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HomeTestHow Do Clinics Test For Chlamydia

How Do Clinics Test For Chlamydia

What Do The Results Mean

Home #STD Testing: Why Get Tested & How It Works
  • A negative test result means that you did not have a chlamydia infection when the sample was collected.
  • A positive test result means you have been infected with chlamydia.

If your test result is positive, you will need antibiotics to treat your infection. Your provider will give you instructions on how to take your medicine. To make sure your infection is cured, follow the instructions carefully and finish all the medicine.

You will also need to let your sexual partner/s know you tested positive for chlamydia so that they can be tested and treated if necessary. Three months after you finish treatment, you will need to be tested for chlamydia again to check for a new infection. That’s because repeat infections are very common. Ask your provider to tell you how often to get tested after that.

Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.

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Can A Doctor Tell If You Have Chlamydia By Looking At Your Cervix

The way that doctors test for chlamydia is somewhat different for women and men. This is due to the locations that chlamydia infects in each sex. Women: Your gynecologist will most likely use a speculum to view your cervix. She will retrieve a sample from your cervix using a small swab, which will get sent to a lab.

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Increased Risk Of Getting Hiv

Having an STI can make it more likely for you to get HIV, or give HIV to someone else.

Getting frequent infections with syphilis, gonorrhea, and herpes can also make you more likely to get HIV in the future. This happens because HIV and STIs share similar risk factors. Also, having a sore from an STI can allow HIV to enter your body more easily.

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Who Does Chlamydia Affect

4 of the best home chlamydia tests

Anyone whos sexually active can get chlamydia. The bacteria that causes chlamydia gets transmitted through vaginal fluid and semen, which means that people of all genders who have sex can become infected with chlamydia and infect their partners, too. If youre pregnant and have chlamydia, you can pass it on to your newborn.

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When Should I Get An At

You may consider using an at-home chlamydia test if STD testing conducted by a doctor is unavailable or inconvenient. While testing for chlamydia at home may be appropriate for screening certain people, at-home test kits should not be used if you have active symptoms of chlamydia or if you have a sexual partner that has been diagnosed with this condition.

To diagnose or rule out chlamydia, you should talk to your doctor about the benefits and drawbacks of at-home chlamydia testing.

What Should I Expect During A Chlamydia Test

Your provider gives you a clean cup and asks you to urinate in it. Follow your providers instructions carefully when collecting a urine sample. Youll need to collect the urine as soon as it starts to come out .

If youre using an at-home chlamydia test, you will collect the sample yourself. Be sure to follow the instructions on the test kit carefully.

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When Should I Get Tested

Don’t delay getting tested if you think you might have chlamydia. Being diagnosed and treated as soon as possible will reduce your risk of developing any serious complications of chlamydia.

You can get a chlamydia test at any time although you might be advised to repeat the test later on if you have it less than 2 weeks since you had sex because the infection might not always be found in the early stages.

You should consider getting tested for chlamydia if:

  • you think you could have a sexually transmitted infection
  • a sexual partner tells you they have an STI
  • you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy
  • you’re offered a chlamydia test as part of the NCSP

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

If you live in England, you’re a man under 25 and sexually active, it’s recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year if you are not using condoms with new or casual partners.

If you have chlamydia, you may be offered another test 3 to 6 months after being treated. This is because young adults who test positive for chlamydia are at increased risk of catching it again.

How Chlamydia Is Treated

What You Need to Know About Chlamydia

Chlamydia can usually be treated easily with antibiotics.

You may be given a course of doxycycline to take for a week or azithromycin to take once a day for 3 days.

If you have doxycycline, you should not have sex until you and your current sexual partner have finished treatment.

If you have azithromycin, you should wait 7 days after treatment before having sex .

It’s important that your current sexual partner and any other recent sexual partners you have had are also tested and treated to help stop the spread of the infection.

Under-25s who have chlamydia should be offered another test 3 to 6 months after being treated.

This is because young adults who test positive for chlamydia are at increased risk of catching it again.

Sexual health or genitourinary medicine clinics can help you contact your sexual partners.

Either you or the clinic can speak to them, or they can be sent a note advising them to get tested.

The note will not have your name on it, so your confidentiality will be protected.

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Just Diagnosed Next Steps After Testing Positive For Gonorrhea Or Chlamydia

If youve just found out that you have gonorrhea or chlamydia, you may be trying to figure out what to do next. Here are the three most important steps that you can take:

WHY?Many people with gonorrhea and chlamydia dont have symptoms. Why does this matter? Because an untreated infection can lead to serious and permanent health problems, even if you never have symptoms. Gonorrhea and chlamydia can be cured with the right medicine from your doctor. Just make sure you take all of your medicine exactly as your doctor tells you to.

WHERE?Your regular doctor can prescribe antibiotics to cure the STD. But if you dont have insurance or want to see someone else for treatment, there are other low-cost or free options. You can get tested and treated at your local health departments STD clinic, a family planning clinic, a student health center, or an urgent care clinic. You can also find a clinic using GetTested and ask if they offer treatment for gonorrhea and chlamydia.

  • In women, untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease which can lead to health problems like ectopic pregnancy or infertility .
  • In men, chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause a painful condition in the tubes attached to the testicles. In rare cases, this may prevent him from being able to have children.
  • Untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea may also increase your chances of getting or giving HIV the virus that causes AIDS.

Can Chlamydia Be Mistaken For Uti

The symptoms The main symptom that chlamydia does not share with UTIs is penile or vaginal discharge. A chlamydial infection can cause a yellowish, strong-smelling vaginal discharge or a watery, milky penile discharge. Urinary tract infections are not known to cause any sort of abnormal genital discharge.

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Other Sexually Transmitted And Blood

STBBI screening varies by age, gender/sex, medical and sexual history. Screen anyone who presents with STBBI risk factors and treat as appropriate to prevent transmission and reinfection.

People with Neisseria gonorrhoeae often have a co-infection with C. trachomatis.Footnote 20Footnote 21

Infection with C. trachomatis can increase the risk of acquisition and transmission of human immunodeficiency virus .Footnote 22Footnote 23Footnote 24

People being evaluated or treated for a chlamydia infection should be screened for:

Because of high rates of co-infection, people being evaluated or treated for LGV should be screened for:

Which Std Tests Should I Get

Chlamydia in throat home tests: Options, reliability, and more

If you are sexually active, getting tested for STDs is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health. Make sure you have an open and honest conversation about your sexual history and STD testing with your doctor and ask whether you should be tested for STDs. If you are not comfortable talking with your regular health care provider about STDs, there are many clinics that provide confidential and free or low-cost testing.

Below is a brief overview of STD testing recommendations. STD screening information for healthcare providers can be found here.

  • Anyone who engages in sexual behaviors that could place them at risk for infection or shares injection drug equipment should get tested for HIV at least once a year.
  • should talk with their healthcare provider about throat and rectal testing options.
  • You can quickly find a place to be tested for STDs by entering your zip code in the form below.

    Find an STD testing site near you.

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    What Does The Test Measure

    Chlamydia testing looks for evidence of infection with the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. There are several types of tests that can be used to detect chlamydia, including molecular testing, also called Nucleic Acid Amplification Test , and cell culture.

    Other types of chlamydia tests are available but are rarely used given the accuracy and availability of NAAT.

    Can Chlamydia Be Dormant And Test Negative

    chlamydiadormanttestdormantcantest

    . In this way, can you test negative for chlamydia and still have it?

    You could still have chlamydia even if a partner has tested negative. The only way to make sure you dont have chlamydia is to get tested yourself. You can have a test for chlamydia even if there are no symptoms.

    Likewise, how long can chlamydia lie dormant? Chlamydia is a very common disease, which is primarily transmitted through sexual intercourse. It is known as the silent infection because it is often symptomless and can lie dormant for up to 20 years.

    Also question is, can you pass chlamydia if it is dormant?

    Because chlamydia can be dormant for years without being symptomatic, infected persons may easily transmit the disease to sexual partners without knowing. The ability to lie dormant may also be a reason why chlamydia is so good at hiding in the digestive system despite being eradicated elsewhere.

    Can gonorrhea be dormant and test negative?

    Another important test is RPR/VDRL, the test for syphilis. Cultures of the cervix can be used to test for chlamydia and gonorrhea, other diseases that can possibly lie dormant. Herpes is unlikely to lie dormant without your experiencing symptoms, but a test can be performed if there is a questionable lesion present.

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    How Does Chlamydia Affect Pregnancy

    For pregnant women, chlamydia may lead to premature birth, or babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Premature birth is the most common cause of infant death and can lead to long-term health and development problems in children.5

    Babies born to mothers who have chlamydia can get:

    • Infections in their eyes, called conjunctivitis or pinkeye. Signs include discharge from the eyes and swollen eyelids. The signs most often show up within two weeks after birth.
    • Pneumonia. Signs include congestion, cough, and rapid or labored breathing, although these are not always present. Signs most often show up one to three months after birth.

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    Chlamydia Symptoms In The Mouth

    What Is Chlamydia Symptoms and Treatment

    Chlamydia is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases in the world. Despite its wide prevalence, there is still a lot to learn about Chlamydia. The more we know, the easier it becomes to prevent it. Chlamydia doesnt affect the genital region only, but oral as well. What are the symptoms of oral Chlamydia? Learn more about this subject below.

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    If Left Untreated What Are The Health Risks

    Chlamydia is one of the most important preventable causes of infertility. If left untreated, Chlamydia can permanently damage the sexual organs leading to infertility in women and reduced fertility in men.

    In men, it can infect the urinary tract causing swelling or inflammation of the testicles.

    In women, it can infect the cervix and urinary tract and can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease if it reaches the fallopian tubes.

    In pregnant women, it can lead to increased risk of miscarriage, preterm delivery and potentially fatal tubal pregnancy. If the baby is exposed to the infection during delivery, he or she could suffer from eye infections or pneumonia, so it is important to get tested.

    Who Performs Cvs Minute Clinic Sti Testing

    Every Minute Clinic is staffed by certified family nurse practitioners. However, only Minute Clinics in Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Texas are staffed by physician assistants. But both nurse practitioners and physician assistants are able to perform STD testing, review STD results, explain your treatment options, and prescribe medications if needed.

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    How Long Does Chlamydia Last After Treatment

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    Consult Reputable Sources Of Information To Get The Facts

    4 of the best home chlamydia tests
  • Go into this conversation with your boyfriend well-informed. There is a lot of misinformation about STIs, and talking to your doctor can help you put your diagnosis into perspective. Some important pieces of information to be aware of include:XTrustworthy SourceNational Health Service Public healthcare system of the UKGo to source #*Chlamydia is a bacterial infection spread through sexual contact. It is among the most common STIs.
  • Although you can treat chlamydia easily with a course of antibiotics, if left untreated, it can have long-term health effects.
  • A diagnosis of chlamydia does not mean anyone cheated during your relationship. Most people with chlamydia do not experience any symptoms, and therefore could have been carrying it for a long time.
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    How To Get Tested

    Chlamydia testing is usually ordered by a doctor. In people without symptoms, a doctor can evaluate their risk and suggest an appropriate screening schedule. If a patient has symptoms of this infection, a doctor will order testing to diagnose or rule out chlamydia.

    Testing for chlamydia can be conducted at a hospital, doctors office, health clinic, or community health program.

    What Are The Signs And Symptoms

    As most people do not have any early symptoms, it is often difficult to tell whether you are infected. This is why it is important to get tested regularly. For those people who do get symptoms, these may include:

    • Burning or painful sensation when urinating
    Did you know?

    Chlamydia is the most common STI in Ireland, however, 80% of women and over 50% of men have no symptoms. The only way to know if you have it is to get tested.

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    Where Can I Get Tested For Chlamydia

    You can get tested for chlamydia and other STDs at your doctors office, a community health clinic, the health department, or your local Planned Parenthood health center. In some states, you can do an online visit and take a chlamydia test at home.

    STD testing isnt always part of your regular checkup or gynecologist exam you have to ask for it. Be open and honest with your nurse or doctor so they can help you figure out which tests you may need. Dont be embarrassed: Your doctor is there to help, not to judge.

    Is There A Rapid Test For Chlamydia

    Mayo Clinic Minute: Let’s Talk About STDs

    There has been a rapid test developed by researchers for Chlamydia. Chlamydia trachoma is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial infection in the world. The number of diagnoses in has risen steadily since the mid-1990s, spiking in the millions in 2005. If left untreated, the disease can result in complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility. However, the disease often goes undiagnosed as up to 70% of infected women do not show symptoms.

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    Can Women Who Have Sex With Women Get Chlamydia

    Yes. It is possible to get chlamydia, or any other STI, if you are a woman who has sex only with women. Chlamydia lives in the reproductive tract of an infected woman and can pass to a sex partner, whether male or female.

    Talk to your partner about her sexual history before having sex, and ask your doctor or nurse for an STI test if you are at risk.

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