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How Do You Find Out If You Have Chlamydia

What Causes Genital Herpes

Who Can Get Chlamydia? How Do You Know If They’re Infected?

Genital herpes is caused by a different strain of the virus, Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 , and infects the genital area. However, HSV-1 can also cause genital herpes if the virus is transmitted from sores around the mouth of one person to the genital area of another during oral sex. Treatment is available for both types of herpes.

How Do People Get Chlamydia

Chlamydia can spread when you have unprotected sexual contact with someone who already has the infection. This means vaginal, oral or anal sex without using a condom.

Transmission occurs because the bacteria that cause chlamydia live and grow in the fluids that are secreted during sexual activity. If you have chlamydia, there is a 30% to 50% chance of your partner catching it every time you have unprotected sex.

Since chlamydia often has no symptoms, you probably wont know whether your partner has it.

Chlamydia cant spread from toilets, swimming pools or usual contact with people. It only spreads through the sharing of genital fluids.

Newborn babies, however, can get chlamydia through their mother during childbirth.

Chlamydia infections can live in the nose, genitals or rectum for more than 2 years.

How Often Should I Get Checked For Chlamydia

Sexual health check-ups are recommended for anyone who is sexually active. Frequency of testing also depends on your STI risk:

  • An annual sexual health check-up is highly recommended if you are sexually active especially if you are under 25.
  • Get checked more often during the year if you frequently change sexual partners.
  • Remember, you are at greater risk if you have sex without a condom with 1 or multiple sexual partners.

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Can Chlamydia Be Prevented

The only sure way to prevent chlamydia is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading chlamydia. If your or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

What Increases Your Risk

Check out for the symptoms to find out if you are a ...

Risk factors for getting chlamydia include:

  • Having unprotected sex .
  • Having more than one sex partner.
  • Having a high-risk partner or partners. This includes people who have more than one sex partner or sex partners who have chlamydia.
  • Starting sexual activity before age 18.

Any child with chlamydia needs to be seen by a doctor to determine the cause and to assess for possible sexual abuse. For more information, see the topic Child Abuse and Neglect.

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How Long Can You Have Chlamydia Without Knowing Years Or Months

How long can you have chlamydia without knowing is a common question after an unprotected sexual contact.

What is chlamydia infection?

Chlamydia infection, caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, is a common sexually transmitted infection that affects both men and women. In the united stated, more than 1.4 million new cases of chlamydia are detected yearly.

Chlamydia can affect the eyes , the joints, the vagina, anus and the penis. It may sometimes cause infertility if left untreated in men and women.

In women, chlamydia infection can ascend up the genital tracts resulting to pelvic inflammatory disease with symptoms like fever, abdomen pain and difficulty conceiving.

Chlamydia trachomatis infection is transmitted through

  • Unprotected anal intercourse
  • Heavy period
  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • If youve had intercourse with these symptoms, then its likely you have chlamydia. You should inform your doctor ASAP or get a chlamydia test kit to detect chlamydia.

    Does Chlamydia Have A Smell

    In some cases, chlamydia can cause unusual vaginal discharge, which could have a strong or pungent smell.

    However, this could also be a sign of several other STIs, including bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis. It could also be caused by many other factors, including sweat, changes in pH, or shifts in hormone levels.

    Consider talking with a healthcare professional to address any concerns regarding abnormal discharge or odor, especially if its accompanied by other symptoms like pain, bleeding, itching, or burning.

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    Can Chlamydia Be Prevented Or Avoided

    You can reduce your risk of chlamydia by requiring a partner to use a condom. However, since the disease can spread just by touching your partners genitals, know the people with whom you have sexual contact. Limit your number of sexual partners. If you are thinking about using a spermicide for birth control, be aware that spermicides containing nonoxynol-9 can cause genital irritation. This can actually increase the risk of catching an STD. However, using a condom with nonoxynol-9 is better than not using a condom at all.

    Women ages 25 and younger who are having any kind of sex should be screened by their doctor on a regular basis for STIs. Women should avoid douching . It reduces the good bacteria in the vagina and increases the risk of infection.

    If you have chlamydia, you should tell anyone you have sexual contact with.

    What Is The Treatment

    Why YOU could have CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS

    Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. It is important to follow the treatment instructions carefully. If you were given pills, finish all of them. Sexual partners from the last 2 months need to be tested and treated. If you have not had a sexual partner in the last 2 months, then your last sexual partner will need to be tested and treated. It takes time for the infection to clear from the body, so it is important that you do not have any oral, vaginal or anal sex for 7 days after you and your partner start the antibiotic treatment.

    If you or your partner do not finish the treatment, miss pills or have unprotected sex before you have finished all of the medication, there is a chance that the infection will stay in your body may pass back to you or your partner and cause health problems later. If this happens, talk with your health care provider who will help you to decide if you or your partners need more treatment.

    Because re-infection is common, a follow-up test is recommended 6 months after treatment. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a follow-up test 3 to 4 weeks after completing treatment.

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    What Happens If Chlamydia Is Left Untreated For Too Long

    When left untreated, chlamydia can increase your risk for other serious health problems, including HIV/AIDs and infertility.

    Chlamydia can weaken your immune system to make you more vulnerable to other infections and diseases, including other STDs. According to the NIH, n females, untreated chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. In males, it may lead to infertility and infection of the epididymis. Untreated chlamydia may also cause arthritis, reports the NIH.

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    How Can I Make Sure I Dont Give Anyone Chlamydia

    If you find out that you have chlamydia, dont panic. Chlamydia is easily cured, and there are a few ways to make sure you dont spread it to other people.

    • Tell your past and present sexual partners you have chlamydia, so they can get tested and treated too.

    • Don’t have sex with ANYONE for 7 days from when you got or started treatment.

    • Your sex partners should also be treated before they have sex with anyone, including you.

    • Once youve finished your treatment and start having sex again, its still a good idea to use condoms every single time you have sex.

    Telling someone you have chlamydia isnt anyones idea of a good time. But the infection is really, REALLY common and can be easily cured, so try not to be too embarrassed or stressed out about it. Once you get the conversation over with, you can both get treated and get on with your lives.

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    What To Do If You Have An Std

    You get your test results back, and they come out positive. The first thing you need to do is stay calm. Having an STD isnât great, and you may feel embarrassed, mad, or upset. Take a second to breathe. Remember that youâll be okay and you definitely arenât alone.

    From there, follow your doctorâs orders. You may require follow-up testing, or you might go straight into treatment. Most STDs can easily be treated and cured with medication, so you can finish your course of antibiotics or other prescribed medication and continue with your life.

    For STDs that canât be cured, your doctor can prescribe medication that treats your symptoms and prevents you from transmitting your STDs to your sexual partners, allowing you to live a completely normal life.

    Speaking of, an important step to take when you find out you have an STD is to inform anyone that you have had sex with. This ensures that they get tested and treated and prevents the further spread of the STD. Granted, this isnât the easiest conversation to have. Try to stay calm, and understand that there are millions of other people who have STDs and are also in relationships.

    Make sure you also do your research and talk to your doctor so you have all the facts. Talk to your partner at a good time, too. Choose a time when you wonât be distracted or interrupted, and find somewhere comfortable and private. Above all, do not insert any sort of blame or guilt into the conversation.

    How Can I Reduce My Risk Of Getting Chlamydia

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    The only way to avoid STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

    If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting chlamydia:

    • Be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and has negative STD test results
    • Use latex condoms the right way every time you have sex.

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    How Long Does It Take To Get The Results Back For A Chlamydia Test

    Test results for chlamydia screening usually take about seven days.

    If you are being tested as part of routine screening and have no symptoms of chlamydia, thereâs no need to change your behaviours.

    If you are being tested and you currently have any symptom of chlamydia, it is recommended that you abstain from sexual contact until you get your results.

    What Happens If I Dont Get Treated

    The initial damage that chlamydia causes often goes unnoticed. However, chlamydia can lead to serious health problems.

    If you are a woman, untreated chlamydia can spread to your uterus and fallopian tubes . This can cause pelvic inflammatory disease . PID often has no symptoms, however some women may have abdominal and pelvic pain. Even if it doesnt cause symptoms initially, PID can cause permanent damage to your reproductive system. PID can lead to long-term pelvic pain, inability to get pregnant, and potentially deadly ectopic pregnancy .

    Men rarely have health problems linked to chlamydia. Infection sometimes spreads to the tube that carries sperm from the testicles, causing pain and fever. Rarely, chlamydia can prevent a man from being able to have children.

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    Can I Test Myself For Chlamydia At Home

    Home testing kits for chlamydia are widely available and can be purchased at many pharmacies or online.

    These kits typically require a urine sample or tissue swab, which you can collect at home and securely ship back to the lab to receive your results.

    Some companies also include a free medical consultation with a doctor if your test results are positive to review your treatment options.

    Can Chlamydia Be Cured

    NO SYMPTOMS?? Could you have chlamydia!?

    Yes, chlamydia can be cured with the right treatment. It is important that you take all of the medication your doctor prescribes to cure your infection. When taken properly it will stop the infection and could decrease your chances of having complications later on. You should not share medication for chlamydia with anyone.

    Repeat infection with chlamydia is common. You should be tested again about three months after you are treated, even if your sex partner was treated.

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    How Can You Tell If A Man Has Chlamydia

    In 2017, more than 577,000 men had chlamydia, that is 33.9% more than all infected in 2013. From 2016 to 2017, the number of infected increased by 10.5% and is only expected to grow every year. Thats exactly what makes this STI infection one of the most common and prevalent infections on the globe.

    But, there is one major problem, from 25% to 50% of men have no clue they are infected, so they will unknowingly transmit the infection to their sexual partner. The reason for that is relatively simple: this tiny bacteria we know as chlamydia may not show any recognizable symptoms. This makes it incredibly difficult for both men and women alike to figure out if they have an infection or not.

    Here, we will shed some light on this infection and show you how to tell if a man has chlamydia. Lets take a look at all the warning signs of this infection.

    Telling Your Partner You Have Chlamydia

    Having an STI conversation with your partner can be a bit uncomfortable. If you have been tested and the tests came back positive for chlamydia, that only makes the situation worse. So, what next? How do you break the news to your partner and get them to visit a doctor as well?

    First, understand that chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections today. Also, note that chlamydia treatment is as quick and straightforward as taking some antibiotics. However, its best to find out as soon as possible if youre infected as delayed treatment can lead to infertility in women, as well as other complications. Here is a guide on how to break it to your partner that you have chlamydia.

    Switch the Roles

    If you are not sure of how to handle the situation, try putting yourself into your partners shoes. Would you prefer someone being honest or hiding such a piece of sensitive information from you? Most people appreciate honesty, no matter how bitter it may seem at the moment. In this case, the condition affects your health and that of your partner as well, so it would be better if you take the responsibility of addressing the issue.

    The More Direct, The Better

    Allow the Conversation to Flow Naturally

    Play an Advisory Role

    Some partners may be too shocked to want to listen further. In this case, avail any materials that will help them understand the STI, its causes and cures. Also, let your partner take their time to digest the information.

    Give Room for Questions

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    How Do You Get Chlamydia

    Chlamydia is usually passed on through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex.

    Chlamydia can be passed on through genital contact. This means you can get chlamydia from someone who has the infection if your genitals touch, even if you dont have sex or ejaculate .

    You can also get chlamydia if you come into contact with infected semen or vaginal fluid, or get them in your eye.

    Chlamydia cant be passed on through kissing, hugging, sharing towels or using the same toilet as someone with the infection.

    When To See A Doctor

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    If you are sexually active and displaying symptoms of chlamydia, or you believe you were exposed to the bacterial infection through a sexual partner, see a doctor for evaluation and treatment as soon as possible.

    The CDC advises sexually active women under 25 years old get screened for chlamydia every year. Its also a good idea to be tested when beginning a sexual relationship with a new partner.

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    What Are The Symptoms Of Chlamydia

    It may be difficult to actually know if you have contracted chlamydia because most people do not have any symptoms at all. The suspicion may only be raised if there has been a known contact with chlamydia or from testing after unprotected sex. It is important that you get tested if you suspect you have chlamydia because there are treatments available and if left untreated it can have serious short-term and long-term effects.

    In the short term after infection, some people may experience unusual vaginal or rectal discharge, which is described as yellow or milky white. This is because the chlamydia bacteria infects the cells in the vagina and rectum, stimulating mucous secretion. These secretions combine with dead infected cells to produce discharge.

    A white discharge may also be caused by vaginal thrush, however, but this is usually curd-like, often odourless, or smells like bread or yeast. It is also often associated with vaginal itching or redness.

    A green, rather than yellow discharge, along with a foul smelling odour, may be due to other sexually transmitted diseases such as trichomoniasis.2 A grey-white watery vaginal discharge that has a strong fishy smell may be due to bacterial vaginosis, which is caused by a disruption of the balance of normal vaginal bacteria.3 So, the difference in colour and smell of the vaginal discharge may differentiate between whether it is likely to be caused by chlamydia or not.

    How Chlamydia’s Passed On

    Chlamydia is usually passed from one person to another through sexual contact.

    You can get the infection if you come into contact with the semen or vaginal fluids of someone who has chlamydia.

    Chlamydia is most commonly spread through:

    • vaginal or anal sex without a condom
    • sharing sex toys that arent washed or covered with a new condom each time theyre used.

    It can be spread by giving or receiving oral sex with someone who has chlamydia. The risk can be lowered by using a condom or a dam to cover the genitals.

    If infected semen or vaginal fluid comes into contact with the eye it can cause conjunctivitis (infection or irritation of the eye.

    If youre pregnant its possible to pass chlamydia to the baby .

    Its not clear if chlamydia can be spread by transferring infected semen or vaginal fluid to another persons genitals on the fingers or through rubbing vulvas together.

    You cant get chlamydia from kissing, hugging, sharing baths or towels, swimming pools, toilet seats or from sharing cups, plates or cutlery.

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