitty.

You need to go back to your doctor and talk to them, or a nurse, anyone. Please do this. You sound like i did one day when i had an absolute meltdown. Fortunately for me it was the begning of me getting the help i needed.

You sound completely and utterly over the top anxious about this - i know exactly how you feel, i was in my doctors once, hysterical because i thought my tonsils were tumours. Once the anxiety kicks in, rational thought goes out of the window.

You probably feel run down and unwell because of your anxiety and it has caused you to be depressed. You NEED some treatment for this otherwise you are going to get worse. Sorry to be blunt, but ive been there and honestly, i could have written this post 6 months ago.

You are NOT a bad person, you deserve to be happy, your depression is what is making you think otherwise. Im not a doctor, but i can say this because this is exactly how i felt. In fact it was a thread a posted on here ages ago that said something along the lines of me not deserving my family that prompted me to get help. Ive not looked back, OK so im not 100% ive got a LONG way to go, but im getting there. Please dont make yourself suffer this anymore - go to the doctors, just turn up if you cant get an appointment and insist on seeing someone, jump up and down, shout, cry - whatever just do it. If there are no doctors appointments and you have a minor injury unit, go and take a ticket and tell someone there, thats what i did, funnily enough i was given an appointment within the hour!

from the point of view of the thrush (which i suspect you are getting over and over because you are run down) is your DP getting some cream for this too? Otherwise it just passes from one to the other, but its NOT an STD in the strictest sense of the word. The fungus that causes it is usually "down there" and sits there happily causing no problems, but when there are changes in pH or you are run down it plays havoc. But then you pass it on to DP and he passes it back, this happens so much because men tend to be asymptomatic.

STOP PANICkING and go to the doctors!!

can only second that lucyellensmum and wish i could express myself so well!

thank you both so much.
i've kept this bottled inside for so long. i think that i need help. regardless of what's going on 'down below'
though i think taht if i got an all clear i would be fine mentally. it's just this fear of being left alone i guess.
it's like a record player. the needle gets caught in a groove and plays the same thing over and over. (you're a bad person. he's going to leave you. etc etc)
i have made an appointment for tomorrow. hopefully i can find someone to watch DS for me. hopefully they won't just put me in a straightjacket and wheel me away.

arrggg, are you sure you are not me?

Brilliant that you have made the appointment for tomorrow. I know exactly what you mean about the, "if that comes back clear then everything will be OK" thing. I was like that - i have lost count of the times ive been to the doctors with illnesses i have convinced myself that i have. I even managed to generate symptoms through my anxiety. And yes, once i was "cleared" of one thing, a few days/weeks later there was something else. My DP just couldnt stand anymore bless him. It got to the point when i would mention something, and he would say "what now - you better go to the doctor and arrange your funeral while you are at it" I dont blame him, and he doesnt blame me. Knowing that what i have is an illness has helped us both understand things and since i have been on ADs its calmed the anxiety and whilst i still get stressed and shouty sometimes, mostly i am the "normal" me. It has saved my relationship.

Something positive will come out of this - you are going to get your life back!!

Maybe today you can keep youself busy - doesnt that cupboard under the stairs need sorting out? Don't you need to weed and dig the garden, take the little ones to the park/library/beach/soft play hell center

this is so frustrating because i was doing so well. i have been off my ADs since the summer and feeling pretty good.
lately however i have been feeling quite anxious, which i did't feel before.
i feel a bit better, knowing that one way or another things will be resolved.
i just wish i could wake up next weeka dn this will all be over.

ah, sorry arrg, i had have only just got this, i have been out and about.

I think you should ask about going back on the meds, what were you taking? I am taking citalopram 40mg, principally for anxiety, which as i say, was crippling before. This is what they tend to give people with anxiety, maybe it was what you were taking before. It is similar to prozac but is better for anxiety. Works for me - mostly

Its a lovely day today (at least it is here), be kind to yourself and try and get out and enjoy it, even if its a walk to the end of the road.

Take care

thanks lucyellensmum.
i was on 20mg seroxat for pnd before. it was hell getting off them and i was so proud of myself for doing it. oh what the hell. i might as well take whatever will work. the anxiety thing is new to me though. not fun.
i am feeling a bit better now. (a few hours of crappy mind numbing tv will do that!)
I told dh that i have an appointment tomorrow. he;s being so great.
i have to believe that in the end it'll all be ok. hopefully i'll still feel the same this time tomorrow!
thanks for listening!!

how did the appointment go arrg?? I'm having a shitty day today, but tomorrow will be better