Welcome to another issue of Better2 Know’s patient stories.
At Better2 we know that sharing personal experiences can contribute to destroying the stigma that many people feel in being tested for Stis. We have collected stories of people who have been tested to inspire and encourage others to take this important step for their sexual health.
Certain names and details in these stories have been changed for privacy.
If you had sex and are worried about Stis, it is better2 white to help.
“It was a problem that I had to deal with. They hear from these things that happen to other people, and they think, what bothers themselves? But when it happens, it becomes so real. Ugh.”
Izzi is not the kind of person you would expect that you are so open to speak about StiS. When Better2 knows that she was talking about a video call for the first time, she had her make -up completely done and was wearing a light blue flower dress as if she were spending an evening with friends on a terrace. She is spoken quietly and her answers are tight and cut off as if she wants to say something that she is not sure that she should.
“Sorry,” she said, pulling her hands up to her face. “It’s difficult.”
Izzi’s story started when she was in her twenties. She took a group vacation to Amsterdam, where she met a history teacher named Rolf through one of her cousins who lived in Rotterdam. They met a night in a bar outside of a tram stop when the fairy lights started to flicker and mark the end of the day at 6 p.m.
“He seemed really interesting. I think we shared a sense of humor. He said his uncle was an animator in Finland who worked on the Moomins. I loved the Moomins as a child. After telling me that, we were gone.”
Izzi extended her vacation from four days to seven. She stayed with Rolf in a small apartment with a view of a channel and a small square where an orchestra gave free concerts.
“I had never done anything like that. It’s not like me. I think I would ever do it again. My manager told myself at work! In the end I had this strange feeling over the whole and I was ready to go home. Besides, we didn’t really have much to do after the third day. You can only get so much out of such a situation.”
Izzi and Rolf stayed in contact in the next few months and always intended to meet again, but never to get to it. Finally the journey hit her head and she continued her life.
“It was a problem that I had to deal with. They hear that these things happen to other people and they think what bothers themselves? But when it happens, it gets so real.”
“At the time, I remember to get a test to find out whether I got something. I got one, but it was negative. So I didn’t think much about it afterwards.”
Izzi returned to London and worked as an editorial assistant at an academic publisher. But six months after her trip, she met Tim, an engineer from Flintshire.
“Tim felt very strong that we were both tested in front of us (were physically). I didn’t mind. I told him that I had been tested recently, but I could do it if (it would make him happy). He said his mother always drilled in him to test as much as possible because she was in her life at one point in her life.
However, Izzi’s assumptions were wrong. She was tested with a private service, and when the results came back, she was surprised to see that she was positive for chlamydia.
“It was very embarrassing. I was so nonchalant about the whole. I was really shocked. There were never any symptoms; no signs of something wrong.”
Izzi wondered how it could have happened because she was tested after her connection with Rolf.
“I think I might have tested myself too early? I looked at it. Apparently they cannot test positively for a while. I was tested immediately. I may not have given it enough time.”
Ultimately, Izzi was happy about the way things turned out. She went to her doctor for medication, which the infection almost looked.
“Really luckily what happened. If I hadn’t met Tim, I would probably not have found out that I had it. I would have felt terrible if I had passed it on, especially to him. And then there are long -term health problems. I know that chlamydia can intervene for a long time to have children.
Izzi was categorical when she was asked what she would say to other people who were thinking about being tested.
“It is not worth taking it off. I know a few people who have not been tested and probably should. It takes a few minutes.
When we asked if she would have children, Izzy said she made plans.
“At the moment we are just trying to have fun and not to think too much about it. Who knows what could happen?”
Do not leave your sexual health to chance. Book a Sti test in a clinic for sexual health in your area.
