'My girlfriend has chlamydia. Has she been unfaithful?'
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Q: My girlfriend recently had a test at a GUM clinic and the nurse said that she could have chlamydia. I'm having a test on Monday, but if I'm clear and she isn't does this mean she's been unfaithful? We have been together for about two months and have lots of sex. Please ease my mind! John, 22. |
our online advisors reply:
Chlamydia has become much more common in recent years and is now the top sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the UK. It's good that you and your girlfriend are being tested because chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics. The earlier the infection is tackled the better because it can cause more problems if you just ignore it – including infertility.
One of the difficult things about chlamydia is that it is very common for people to get no symptoms at all, or symptoms so mild that they're hardly noticeable. This is especially true for women, so if your girlfriend does have chlamydia she may well have had it for a long time before your relationship started.
I can't say whether your girlfriend has been unfaithful to you, but if her test is positive and yours negative, it certainly doesn't prove that she has had sex with someone else since you've been together. If you both turn out to have chlamydia there is the possibility that you caught it from a previous partner and didn't notice any symptoms. Have you thought about the possibility that she has picked up the infection from you?
You don't say whether you have been to a GUM clinic before. You can find out more about what happens at a clinic in our feature getting tested – what happens at a sexual health clinic.
To learn more about chlamydia, have a look at our feature sexual public health enemy number one. At the bottom of the page there is a list of organisations and websites where you can get more information and support.
As you have discovered, STIs in relationships can raise all sorts of issues that go way beyond the illness itself. It might help for you to talk about these feelings with someone. As you are going to the GUM clinic soon you could ask whether there is a sexual health advisor you could talk to – there is in most clinics. The health advisor can also help you work out whether you are going to talk to other sexual partners who might have the infection.
Finally, John, I notice that you haven't mentioned condoms in your question. Condoms are the best way to get some protection against STIs for yourself and your partner; they aren't just for avoiding unplanned pregnancy. GUM clinics often supply free condoms – why not pick some up while you're there?
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