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Can Chlamydia Be Tested Through Blood

Urine Testing Vs Bacterial Culture

Chlamydia Tests – Diagnosing Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Infection

Urine testing is currently primarily used to detect bacterial STDs. Chlamydia and gonorrhea urine tests are widely available. Trichomoniasis urine tests are also available, but they are less common.

The gold standard for diagnosing bacterial STDs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, used to be bacterial culture. That involved attempting to grow bacteria out of samples that were taken directly from the cervix or urethra.

These days, bacterial DNA testing is considered a better option. It works differently than bacterial culture. Instead of trying to grow bacteria, these tests just look for bacterial DNA. This can be done using a process called ligase chain reaction or with other DNA amplification techniques.

These types of testing are sensitive to even very small amounts of bacterial DNA. Even better, they do not require a live bacterial sample. As such, they can be run on urine samplesnot just urethral or cervical swabs.

For most people, the thought of a getting gonorrhea urine test or chlamydia urine test is a lot less intimidating than the thought of needing a physical exam.

How Do I Know If I Have Chlamydia

Most people who have chlamydia have no symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they may not appear until several weeks after you have sex with an infected partner. Even when chlamydia causes no symptoms, it can damage your reproductive system.

Women with symptoms may notice

  • An abnormal vaginal discharge
  • A burning sensation when urinating.

Symptoms in men can include

  • A discharge from their penis
  • A burning sensation when urinating
  • Pain and swelling in one or both testicles .

Men and women can also get infected with chlamydia in their rectum. This happens either by having receptive anal sex, or by spread from another infected site . While these infections often cause no symptoms, they can cause

  • Rectal pain
  • Discharge
  • Bleeding.

You should be examined by your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms or if your partner has an STD or symptoms of an STD. STD symptoms can include an unusual sore, a smelly discharge, burning when urinating, or bleeding between periods.

Testing For Stds: No Swabs Just Urine Or Blood Samples

Sexually transmitted diseases and infections are common, especially among young people between ages 15 and 24, who account for a quarter of the US population who has sex, but this age group makes up half of all STD cases in America. Many of these individuals do not know what STD testing entails or that they can get tested for STDs by providing a small urine or blood sample. Blood and urine STD tests are just as accurate as swabs, so many people are turning to STDCheck.com for STD testing. All of our STD tests can be performed via urine or blood sample. In fact, most STD tests take only a few minutes to complete.

Secure and Confidential

Many people become infected with STDs because they simply do not know how to prevent and avoid contracting them. Did you know that some STDs, like chlamydia and gonorrhea, can remain in the body for weeks, months and even years without showing symptoms? You can pass it along to your partner without ever realizing you have the infection yourself. That is why it is important to get tested for STDs even if you are not showing any symptoms.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all sexually active young adults get tested at least once a year for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Regardless of age, if you are sexually active, it is important that you get tested for STDs on a regular basis.

Recommended Reading: When Can You Have Intercourse After Chlamydia Treatment

A Word From Same Day Std Testing

At Same Day, its our mission to provide safe, reliable, and confidential STD testing options for all who need them. One of our dedicated staff members will walk you through the testing process and answer any questions you may have both before and after the tests. Contact us here at to schedule an appointment or, to get tested today, simply find a facility near you and visit us. Were ready and waiting to help you.

Can You Get Chlamydia From Contact With Blood

Chlamydia Test: Chlamydia Blood &  Urine Testing ...

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Recommended Reading: What Medicine You Take For Chlamydia

What Can A Blood Test Tell You 4 Common Blood Tests And What They Show

By Amory Urgent Care

Are you considering getting a blood test but your not sure what type would be best for your needs? A blood test is one of the best ways to know more about what is going on with your body and physical well being.

Stop wondering what can a blood test tell you?, and find the best blood test type for you. Know more about yourself and your health by learning more about what blood tests you should get.

The Health Risks Of Chlamydia

For up to 40 percent of infected women, untreated chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease . PID effects include abdominal pain, fever, internal abscesses and long-lasting pelvic pain effects also include scarring of the fallopian tubes, which can cause infertility and increase the chance of potentially life-threatening ectopic or tubal pregnancies.

Men can develop scarring of the urethra, making urination difficult and occasionally causing infertility. Although rare, both sexes are at risk of a type of arthritis known as Reiter’s Syndrome that causes inflammation and swelling of the joints.

If a pregnant woman has chlamydia, her baby may be born prematurely, have eye infections or develop pneumonia.

Read Also: Does Any Antibiotic Cure Chlamydia

Why Is Testing For Genital Herpes Only Recommended For People Who Have Symptoms

CDC recommends herpes testing for people who have genital symptoms for herpes to confirm that they are infected. These events are called having an outbreak, and they appear as blisters on or around the genitals, rectum, or mouth. The blisters break and leave painful sores that may take weeks to heal. Testing allows a doctor to talk with you about what to expect in the future, which medications are available to help manage any symptoms, and how you can lower your risk of spreading the infection to your sex partner.

If you have a partner with genital herpes, testing can tell if you also have the virus. If you are not infected, your doctor can talk to you about ways to lower your risk of getting genital herpes. If you are a pregnant woman and have a partner with genital herpes, it is very important to get tested. If you get genital herpes during pregnancy your baby could also become infected. Herpes infections in babies can be life-threatening. If you are infected, your doctor will talk to you about your diagnosis and the possible symptoms of genital herpes. In addition, herpes blood testing may be useful if you are seeking a complete STD exam, especially if you have multiple sex partners.

Can Chlamydia Affect My Fertility

“Chlamydia Information: Testing, Symptoms and Treatment” by getSTDtested.com

A chlamydia or gonorrhea infection may cause inflammation or scarring of the reproductive organs. Sometimes, this may lead to infertility . Both men and women can experience fertility problems after a chlamydia infection. Your risk of infertility increases if you delay treatment.

Women with untreated gonorrhea or chlamydia can also develop a condition known as pelvic inflammatory disease . PID sometimes causes your reproductive organs to swell, triggering chronic pelvic pain and making it difficult to conceive.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea can also trigger early laborâand pregnant women with chlamydia can spread the infection to their babies during delivery .

Prompt treatment reduces your risk of complications, as undiagnosed chlamydia may put your health at risk. Regular STI testing can help with early diagnosis of the infection, and most people who receive treatment for chlamydia make a full recovery.

Learning more about the different types of STDs someone can getâlike chlamydiaâcan help you care for your sexual health. To easily check for chlamydia from the comfort of home, simply collect a urine sample and send it to a lab with prepaid shipping using the Everlywell at-home Gonorrhea and Chlamydia test kit.

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Can Blood Tests Detect Chlamydia

Among the number of reasons why people are worried about getting an STD test performed is that they fear it will be embarrassing or require uncomfortable swabbing. Thanks to significant improvements in testing technology, many STDs can be detected via a blood or urine test. Urine tests are primarily used to detect chlamydia.

Testing chlamydia requires testing for the antibodies of the chlamydia bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis with a blood test using a small sample of blood. Although chlamydia is not a blood-borne disease, the body creates antibodies to fight off various diseases and infections, which are found in the blood. Although the test detects the presence of chlamydia antibodies, these antibodies could be the result of a previous chlamydia infection and would result in a false positive.

Discuss Your Risk Factors

Its also important to share your sexual risk factors with your doctor. In particular, you should always tell them if you engage in anal sex.

Some anal STIs cant be detected using standard STI tests. Your doctor might recommend an anal Pap smear to screen for precancerous or cancerous cells, which are linked to the human papillomavirus .

You should also tell your doctor about:

  • the types of protection you use during oral, vaginal, and anal sex
  • any medications youre taking
  • any known or suspected exposures youve had to STIs
  • whether you or your partner have other sexual partners

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What Does The Chlamydia Test Involve

The recommended tests for chlamydia are simple, painless and generally very reliable.

They involve sending a sample of cells to a laboratory for analysis. You don’t necessarily have to be examined by a doctor or nurse first and can often collect the sample yourself.

There are two main ways the sample can be collected:

  • using a swab a small cotton bud is gently wiped over the area that might be infected, such as inside the vagina or inside the anus
  • urinating into a container this should ideally be done at least 1 hour after you last urinated

Men will usually be asked to provide a urine sample, while women will usually be asked to either swab inside their vagina or provide a urine sample.

The results will normally be available in 7 to 10 days. If there’s a high chance you have chlamydia for example, you have symptoms of the infection or your partner has been diagnosed with it and you’ve had unprotected sex with them you might start treatment before you get your results.

Read more about treating chlamydia.

How To Get Tested For Chlamydia

Chlamydia Vaccine Passes First Stage Of Human Trials

If you’re wondering how to test for chlamydia safely, here are several ways you can do so. Depending on your medical history and health concerns, your healthcare provider may suggest more than one test to see if you have a sexually transmitted infection. A panel might require a blood sample, genital swab, or urine sample.

While chlamydia isn’t a bloodborne disease, blood tests can determine whether you have chlamydia antibodies, which can reveal current or past chlamydia infections.

A penile or vaginal swab is another method your healthcare provider may use to test for STIs. For this type of test, your doctor uses a cotton swab for specimen collection.

Can you test for chlamydia through urine? The answer to this question is âyes,â and itâs quite a common testing method. In fact, you can use a urine sample to test for chlamydia at home. With the Everlywell Chlamydia & Gonorrhea Test, you simply urinate in a collection cup and place your urine specimen in the mail. Your sample is then tested in a CLIA-certified laboratory. The lab that tests your sample uses molecular testing techniquesâknown as nucleic acid amplification testsâwhich identify the DNA of gonorrhea and chlamydia in your sample.

Read Also: Signs And Symptoms Of Chlamydia In Females

Is Chlamydia Serious

Although chlamydia does not usually cause any symptoms and can normally be treated with a short course of antibiotics, it can be serious if it’s not treated early on.

If left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of your body and lead to long-term health problems, especially in women.

In women, untreated chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease , ectopic pregnancy and infertility.

In men, in rare cases, chlamydia can spread to the testicles and epididymis , causing them to become painful and swollen. This is known as epididymitis or epididymo-orchitis .

It can also sometimes cause reactive arthritis in men and women.

This is why it’s important to get tested and treated as soon as possible if you think you might have chlamydia.

Testing for chlamydia is done with a urine test or a swab test.

You do not always need a physical examination by a nurse or doctor.

Anyone can get a free and confidential chlamydia test at a sexual health clinic, a genitourinary medicine clinic or a GP surgery.

In England, if you’re a woman under 25 years old, you may be offered a chlamydia test when you visit some health services, for example a pharmacy or GP. This offer is part of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme .

If you’re offered a chlamydia test you should consider taking it.

If you’re a woman, sexually active and under 25 in England, it’s recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year, and when you have sex with new or casual partners.

When Is It Ordered

Screening

Because many infected people do not have any noticeable symptoms, a number of health organizations recommend regular chlamydia screening for certain people:

Women

All sexually active women younger than age 25 and sexually active women age 25 and older who are at increased risk should get yearly screening for chlamydia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists . The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American Academy of Pediatrics also recommend routine screening for these women .

Examples of risk factors for chlamydia infection include:

  • Previous chlamydia infections, even if you have been treated
  • Having STDs, especially HIV
  • Having new or multiple sex partners
  • Having a sex partner diagnosed with an STD
  • Using condoms inconsistently
  • Exchanging sex for money or drugs
  • Using illegal drugs
  • Living in a detention facility
  • For pregnant women, the CDC recommends screening for chlamydia during the first trimester or first prenatal visit. For women younger than age 25 or at increased risk of infection, testing is repeated in the third trimester. Pregnant women diagnosed with chlamydia should be retested about 3 months after completing treatment.

    Diagnosis

    Chlamydia testing may also be done when your sex partner has been diagnosed with chlamydia or when you have signs and symptoms of chlamydia.

    For women, if symptoms occur, they may include:

    For men, symptoms may include:

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    Chlamydia Can Be Treated And Cured With Antibiotics

    Individuals diagnosed with chlamydia should abstain from sexual activity for one week after finishing antibiotics. Keep in mind that it is possible to become reinfected with chlamydia after receiving treatment. This is why it is crucial for partners of those who have chlamydia to also get tested and treated if found positive. Chlamydia often occurs along with gonorrhea . If you have one of these STDs, you might have the other because the risk factors and symptoms are very similar. Getting tested for both is important.

    Whether or not symptoms are present, testing or screening for chlamydia can be done as early as 24 hours after exposure. The incubation times vary from person-to-person for the most accurate results, get tested two weeks after initial exposure. If you test positive for chlamydia, it is advised to get retested two weeks after completing treatment to be sure that all of the Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria is cleared from your system.

    Chlamydia Trachomatis Igg Test

    How to Get Tested for STDs

    Chlamydia Trachomatis is the most common sexually transmitted diseases worldwide. Chlamydia Trachomatis can be implicated in a variety of infections among humans. It is one of the common causes of Non-gonococcal urethritis and Cervicitis. It causes Pelvic Inflammatory disease, Salpingitis & Endometritis in females. Among males, it can lead to Epididymitis & Reiter’s syndrome. Any sexually active person is at risk of contracting chlamydia since the bacteria can be transmitted via anal, vaginal, or oral sex. Chlamydia Trachomatis can be detected by Nucleic acid amplification tests , EIA, and DFA tests.

    You don’t need any specific preparations for taking this test. Usually, urogenital infections are diagnosed by testing urine or by collecting swab.In case of taking the urine test, you have to make sure you haven’t urinated at least one hour before. You need to test pregnant women at least once, including those who are planning to terminate the pregnancy.Samples are taken using a swab from the vagina in women and urine from the urethra in men.For persons engaging in receptive anal intercourse, testing is done by obtaining a specimen via rectal swab.

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    What Stis Should I Be Tested For

    According to

    • anyone ages 13-64 should be tested for HIV
    • sexually active women under 25 should be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia yearly
    • women 25 and over who have multiple sex partners or partners with an STD should get tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia yearly
    • pregnant women should be tested for syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B, and high-risk pregnant women should be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia
    • sexually active men should be tested for syphilis, chlamydia, HIV and gonorrhea every 3-6 months
    • anyone who practices sex without a barrier method should get tested for HIV yearly

    How Is Chlamydia Spread

    You can get chlamydia by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has chlamydia.

    If your sex partner is male you can still get chlamydia even if he does not ejaculate .

    If youve had chlamydia and were treated in the past, you can still get infected again. This can happen if you have unprotected sex with someone who has chlamydia.

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