STI help?!

[Adorslia]

Hi I recently put a urine sample in my doctors as I think I have UTI they called me today to say that my results are back and that it was abnormal that I need to repeat the tests and go have some tests at sexual health clinic does this mean the doctors think I have a STI? I’m going out my mind I’ve been with my partner 12 years

posted in the sex forum too

If they're telling you to go to the GUM clinic then yes.

Not necessarily. They shouldn’t have tested for STIs without your permission- could be that the sample showed infection markers but the culture was negative so not cause by a UTI. So they may want you to go to rhe GU clinic to rule out sexually transmitted infection and things like thrush/BV as a cause.

You can call to clarify to see if a positive result has come back but they would have told you if it had. If you’re in a happy committed long term relationship don’t jump tbe gun just go get tested

I’m unaware if they have tested for that I couldn’t ask many questions as my teen was with me it, my results online show high pus and red cells and says sterile pyuria can be observed in sexually transmitted infections so that’s what made me question if they have done a test , also says no bacterial growth found
we are in a happy committed relationship as far as I am aware I’m just worried now

What made you do the urine test in the 1st place?

Felt like I had a urine infection as keep needing to go

Im gonna throw it out there and say I had chlamidya once and it was also the frequent weeing and classic burning although I know many people have no symptoms at all.

It was a lonnnng time ago and I remember the dip test they do at the GUM clinic having what you said - "high pus cells" so I was started on antibiotics straight away then a few days later I got the text to call the clinic who confirmed chlamidya. In my case I had just started a new relationship so no surprises where it came from but your situation is totally different.

I’m guna try get my clinic Monday will I get the results same day or have to wait

Was a good few years ago for me. They "dip" the sample while you're there and then they can guess if you have an STI or not. They then do the analysis which took a couple of days then you either get a text saying all clear or call us. If you have to call its bad news.

I presume the docs hasnt given you antibiotics already?

I went to the GUM clinic yesterday for BV. They checked my swab there and then whilst you wait as they have the microscope there. They can also prescribe straight away and the good thing is the prescriptions are free! They did also take my bloods for hiv as I thought might as well whilst I'm there, have to wait for those results.

Sexual Health clinics are well set up to test for all sort of infections whether related to having sex or not. We often think that SH clinics are not for us, however they can check for many things eg with persistent yeast infection test for the strain to see if it is non-albicans and figure out the best treatment. Another example - Bacterial Vaginosis is not regarded as an STI as although it can be contracted through sex it can also contracted for other reasons eg vaginal atrophy due to low estrogen in menopause.

FWIW urethral inflammation and urinary frequency can be due to vaginal atrophy / VA - full name is Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause - don't know if this is relevant to you OP? I was diagnosed with VA at my local SH clinic as I had soreness and felt I needed to wee all the time. I also went for STI tests as a relationship had just finished and wanted the full works despite being told I was really low risk for HIV and asked twice if I wanted the test 🙄. Thankfully this has improved in the 7 years since.

If you have a teen and have been in your current relationship for 12 years the clinic might ask if you both screened for STIs at any point. Sometimes they can lie dormant for many years. The clinic should be helpful in ruling anything else out as the cause of your symptoms.

Tests, depending on what is done, can take a few days to come back.

The testing the NHS use for UTI is outdated and not fit for purpose, they even admit it on their website, but shockingly do nothing about using more advanced testing. It's only (mostly) women's health after all!

So you could still have a UTI.

They are probably just recommending to you to get tested for STI due to the 'sterile' pyuria. I don't think this means that it's even likely you have an STI. More likely you have a UTI that their crappy testing cannot culture.

Definitely please still go for the STI testing, as a precaution, because they can cause serious problems if left untreated. I wouldn't jump to question your relationship though.

I work in sexual health. Your GP really should be able to have offered you STI testing. It’s a bit silly that they’ve done a urine test and then just bounced you somewhere else.

That said the most common STIs can be tested for with at home kits. You can go buy one privately through Boots or another pharmacy today. But your local sexual health clinic will also have them. You may be able to just pop in and pick one up on Monday or look at SH:24 and see if they will send one out to you.

That said, I would not put much stock in a GP nurse seeing something on a urine test. Very likely what they are seeing is the presence of something that isn’t usually a common UTI causing bacteria. That doesn’t mean it’s an STI. It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bacteria at all. I had an STI screening when I had my IUD out. I’ve been with Dh for 16 years. As sure as I can be that neither of us have ever cheated on each other. A weird bacteria came up on the slides. They sent me home with antibiotics for both of us because they weren’t sure what it was (I held off taking them to wait for results). 2 weeks later, all tests came back clear of STIs. It was just some sort of bacteria, but it wasn’t an STI and I’ve never had any symptoms before or since. Definitely get tested for peace of mind, but I would try not to worry too much at this point.