STD freakout

LegacyUser

Not asking for medical advice, but im so worried. Basically I'm 24, female, have been with 3 men. I am very careful about my sexual health, use condoms etc. One time my GP thought I had chlamydia (had symptoms) and gave me antibiotics for it, although I never had a test.
After that I was very, very careful, I got STD tested twice and tested for chlamydia and gonnorrhea a few times separately - swab tests. All came back negative.
I decided to send off a urine test this week, as my GP recommended it (not realising I'd already been tested), she said they are very effective. I was expecting a normal result, but today I rang up and they said I have to resubmit the sample. I'm so nervous now that something is wrong, and am thinking of all sorts of possibilities - maybe the 4-5 swab tests were inaccurate, maybe the chlamydia moved up to my uterus to isn't detectable by swab, a million things.

AARRRGH

Jesus, stop worrying will you?

1. You use condoms when you have sex.
2. You have never tested positive for chlamydia.
3. You have been on anti-biotics for chlamydia (just in case you had it), hence any chlamydia infection you may have had (unlikely) is gone.
4. You have two test results which say you don't have chlamydia.

The problem is not chlamydia, the problem is some sort of psychological issue. Stop worrying.

Kevster

Hi,

try to calm down as much as you can because you're giving yourself a diagnosis without any core evidence at all. There are girls out there who have slept with multiple-times more people and not all of them get infections. They might have asked you toi resubmit the sample because they either lost it or fecked up the test the first time around.

Even if you do get a bad result, is it really that 'bad'? Medicine today can cure STDs without a problem. You'll be fine my dear.

Look after your health (mentally-speaking too..)

Kevin

LegacyUser

Well my GP thought it might well be, but when I told her I was tested in January, she said it probably wasn't. The reason I agreed to submit the test was because she said it was more accurate than the swab tests (although I went to Dr Freedman in Ranelegh in Jan and he seems to know what he's doing!) and also I had a niggling thought that my current BF may have it in this throat. He tried to get his throat checked, but he's living in Asia and the people at the clinics looked at him like he was mental when he asked and told him to go away! I was told in the past that it is virtually impossible to get it from a man via oral, that it just doesn't happen. I hope that's true......
And yes, it would be pretty bad, as I've (likely) had it before, and I'm having pain in my abdomen, which would mean it had caused some damage. So I'm freaking out.

AARRRGH

stdfreakout wrote: »

I had a niggling thought that my current BF may have it in this throat.

It's very obvious the problem is you're a big time hypochondriac. If you are unable to control this, you should consider therapy.

Best of luck.

LegacyUser

AARRRGH wrote: »

It's very obvious the problem is you're a big time hypochondriac. If you are unable to control this, you should consider therapy.

Best of luck.

Well to me a hypochondriac is someone who has irrational thoughts of being ill. If I go for a smear test and the doctor comments that I might have chlamydia, I don't think that's entirely irrational?

AARRRGH

stdfreakout wrote: »

Well to me a hypochondriac is someone who has irrational thoughts of being ill. If I go for a smear test and the doctor comments that I might have chlamydia, I don't think that's entirely irrational?

You have two test results which say you do not have chlamydia, you use condoms when you have sex, and you have already been treated for what was likely a phantom chlamydia infection. Yet you still think you have chlamydia.

Seriously, you're a hypochondriac.

Nevyn

AARRRGH you can not diagnose anyone on this forum with an sort of condition so stop calling the op an hypochondriac it is not helpful.

AARRRGH

Thaedydal wrote: »

AARRRGH you can not diagnose anyone on this forum with an sort of condition so stop calling the op an hypochondriac it is not helpful.

Have you read her posts? She has two negative test results yet she is freaking out that she is infected. It makes no sense.

Nevyn

AARRRGH banned for off topic and unhelpful posting.

LegacyUser

AARRRGH wrote: »

You have two test results which say you do not have chlamydia, you use condoms when you have sex, and you have already been treated for what was likely a phantom chlamydia infection. Yet you still think you have chlamydia.

Seriously, you're a hypochondriac.

Yes, but a medical professional thought I may have it. It's hardly all in my head, is it? I know the chances of getting it via oral are very low, but obviously I'm going to worry about it after being told it looks like I could have it.

LegacyUser

So is the risk very low from oral sex? Because from what I've read online, it is given as a way of spreading chlamydia. The doctor I saw a few years ago said it just doesn't happen male--> female, and the fact that throat swabs aren't even done, or oral sex asked about at an STD check makes me think it's very unlikely? When I was asked about my sexual history, oral wasn't even mentioned.

LegacyUser

About a year ago, I went for an STI check-up. I had been a bit careless and had condom-less sex with 2 guys (I am on the pill). Immediately after the test, I got initial results, and the doctor said there was inflammation around my cervix. She said it was probably chlamydia and gave me antibiotics. Cue me freaking out about how to tell my boyfriend. When I went back for the results two weeks later, I was completely clean. I asked her about the inflammation, and she said "Oh, there was something, but it was just a non-specific STI". Well, she was wrong. A few months later, I was diagnosed with a cervical erosion, which was causing serious cervical inflammation. I'd never had an STI, but the doctor still told me I did. My point is, doctors can be wrong, especially if swabs aren't done. Two negative tests means you don't have chlamydia.

Terodil

OP, calm down, I can understand you're worried but honestly, look at the facts. You've had several NEGATIVE tests, NONE positive.

I agree that you do sound a bit obsessed about it. None of these infections are untreatable. Try to keep yourself busy with other things while you wait for the results, and then stop worrying so much about it. I agree, maybe you need to find a bit of support when it comes to these worries.

LegacyUser

I know it's crazy but I keep thinking that maybe all the swab tests were wrong (doctor said the urine test is more accurate) or I might be the one person in a million who got it from oral.
I know it is treatable, but aside from my infertility concerns, if I got it despite all my precautions, I'd totally lose faith in everything. I mean, it's as near to impossible as you can get.

LegacyUser

stdfreakout wrote: »

I know it's crazy but I keep thinking that maybe all the swab tests were wrong (doctor said the urine test is more accurate) or I might be the one person in a million who got it from oral.
I know it is treatable, but aside from my infertility concerns, if I got it despite all my precautions, I'd totally lose faith in everything. I mean, it's as near to impossible as you can get.

The problem you have is psychological, not physical.

You need to take a good look at yourself and try to figure out why you are overly worrying about nothing.

If you associate guilty feelings with sex, start there.

LegacyUser

Nope, it's not a guilt issue at all. I guess I've had some bad luck re sex and my reproductive system, so it's put all this in my head. I have had some very real problems (bleeding after sex etc) and had 2 smear tests come back 'normal' which reassured me, only to have abnormalities found shortly afterwards. Now, I know smears are a different kettle of fish to chlamydia in that things can come and go, but I have trouble believing and putting my faith in doctors and tests. I also got cervical abnormalities after having sex once, so it's sort of in my head that I'm unlucky in that area. I mean, some of my friends have shagged 10 guys unprotected and their smears are fine and dandy.

LegacyUser

stdfreakout wrote: »

Nope, it's not a guilt issue at all. I guess I've had some bad luck re sex and my reproductive system, so it's put all this in my head. I have had some very real problems (bleeding after sex etc) and had 2 smear tests come back 'normal' which reassured me, only to have abnormalities found shortly afterwards. Now, I know smears are a different kettle of fish to chlamydia in that things can come and go, but I have trouble believing and putting my faith in doctors and tests. I also got cervical abnormalities after having sex once, so it's sort of in my head that I'm unlucky in that area. I mean, some of my friends have shagged 10 guys unprotected and their smears are fine and dandy.

I agree with you that it's hard to put your faith in doctors - they are not perfect. I also think it's possible you really do have some sort of issue, but it's really really really really really unlikely to be chlamydia.

Your worrying is probably making the symptoms worse too (I get a pain in my chest and when I'm worrying about it/aware of it it seems to get worse!)

Get the tests done (no harm) but try to gain some perspective - it's unlikely you have chlamydia. Also, worrying it totally pointless as it gets you nowhere except feeling depressed and scared!

LegacyUser

Listen, I know how you feel. I've only been having sex for 18 months or so, but I'm cursed. I have recurrent thrush and cystitis. I got cystitis for the first time just a few months after losing my virginity, and I get it all the time since. I was bleeding after sex for 2 months until I got diagnosed with the erosion. Many women get erosions, most don't even know about them. Those that have symptoms usually clear up themselves. Not me. Mine continued for another 4 months of so until I got an operation to sort it out. I'm horribly unlucky sexually. but these things happen to some of us.

The symptoms of chlamydia are very similar to cervical erosions outwardly - bleedin after sex, cervical inflammation, possibly pain during sex. If you're experiencing symptoms like this, ask your doctor for a referal to a gynocologist to check for a minor cervical erosion. I got smears which came back normal too. I'm not sure if you've actually gotten abnormal smear results? But anywho, it's worth discussing with your doctor.

The chances of you having chlamydia at this stage are about the same as the chances of you immaculately conceiving.

LegacyUser

Yes, I do have abnormal smears. It's not even so much the bleeding bothering me but loads and loads of discharge. I've had this for donkeys years but am now convincing myself it's chlamydia. Also some tests have come back saying I have some pus cells in my discharge, and I'm worried about what that means.

LegacyUser

So is it really unheard of to get chlamydia from oral? I keep going over and over situations where my boyfriend could have it (he gave one girl head before me) but surely if that happened, they'd give straight guys throat swabs as standard during STD checks? When I was talking to the doctor about it she didn't even ask about oral. Sorry to post so much but my head is wrecked over this!

Nevyn

It's not unheard of but it is unlikely.

LegacyUser

I wonder how unlikely though. I was told by at least one doctor that it just doesn't happen, online sources seem to be saying it's difficult to get it in the throat and even more difficult for a man to transfer it to a woman (whereas a woman to a man is more likely)

Nevyn

No one here can give you that type of detailed medical answer you should talk to your dr or a specialist on the topic.