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How To Do You Know If You Have Chlamydia

How Do You Catch Chlamydia

Sneaky Chlamydia | Do You Have It & Not Know It?

You can get chlamydia through:

  • Unprotected oral sex and sex without a condom. You dont even have to experience penetration to get it as you can transmit the bacteria by only touching genitals together.
  • Anal sex can also result in a chlamydia infection.
  • Sharing sex toys.
  • Infected mothers who have the infection might transfer it to their newborn baby during birth. For this reason, all expecting mothers should double-check for chlamydia with their OB-GYN.
  • You can get a chlamydia infection in the eye if infected semen or vaginal fluid gets into your eyes.

You cant catch chlamydia through kissing, hugging, sharing baths, towels, swimming pools, toilet seats, or cutlery.

With A Current Partner

Even if youve already had sex, you need to talk about testing. This applies whether you had sex without a barrier in the heat of the moment or if youve been together a while and are considering ditching barrier protection altogether.

Here are some ways to bring it up:

  • I know we already had sex without a barrier, but if were going to keep doing it, we really should get tested.
  • If were going to stop using dental dams/condoms, we need to get tested. Just to be safe.
  • Im having my routine STI screening soon. Why dont we both get tested together?
  • I have/had so its a good idea for you to get tested, too, even if weve been careful.

What Is The Treatment For Chlamydia In The Anus

The treatment for Chlamydia, in general, is to administer antibiotics. Whether it is genital or anal, antibiotics generally work for Chlamydia. Using tetracycline for a week works effectively, and throughout the period of taking medication, the infected patient should stay away from sex and sexual activities.

Also Check: Can Boric Acid Treat Chlamydia

Consult Reputable Sources Of Information To Get The Facts

  • 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.
  • What Are The Treatments For Chlamydia

    How Chlamydia Is Diagnosed

    Antibiotics will cure the infection. You may get a one-time dose of the antibiotics, or you may need to take medicine every day for 7 days. Antibiotics cannot repair any permanent damage that the disease has caused.

    To prevent spreading the disease to your partner, you should not have sex until the infection has cleared up. If you got a one-time dose of antibiotics, you should wait 7 days after taking the medicine to have sex again. If you have to take medicine every day for 7 days, you should not have sex again until you have finished taking all of the doses of your medicine.

    It is common to get a repeat infection, so you should get tested again about three months after treatment.

    Recommended Reading: Signs Of Chlamydia In Females

    How Will I Know If The Chlamydia Has Affected My Fertility

    Chlamydia is just one of many factors that can affect your fertility. Most people whove had chlamydia wont become infertile or have an ectopic pregnancy . If youve had chlamydia you wont normally be offered any routine tests to see if youre fertile unless you or a partner are having difficulty getting pregnant. If youre concerned, talk to your doctor or practice nurse.

    Am I At Risk For Chlamydia

    Sexually active people can get chlamydia through vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom with a partner who has chlamydia.

    Sexually active young people are at a higher risk of getting chlamydia. This is due to behaviors and biological factors common among young people. Gay and bisexual men are also at risk since chlamydia can spread through oral and anal sex.

    If you are sexually active, have an honest and open talk with your healthcare provider. Ask them if you should get tested for chlamydia or other STDs. Gay or bisexual men and pregnant people should also get tested for chlamydia. If you are a sexually active woman, you should get tested for chlamydia every year if you are:

    • Younger than 25 years old.
    • 25 years and older with risk factors, such as new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection.

    Also Check: Can You Be A Carrier Of Chlamydia

    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.

    Can Women Who Have Sex With Women Get Chlamydia

    What You Need to Know About 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.

    Read Also: Women’s Symptoms Of Gonorrhea And Chlamydia

    What Other Problems Can Chlamydia Cause

    In women, an untreated infection can spread to your uterus and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease . PID can cause permanent damage to your reproductive system. This can lead to long-term pelvic pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. Women who have had chlamydia infections more than once are at higher risk of serious reproductive health complications.

    Men often don’t have health problems from chlamydia. Sometimes it can infect the epididymis . This can cause pain, fever, and, rarely, infertility.

    Both men and women can develop reactive arthritis because of a chlamydia infection. Reactive arthritis is a type of arthritis that happens as a “reaction” to an infection in the body.

    Babies born to infected mothers can get eye infections and pneumonia from chlamydia. It may also make it more likely for your baby to be born too early.

    Untreated chlamydia may also increase your chances of getting or giving HIV/AIDS.

    How To Tell Someone You May Have Given Them An Sti

    Telling someone they may have an STI isnât easy. Photo: 123RF

    Life is full of awkward conversations. You worry, your stomach churns and what you think is the perfect script is eventually thrown out of the window.

    But it doesnt matter if its a case of breaking up with someone or quitting a job, it has to be done. Telling someone you may have given them a sexually transmitted infection, or STI, definitely falls into the awkward category.

    Two people who have been in this situation shared their recent stories with us:

    SORRY I HAVE TO DO THIS â JACKS STORY

    I have honestly never felt more worried than when the doctor told me I had herpes.

    She was telling me about treatments and meds and all I could do was try to work out who I had gotten it from and who I had given it to.

    I went back to work and straight away made a list of the people I had had any kind of sex with since I broke up with my girlfriend about a year before. I had four names and I no longer spoke to all but one.

    I was fucking terrified.

    I added the other three on Facebook and they all accepted, thank God. I know it would have been best to call each one, but I could only direct message them.

    I even Googled examples of people who have had to do it.

    The messages I sent went something like this:

    I swear to God, waiting for their replies was the longest wait of my life. It was late at night and I literally turned my phone off so I wouldnât hear the reply notification.

    Safe to say, I didnât sleep much that night.

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    Symptoms Of Genital Chlamydia

    Some of the common symptoms of genital chlamydia include:

    • A burning sensation during urination
    • Rectal pain
    • Pain or swelling in the testicles
    • Pain during sex

    Often people who have chlamydia in the mouth will not be aware of their condition due to the fact that they are not experiencing significant symptoms.

    This is why it is so important to get tested as soon as you think you may have been exposed to the chlamydia. You could have no symptoms but continue to spread chlamydia onto other people.

    In this case it is always better to be safe than sorry.

    Essential Facts About Chlamydia

    Chlamydia

    Chlamydia often causes no symptoms in the short term, but it can have serious health consequences if it goes untreated.

    If youre sexually active, you should know about chlamydia, a common sexually transmitted bacterial infection. These 10 facts will bring you up to speed on whos at risk, why regular screening is so important, and how to avoid getting chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections .

    Read Also: How You Know If You Got Chlamydia

    Can You Get Chlamydia If You Use A Condom

    A condom lowers your chances of getting chlamydia if used correctly.

    Correct use of a condom includes:

  • Putting the condom on before the penis touches the vagina, mouth, or anus.
  • Making sure the condom unrolls in the right direction before it touches the tip of the penis. If you notice that the condom is not unrolling in the right direction but has already touched the penis, discard it and get a new one.
  • Unrolling the condom to cover the entire penis, down to its base. Keep it on the whole time youre having sex.
  • Treatment And Medication Options For Chlamydia

    A course of antibiotics is the treatment for chlamydia. Your doctor will decide which drug to prescribe, and at what dose, according to your individual medical needs and other aspects of your situation.

    Its important to abstain from having sex until seven days after the start of your antibiotic treatment, to prevent the transmission of chlamydia to a sexual partner. If you have a partner who is being treated for chlamydia, the same recommendation applies to them.

    If you have symptoms that persist for more than a few days after you start your treatment, see your doctor again to be reevaluated.

    Because the symptoms of chlamydia are similar to those of gonorrhea, you should be treated for both infections if you test positive for chlamydia. Thats because its often faster and cheaper to just treat both infections than to order another test for gonorrhea after a positive test result for chlamydia.

    After completing your antibiotic treatment for chlamydia, youll need to get tested again after three to four months or earlier, if recommended to check for reinfection.

    While antibiotics can cure chlamydia, they cant reverse any permanent damage caused by the infection.

    Read Also: How Long Can You Go Without Treating Chlamydia

    How Does A Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Test Work

    Screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea can be done at home or at a clinic. A sample of urine is typically sent to a laboratory, which checks the urine for chlamydia and gonorrhea DNA. If you are using the Everlywell at-home test, youâll receive secure, online results just a few days after the lab receives your sample.

    What Does A Positive Chlamydia Test Result Mean

    Chlamydia pictures – Causes Signs Symptoms Treatment images and Photos of chlamydia

    If the test is positive, the lab detected the bacteria that cause chlamydia. This means you have a chlamydia infection and will need treatment . You will also need to notify your sexual partners, so they can get tested, too.

    After finishing treatment, you will need additional follow-up chlamydia tests. You may need another test three weeks after treatment and possibly another test three months later. Ask your provider when you should get a follow-up test.

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    How Does A Chlamydia Test Work

    The most commonly used type of chlamydia test is called a Nucleic Acid Amplification Test . A NAAT detects the DNA of the bacteria that cause the chlamydia infection. You provide a sample of urine. Or your provider collects a sample of secretions from the vagina or urethra . The lab tests the sample for signs of the bacteria.

    Less often, providers use a cell culture to test for chlamydia. Your provider swabs your vagina, urethra or anus to collect a sample of fluid and cells. They send the cells to a lab to test. If bacteria are present, they will grow, which indicates an infection. Providers may choose this type of chlamydia test to detect infections in the anus. Or they may use a cell culture to see how chlamydia treatments are working.

    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.

    Recommended Reading: How To Get Rid Of Chlamydia Pain

    Chlamydia Symptoms In The Mouth

    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.

    What If Youre Too Scared

    Chlamydia Test: What to Expect, When to Test, Treatments &  More

    If, for whatever reason, youâre reluctant to tell them yourself, many clinics have a sexual health advisor who can do it for you. There is an option for the clinic to do it anonymously without mentioning your name.

    âIf thatâs what you want to do, the clinic will generally contact that person by phone or by text saying, âWe have information to say that youâve been in contact with someone and you need to make an appointment to come and get a check-upâ,â says Casey.

    If youâre reluctant to tell them yourself, many clinics have a sexual health advisor who can do it for you.

    The clinic wonât give information about the infection, they just simply let the person know they need to come in and get checked out. Some clinics are signed up to a text or email-based partner notification whereby an anonymous text or email can be sent to that person.

    âYou can log into a website and provide details of partners, then messages are sent anonymously by email or text,â says Casey.

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    Comparing Urine Sti Tests To Other Sti Tests

    Some people still question whether urine testing is as effective at detecting bacterial STI like chlamydia and gonorrhea. These questions usually focus on the efficacy of the tests in women. Why?

    The most common site of female infection is not on the pathway that urine travels out of the body. In contrast, urine passes through the most common site of infection , in men.

    A 2015 review that examined 21 studies on the relative effectiveness of using different types of samples to detect chlamydia and gonorrhea found that:

    • For chlamydia testing in women, the sensitivity and specificity were 87% and 99%, respectively, for urine samples compared to cervical samples.
    • For chlamydia testing in men, the sensitivity and specificity were 88% and 99%. respectively, for urine samples compared to urethral samples.
    • For gonorrhea testing in women, the sensitivity and specificity were 79% and 99%, respectively, for urine samples compared to cervical samples.
    • For gonorrhea testing in men, the sensitivity and specificity were 92% and 99%, respectively, for urine samples compared to urethral samples.

    By and large, these results are relatively consistent across studies. Interestingly, self-collected vaginal swabs were closer in effectiveness to cervical swabs than urine testing. For some women, those may be a more acceptable alternative to a pelvic exam if urine testing isnât available.

    Is There A Cure For Chlamydia And Gonorrhea

    Yes. Chlamydia and gonorrhea can both be cured with the right treatment. If these STDs arent treated, they can cause serious health problems, like making it difficult or impossible for a woman to get pregnant.

    If you have an STD, its important to get treatment right away. Its also important to tell anyone youve had sex with that you have an STD so they can get treated, too. This can help protect you from getting infected again.

    Read Also: Can Chlamydia Turn Into Herpes

    Can You Get Chlamydia From Drinking After Someone

    The belief that you can catch chlamydia from drinking after someone is a myth. In reality, theres no risk of catching the infection when sharing food, water, or cutlery.

    You can only catch chlamydia during:

    • Unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
    • Sharing sex toys.
    • Contact with the genitals of an infected partner.

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