If I Have Chlamydia Am I At Risk Of Other Sexually Transmitted Infections
Yes. By definition, having unprotected sex means risk of STI. As well as chlamydia, there are also genital warts, genital herpes, gonorrhoea, HIV, pubic lice, and syphilis. Like with chlamydia, gonorrhoea may well cause no symptoms, so being tested is the only way to really know. This can be done at your local sexual health clinic.
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How Do You Catch Chlamydia
It is still unclear whether the infection can be spread through touching or rubbing another persons genitals. Chlamydia cant be caught through kissing or sharing things such as the toilet. If you think you might have come into sexual contact with a person or toys that are or might be infected, then be sure to get tested.
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How Long Does It Take To Show Up On A Test
There are several tests that you doctor might use to diagnose chlamydia:
- Urine test. Youll pee in a cup thats sent off to a laboratory testing facility to see if any chlamydia bacteria are present in your urine.
- Blood test. Your doctor will use a sterile needle to draw some of your blood and send it to a lab to see if antibodies to the chlamydia bacteria are present in your bloodstream.
- Swab. Your doctor will use a cotton round or stick to take a small sample of tissue or fluid that carries the infection, which is then sent to a lab to be cultured so that lab technicians can see what bacteria grows from the sample.
How long it takes for the results to show up depends on the test and on your specific health insurance plan.
- Urine tests take about 2 to 5 days to show a positive or negative result.
- Blood tests can come back with results in a few minutes if the blood is analyzed on site. But they can take a week or more if sent to an off-site lab.
- Swab results take about 2 to 3 days to show a positive or negative.
1 to 3 weeks to show up in people with vulvas.
Symptoms may take up a few months to show up. This is because bacteria are living creatures and have an incubation period that affects how long it takes them to cluster together and become infectious.
This incubation period is dependent on a variety of factors, including:
- how much of the bacteria you were exposed to
- how quickly the bacteria reproduce
- how strong your immune system is against the bacteria
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How Chlamydia’s Passed On
Chlamydia is usually passed from one person to another through sexual contact.
Chlamydia is most commonly spread through:
- 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 youre pregnant its possible to pass chlamydia to the baby .
You cant get chlamydia from kissing, hugging, sharing baths or towels, swimming pools, toilet seats or from sharing cups, plates or cutlery.
Male Issues Of Neglected Chlamydia
Men can likewise experience complications when chlamydia is left unattended. The epididymis television that holds the testicles in position may become irritated, causing pain. This is referred to as epididymitis.
The infection can also spread to the prostate gland, triggering a fever, uncomfortable intercourse, and also discomfort in the lower back. One more possible issue is male chlamydial urethritis.
These are simply several of the most usual issues of unattended chlamydia, which is why its important to get clinical interest right away. Most individuals that obtain therapy swiftly have no long-term medical problems. How Long Does It Take For Chlamydia To Clear Up
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Hi there, Im Melissa and welcome to Genier. Im not ashamed to admit that Ive dealt with an STD before and recovered. It was not a pleasant experience but Im glad I got myself tested. If theres one message that you can take away from my site is get tested today! Stay safe.
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Why Cant I Repeat The Chlamydia Test After Ive Taken My Treatment To Check It Worked
You can, but it takes up to 6 weeks for the test to go back to negative after an infection. If you re-test too early a positive result can be a sign of continuing or re-infection, but its most likely to be positive from the initial infection, so its not at all helpful.
If you are under 25 years of age, it is recommended to have a repeat test 3 months after treatment as a significant number of young people get repeat infections which are linked to an increased risk of complications.
Can You Get Chlamydia More Than Once
Yes, you can get the infection even if youve successfully treated it already.
A sexual partner who has chlamydia can transmit it to you again, even if youve already had it and treated it.
You can also get chlamydia again if it wasnt fully treated the first time. This can happen if you stop taking the necessary treatment. Its important to complete the antibiotics youve been given, even if your symptoms get better.
The CDC recommends getting tested 3 months after treatment of your initial infection to ensure the infection is cleared.
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Where Can I Get Tested
Sexual health clinics, a genitourinary medicine clinics or GP surgeries provide free and confidential chlamydia testing. In England there is a national screening program for people under 25 years test kits are available in many pharmacies, contraception clinics, or colleges. Home testing kits may also be purchased in some pharmacies and online.
What Dosage Treats Chlamydia
For people with uncomplicated genital chlamydia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a single dose of azithromycin taken orally to cure the infection.
Azithromycin comes in three forms:
- Regular-release powder
For both powder formulas, either you or a pharmacist mix it with liquid to take.
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So Just How Fast Can We Do Our Tests
HIV 28-day test results are ready the same day your sample is received in our testing laboratory.
HIV 10-day test results are ready the same day your sample is received in our testing laboratory.
Hepatitis B results are ready within one working day after your sample is received in our testing laboratory.
Hepatitis C results are ready within one working day after your sample is received in our testing laboratory.
Syphilis results are ready within one working day after your sample is received in our testing laboratory.
Chlamydia results are ready on the same day we receive your sample with our FAST testing option. Our standard test provides results within two working days.
Gonorrhoearesults are ready on the same day we receive your sample with our FAST testing option. Our standard test provides results within two working days.
Sex Partners Need Treatment Too
If you are diagnosed with chlamydia, you will need to tell all of your sexual partners, because they will need the same treatment you are receiving.
In most states, a doctor or other healthcare provider can give you the medicine that your partner or partners will need to take. Then you can deliver it to those partners. This practice is called expedited partner therapy or patient delivered partner therapy.
These options can help a lot if your partner doesnt have a healthcare provider or feels embarrassed about seeking care, says Dr. Dombrowski.
Its natural to feel nervous or upset about having to tell your partner or partners about having an STD. Your healthcare provider can help with this problem. They may even rehearse the conversation with you, says Dombrowksi.
Learning about chlamydia and seeking advice from a healthcare provider about how to discuss it with your partner can help you handle the conversation with less anxiety and more confidence.
Remember, chlamydia is not just common: It is the most common infection reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . You are being helpful, mature, and responsible by telling your partners.
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How Quickly Do Symptoms Show
In many cases, chlamydia symptoms do not show up at all, making it possible for the infection to lie dormant in the body and cause long-term side effects when not treated.
If someone with chlamydia does experience symptoms, the time it takes for them to show up may vary.
For most people, though, it takes about 7-21 days after having unprotected sex with an infected partner. However, it can take longer.
How Long After Treatment Can I Have Sex Again
Suppose youre taking medications for the treatment of chlamydia. You should stay away from sex within this period. However, you can typically start having sex after completing your treatment.
For example, suppose youre treating your chlamydia with doxycycline. Make sure to stay away from sex until you and your sexual partners have completed your treatment.
Alternatively, if youre using azithromycin, it will be best to wait for seven days after finishing your treatment to start having sex.
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What Happens If I Get Chlamydia When I’m Pregnant
- Chlamydia during pregnancy has been associated in very rare cases with problems such as premature birth, and infection of the uterus lining after the birth.
- It can be passed to the baby during the birth and before the baby is born. This can cause inflammation and discharge in the babys eye and/or pneumonia.
- You may be offered a chlamydia test as part of your antenatal care.
- Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics when youre pregnant and when youre breastfeeding. The antibiotics wont harm the baby, but do tell the doctor or nurse that youre pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Youll be advised to have another test after you complete your treatment.
How Long Will It Take For Chlamydia To Show Up In Men
Both women and men need the same amount of time forchlamydia symptoms to show up, and there is no major difference in the timelinenecessary for the bacteria to reproduce. The only huge difference is thefrequency of the symptoms men might experience. Based on statistics, 70% of mendont notice any symptoms at all, while 90% of women dont notice physicalsymptoms only.
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Who Can And Cannot Take Azithromycin
Azithromycin can be taken by adults and children.
It isnt suitable for some people. To make sure azithromycin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
- had an allergic reaction to azithromycin or any other medicines in the past
- liver or kidney problems
- heart problems, including irregular heartbeats
- had diarrhoea when you have taken antibiotics before
- myasthenia gravis azithromycin can worsen the symptoms of this muscle-weakening illness
- diabetes azithromycin liquid contains sugar
How Long Does A Person Test Positive For Chlamydia After Treatment
Healthcare professionals use nucleic acid amplification tests to diagnose chlamydia. However, NAATs cannot differentiate between chlamydia nucleic acid when it is nonviable and when it is viable .
This means that if people have a NAAT while a chlamydia infection is still clearing from the body, it may cause a positive test result.
According to a 2016 article , chlamydia testing may produce a positive result if it is within 14 days after beginning treatment.
If people have a positive result shortly after 14 days, it is most likely a false-positive result rather than treatment failure or repeat infection.
A test of cure is a requirement as standard care of practice. It can help detect whether or not the treatment has failed. Doctors encourage people to schedule a follow-up appointment at the time of treatment. A TOC tests for chlamydia
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Where To Get Tested
A person can undergo testing for chlamydia at their:
- local health department
- local planned parenthood center
A person can also order a chlamydia test online, take it at home, and then send it off for testing.
If people are at high risk of chlamydia, they may need screening for all types of chlamydia every 36 months.
At risk groups include people who have:
- multiple or unknown sexual partners
- sex in combination with illegal drug use
- sexual partners who use illegal drugs or have multiple partners
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How Long Does Chlamydia Last Untreated
Most times, chlamydia can be asymptomatic. This means that it can be present in the body without causing visible symptoms to occur while causing significant damage to a persons reproductive organs over time.
This is why the CDC recommends that sexually active people get chlamydia tested regularly. Getting chlamydia tested ensures that you can get proper treatment to clear the infection in a couple of weeks.
If left untreated, chlamydia can last in the body for several years to the detriment of the infected person. In addition, untreated chlamydia can cause severe complications like pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility.
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How Do I Know If I Have Chlamydia
If you suspect you have chlamydia, your doctor may want to test cervical or penile discharge or urine using one of several available methods.
In most cases of chlamydia, the cure rate is 95%. However, because many women dont know they have the disease until it has caused serious complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease, sexually active women under age 25 and others at higher risk should be tested for chlamydia once a year during their annual pelvic exam even if they dont have symptoms.
Pregnant women should also be tested as part of their routine lab work.
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How Can I Prevent Getting Chlamydia
Anyone who is sexually active can catch chlamydia. Youre most at risk if you have a new sexual partner or dont use a barrier method of contraception, such as a condom, when having sex. You can help to prevent the spread of chlamydia by:
- using a dam to cover the female genitals during oral sex or when rubbing female genitals together
- not sharing sex toys. If you do share sex toys, wash them or cover them with a new condom between each person who uses them.
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Why Is Treatment Of Chlamydia Important
When treated early, chlamydia does not cause any long-term complications. Left untreated, serious and permanent damage can occur.
It may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease . This is when female reproductive organs, found in your pelvis, become inflamed. PID may cause ectopic pregnancies , infertility or chronic pelvic pain.
If not treated, chlamydia can spread to testicles, leading to pain and swelling. Chlamydia may occasionally cause infertility in men. Sometimes chlamydia may trigger a condition called Reiter’s disease which causes inflammation of your eyes, skin and joints.
Chlamydia can be passed from mother to baby during birth. The baby may subsequently develop eye and/or ear infections or pneumonia.
How To Help Partners Get Treatment
If you are not sure whether your sexual partner will seek treatment, ask your doctor for extra chlamydia medication . You can give it to them so they can be treated as soon as possible.
This is known as patient delivered partner therapy for chlamydia. Talk to your doctor to see if PDPT is right for you and your sexual partner.
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What Is The Treatment For Chlamydia
Chlamydia can be easily cured with antibiotics. HIV-positive persons with chlamydia should receive the same treatment as those who are HIV-negative.
Persons with chlamydia should abstain from sexual activity for 7 days after single dose antibiotics or until completion of a 7-day course of antibiotics, to prevent spreading the infection to partners. It is important to take all of the medication prescribed to cure chlamydia. Medication for chlamydia should not be shared with anyone. Although medication will stop the infection, it will not repair any permanent damage done by the disease. If a persons symptoms continue for more than a few days after receiving treatment, he or she should return to a health care provider to be reevaluated.
Repeat infection with chlamydia is common. Women whose sex partners have not been appropriately treated are at high risk for re-infection. Having multiple chlamydial infections increases a womans risk of serious reproductive health complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy. Women and men with chlamydia should be retested about three months after treatment of an initial infection, regardless of whether they believe that their sex partners were successfully treated.
Infants infected with chlamydia may develop ophthalmia neonatorum and/or pneumonia. Chlamydial infection in infants can be treated with antibiotics.
Signs And Symptoms Of Gonorrhea
Doctors recommend regular screening to be sure youre not infected, because not all cases of gonorrhea show symptoms. Even if your case doesnt come with symptoms, you can still pass the infection along to sexual partners without knowing.
If your gonorrhea infection does display symptoms, they can show up as soon as 2 days to as long as 30 days after infection. Symptoms of gonorrhea in men are easier to spot, although some men notice only mild symptoms, too. Women typically notice such mild symptoms they might mistake the signs of gonorrhea for a vaginal or bladder infection.
In women, symptoms of genital gonorrhea include:
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