MY BUMPY SITUATION-SHIP
I wasn't the type of girl who slept with any guy she fancied, and preferred long-term relationships with men I grew to trust, but the way the guy in front of me stared, I knew I was about to break that silent rule. I was sitting at the corner of a club, watching everyone else dance the night away. I came here with a few of my female co-workers who wanted to start the weekend on a high note and offered to be the designated driver if every one else was too drunk or tired. Anyway, back to the present.
I looked back at the man who caught my eye and probably, I caught his, because he stepped forward and walked over to me, asking for the usual. My name, if I came with friends, if I knew I was very pretty. He said his name was Alex and by the end of the night, I called an Uber for my co-workers and was already having a steamy night with him in a hotel. It didn't end there.
Like I said, I didn't just sleep with anyone I fancied. It was a first for me. So when morning came, and the shame hit, Alex thought I was being shy and said he wanted to see me again. We went on dates, had sex almost all the time since we had good chemistry. It was like I was high on something. It was unusual. We weren't dating, weren't not dating, so it was just a situation-ship?
The problems started about six weeks after. I was at work and was really pressed and needed to use the toilet. I quickly headed in to do my business, but noticed tiny bumps near my vagina opening. I freaked almost immediately, because if there was anything I handled with care, it was my body's wellbeing. I quickly cleaned up, hurried to my desk and went to search for small bumps on the internet, found an STD called condyloma acuminata or venereal warts. My heart almost stopped.
The only person I had sex with was Alex and I hadn't slept with another guy over a year prior. Alex had given me an STD.
I quickly booked an emergency appointment with a family gynaecologist, took a sick leave and hurried to the hospital like a mad woman. So many dangerous thoughts were running through my head. I was just 23. I just started working full time with a fat salary. I haven't even lived my life. With the way I drove, many other drivers probably cursed at me, but I couldn't hear them. My mind was thinking the same thing, over and
over; so I'll become infertile like this?
Ms. Ayo, our family gynaecologist hurried the patient paperwork and ushered me into her office. I burst into tears almost as soon as I got into the room and explained everything to her. She told me to relax while she did a short test. That day I prayed with everything in me and to every god I could think of to help me. She came back with the tests after an hour and explained everything slowly to me.
" What you have is genital warts. They are sometimes referred to as condyloma acuminata or venereal warts. Genital warts are the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a virus. The warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Genital warts affect both men and women and can occur at any age, and can also be treated. It can also be surgically removed, but cannot be cured, I'm afraid."
I closed my eyes, hating myself for all the times I had unprotected sex with Alex. The question that burned in my throat finally slipped out.
"Doctor, does this mean that I can't have children?"
She smiled and shook her head. Relief hit me and I was crying all over again..
"The only reason that could happen is if it wasn't discovered early or if the warts are so big, they block the vagina entrance. You have neither problems, so you can live normally." She gave me a brochure on facts about genital warts and wrote my prescription for me, while advising me to take other tests, just in case.
"Once genital warts are discovered, it could be possible that other STIs are also in the body."
I booked another appointment for Friday, called Alex to get himself checked and break up with him, after swearing for him on the phone. He replied by saying we weren't dating. What a stupid man.
Well, at least my bumpy situation-ship was over.
Writer Details:Kenneth Daniella ✍️
Location:Wellspring University,Edo State,Nigeria 🇳🇬
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