An STD or BV??

[andtreescomeabout]

Hi everyone,

Looking for some help, support and no judgement please. I recently split up with my DP of 4 years and began seeing a new guy, I suppose as a bit of a rebound. Before we became intimate we discussed sexual health and we were fully screened for any STIs. Thankfully all results came back negative.

I am usually very sensible when it comes to sexual health and I feel so ashamed that I had unprotected sex with this guy, I wouldn't usually do it unless in a relationship. Anyway, about a day and a half after we had sex I started to get a really bad smelling discharge which was also accompanied by a little spotting. The spotting was brief and there was no more after this one incident but the discharge has remained. It was white ish/yellow watery on the whole.

I also had some irritation at the time near the entrance of my vagina but it has completely cleared up now so I have since put this down to the fact we had quite a lot of sex (sorry TMI).

I will mention that I have quite bad health anxiety and I tend to jump to conclusions and panic a lot. But I did some googling (bad I know!) And the STIs that seem to cause any bleeding or discharge are Chlamydia and herpes. I am now in such a panic that I've contracted herpes. I feel as though I could be imagining the symptoms I've read online, such as numbness in genital area etc as I'm paying so much attention to every twinge and feeling.

Then yesterday I have noticed the smallest little pimple on the edge of my bum area. It already feels like it's decreased in size since then but I can't shake this anxiety and there are no sexual health clinics offering appointments near me until late next week. I have sent off a home test for Chlamydia and gonorrea to be sure it's not one of those.

I also bought some treatment for BV and began using it yesterday, it seems to be doing some good already as the smell is slightly less strong? There are no spots or sores at all anywhere on my vagina and it all feels totally normal. It's just this one spot on my bum that is giving me stress, not to mention the fact I have a cold at the moment too so I am just super aware of symptoms.

Has anyone got any advice? Do you think this could be BV or should I be worried it's something more serious?

I should also add I started getting the discharge on Monday and it's now Friday with these symptoms.

Call the surgery and book for a nurse to take a swab or book in to a sexual health clinic. No one is going to be able to put your mind completely at ease -hopefully it’s nothing but you do need to be tested to be sure.

www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/how-to-use-self-test-kits-safely/

Probably BV. BV can be quite hard to shift though so do some research and get it sorted. I used to freeze little blocks of live yoghurt to get rid of it when I had it! Sounds insane but it was the only thing that seemed to work!

I've also suffered with health anxiety related to stds in the past.

If you've got no open sores then it's not herpes, probably just a random little spot! They are very common all over your body.

I'd suggest no more googling as it won't help with the anxiety. Then, I'd use a cbt technique which is weighing up the evidence and working though the worst case scenario. If you do have chlamydia, it's not the end of the world. You will have caught it early, it is easily treated with a tablet and you will be much more careful in the future.

If the screenings you and your partner had were negative then It's probably just BV. The nurse will be able to help you identify what's going on but maybe go to a walk in clinic if you are this worried?

@sourcherries123

I've also suffered with health anxiety related to stds in the past.

If you've got no open sores then it's not herpes, probably just a random little spot! They are very common all over your body.

I'd suggest no more googling as it won't help with the anxiety. Then, I'd use a cbt technique which is weighing up the evidence and working though the worst case scenario. If you do have chlamydia, it's not the end of the world. You will have caught it early, it is easily treated with a tablet and you will be much more careful in the future.

If the screenings you and your partner had were negative then It's probably just BV. The nurse will be able to help you identify what's going on but maybe go to a walk in clinic if you are this worried?

Yes thank you for your reassurance. The only thing that worries me is that since doing research I have discovered that 1 in 10 people have genital herpes and 70% of the population have some form of herpes with the majority totally unaware! It doesn't show up on normal sexual health screenings as it can only be tested for when there is an open sore and it's possible to catch even with condoms which is why I am so worried I guess. You are right though, everything is treatable and manageable. I just feel so sad and silly that I've allowed this to happen.

Don't Google things like this OP. Just book in to see a nurse. If you was to sleep with this guy again ask him to get screened too.

I had a discharge once... I was mortified that it was thrush but even more mortified I didn't realise it was thrush!

OP, do not feel sad or silly. Like you say - so many people in the population have these illnesses because they are very easily transmitted and common.

It took me a long time to realise I wasn't dirty or disgusting for catching chlamidya when I was younger - it was a silly mistake and I learned from it.

It may help you (as it did me!) to remember as well that even if you got herpes, you will probably have one bad outbreak and then your body will do its job and will repress the virus.

Try to not let this ruin everything for you I promise you will look back at this thread in a few years (as I have one on Mumsnet too with a name change!) and you will realise you managed to cope.