“I think I have gonorrhea. I’m already having symptoms of my joints aching. They’ve been hurting the past couple days, I have frequent urination, abdominal pain, odor, and back pain but no discharge. How long will it take for the infection to go into my blood? I know once it reaches my blood there’s no stopping it. I’m trying to get tested tomorrow but I have bad anxiety. I’ve been infected for about 3 1/2 weeks. I haven’t been able to go to the doctor because I didn’t have health insurance. I’m a 16 year old female. I only had sex once, with my ex boyfriend.”
You need to be tested for all sexually transmitted infections as quickly as possible. If you do not have insurance, you can go to your local health department for testing. If there is a clinic in your school, go see the health care provider there. The good news is that gonorrhea can be treated with antibiotics.
You also need to speak with your health care provider about sexually transmitted infections: what they are, how to protect yourself, and which ones cannot be treated (HIV, Herpes, HPV). Your ex-boyfriend needs to be tested also!
In addition to the information on Fact Not Fiction, you can download the app: Your PSH (personal sexual health). The icon is blue with a white cross in the middle.
