Am I right to feel really embarrassed and scared? advice needed

Ps I doubt it's from your ex. My understanding is that herpes is the only one which lays dormant .... And then suddenly makes itself known

This subject has just been a story line on the BBC series 'Doctors' . You may want to watch it as it was handled very sensitively.

Icanhandthemback,Please can you tell us the name of the condition which is caused by taking antibiotics for thrush?
Thanks

I read what icy posted as, " a long course of antibiotics followed by an anti-thrush treatment", that is, the long course of antibiotics caused the thrush, which was then treated by anti-thrush treatment, and the whole performance then caused the condition she was talking about.

As a retired nurse who worked in an STD clinic please let me reassure that you are guaranteed complete confidentiality. We would ask of details of previous partners and if possible contact them. This would be done by phone or letter. The letter gives no details of yourself and the phone number is ex-directory so cannot be traced and only accessible by the person it has been given to. I can understand your shock but really it's no big deal. Many of us have been there. I wish you well in you're new relationship.

Sorry but I don't see how long course of anti biotics can cause a sti !

Thrush can be transmitted to a partner, and go back and forth unless both partners take a suitable oral anti-thrush medication as well as a topical treatment. Perhaps icy's GP was referring to the thrush which followed the long course of antibiotics as an STD. He seems a prat to have caused such marital mayhem with his pronouncements!

Thank you so much! You've all helped me feel much better about my situation and like some of you said, the best thing for me to do is just get on with it (in terms of talking to my partner) and I think I needed that. I was feeling very sorry for myself and it's not like me - so thanks! I just wanted to say that the doctor did tell me which STI it is - sorry for all who thought I didn't know - somehow I felt the name just made it sound worse.

Anyone tried getting condoms from the local clinics these days (the way one used to be able to)? The rise in STIs in over 50s is no surprise to me given the difficulty in a)finding a local clinic anymore that is b)open at a time one can visit and is c) accessible. Oh, and doesn't make you feel embarrassed....insisting on booked appointments and all the usual checks they need to give young women on the pill !

The pharmacies and the supermarket "Health and beauty" aisles are full of condoms. Over-50s are as able as anyone else to buy condoms without frequenting the clinics. It is no more embarrassing than buying a crate of wine and a couple of bottles of gin a week, which doesn't seem to bother anyone.

In fact, if they braved the checkouts and the teenage pharmacy girls, they might not get the STIs at all. Is it more perhaps they they feel they are past the age for a surprise pregnancy, and they remember their youth, before AIDS became a hazard of carefree sex?

Or like my generation, before the pill, never knew carefree sex as a teenager.
Not that I'm trying to find out now mind !

Hi OP, I feel for you finding yourself in such a situation. One thing did pop out at me though and apologies if I'm reading too much into things and going in a totally different direction but I don't get why you don't speak to your new partner for a few days, are you ok with this?

Claudiaclaws, I can't swear upon it but I believe it was Trichomoniasis which is usually an STI but can also be picked up in warm, moist environments and as I understand it makes you more vulnerable after prolonged use of Antibiotics and Thrush Treatment. My problems stemmed from being intolerant to latex, spermicidals, sanitary protection, soap, creams etc in that area. I had also shown signs of persistent non-specific UTI's so the GP was treating accordingly. It was only when I went to the STI clinic that they were able to diagnose properly. I went from suffering for months at a time to rarely having a problem as long as I am careful.

Bluebelle, my point is that although what I had is usually an STI, the condition of my vaginal health following antibiotic and thrush treatment led to ideal conditions to get what I had and it wasn't sexually transmitted. If I had had any doubt that the Clinic were misinforming me, I wouldn't have been with my OH for the last 24 years!
Elegran, my GP was a woman nearing retirement age and she was completely unrepentant when I went back to inform her. I did learn a valuable lesson though as I learned to ask rather than accuse.

I'm just so pleased to hear you've moved on from a divorce to meeting a new partner. No need to be embarrassed about your concerns this forum will have loads of advice and experiences on all sorts of things. Hopefully you'll feel more confident on the way forward.