Faq On Chlamydia Booking Through Our Partner Labs
- Will insurance cover my Chlamydia test cost? Generally, providers do not accept insurance in order to ensure your privacy. However, they will provide you a receipt for insurance reimbursement purposes.
- How should I book my appointment for Chlamydia testing?You can choose the most suitable provider from above and make an appointment by following the instructions mentioned by them.
- Can I cancel my lab test order?Yes, you can cancel your lab test order anytime before your testing. The refund will be initiated after deducting the cancellation fee. However, cancellation is at the discretion of the provider.
- Do the providers offer result interpretations?Yes, a few providers may provide doctor consultation who will take you through the results and provide clarification if needed.
- How do I receive my report?In order to ensure your privacy, the test report will be mailed to you by the provider.
Chlamydia In The Throat: Symptoms Treatment & More
When it comes to avoiding sexually transmitted infections , some people think oral sex is safer than intercourse. But several STIssuch as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphiliscan spread through oral sex.
In this article, Ill focus on chlamydia and oral sex. Like chlamydia in the genital area, chlamydia in the throat may not cause any symptoms, so its important to practice safe oral sex, talk to your sexual partners about their health, and get tested for STIs.
In many cases, chlamydia is curable with antibiotics, however an untreated chlamydia infection can result in serious health problems, including ectopic pregnancy and infertility.
So if you think you may have chlamydia, its important to see a healthcare provider.
Read on to learn how you can get chlamydia from oral sex, what the symptoms are, how to get diagnosed and treated for it, and when to see your doctor.
Treatment For Oral Chlamydia
Chlamydia is usually treated with antibiotics like azithromycin which is usually prescribed in a single, large dose, and doxycycline is taken twice per day for about one week. The same antibiotics to treat chlamydia in the groin and may also be prescribed to treat chlamydia in the throat. It is important to avoid oral sex and intercourse for at least 7 days when taking a one-time antibiotic dose. Chlamydia can recur again even after the treatment. But treatment can stop complications that a person has already experienced due to chlamydia. Post-treatment, its better to always have protected to avoid contracting a new infection.
The sex partners of an infected person should also be tested for infection. People who are diagnosed with the infection should not have sex until 7 days after they and their sex partners have completed treatment.
Read Also: Ways To Test For Chlamydia
How To Get Tested For Chlamydia
If youre 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 isnt 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.
Recommended Reading: Do All Antibiotics Cure Chlamydia
Chlamydia In The Rectum Throat Or Eyes
Chlamydia can also infect:
- the rectum if you have unprotected anal sex this can cause discomfort and discharge from your rectum
- the throat if you have unprotected oral sex this is uncommon and usually causes no symptoms
- the eyes if they come into contact with infected semen or vaginal fluid this can cause eye redness, pain and discharge
Recommended Reading: How Long Does Chlamydia Take To Clear Up
Can You Get Chlamydia In Your Throat
Its possible, but not likely, that you could get chlamydia in your throat. To understand how or why it could happen, its important to consider how chlamydia is transmitted.
A person can get chlamydia when their mucus membranes, such as those of the vagina, penis, or rectum, come in contact with chlamydia bacteria. These bacteria enter the mucus membranes and multiply.
Chlamydia doesnt always cause symptoms. However, if not treated, the infection can result in damage that cant be reversed.
The most common way chlamydia is spread is through unprotected anal or vaginal sex. The bacteria typically infect and cause symptoms in the location they first entered the body.
Its possible that chlamydia can be transmitted to your throat if you give oral sex to a partner who has contracted a genital chlamydia infection.
Additionally, getting oral sex from someone who has contracted a chlamydia infection of the throat can potentially transmit the bacteria to your genitals.
You cant get chlamydia mouth-to-mouth kissing.
For a reason doctors dont fully understand, chlamydia bacteria more easily infect the groin area, such as the vagina, penis, or rectum, than the mouth.
- mouth sores that dont heal
- sores around lips and mouth
However, you can contract the infection in both the throat and genital area. In addition to a sore throat, you may have chlamydia symptoms in your genitals.
When To See A Doctor
People who are at a higher risk of STIs, and those who have symptoms of an STI, including genital discharge, unusual sores, rashes, or a burning sensation during urination, may wish to see a healthcare professional as soon as possible for screening.
Doctors can treat chlamydia by prescribing antibiotics. According to the United Kingdom National Health Service , more than 95% of chlamydia cases are curable if people take their medication correctly.
A healthcare professional may prescribe either a single oral dose of azithromycin or a twice-daily dose of doxycycline for 7 days. Recommendations also advise against engaging in oral sex or intercourse for at least 7 days until treatment is complete.
Without treatment, chlamydia can cause serious problems, such as:
- inflammation of the testicles, which may affect fertility in males
Read Also: What Do You Take For Chlamydia
Who Should Be Tested For Chlamydia
You should go to your health provider for a test if you have symptoms of chlamydia, or if you have a partner who has a sexually transmitted disease. Pregnant women should get a test when they go to their first prenatal visit.
People at higher risk should get checked for chlamydia every year:
- Sexually active women 25 and younger
- Older women who have new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted disease
- Men who have sex with men
Also Check: How Long Do Symptoms Of Chlamydia Take To Show
Can Oral Sex Give You Chlamydia
If you are wondering can I catch chlamydia from giving oral sex?, the answer is a definitive yes. In fact, many sexually transmitted infections are spread through oral sex.
Oral sex involves the stimulation of the genitals with the use of the lips, the tongue, or the mouth.
If you give oral to someone with chlamydia, you will come into contact with the bacteria that causes it. It is also possible to transmit the infection if you give oral sex to your partner if you have chlamydia in the throat.
The most common way that chlamydia is transmitted during oral sex is when someone performs it on the penis without using a condom. But it is also possible to get or transmit chlamydia through oral sex performed on the anus and vagina.
Also Check: How Much Does A Chlamydia Test Cost
Why You Should Consider Getting Tested For Chlamydia
Remember chlamydia is easily spread, difficult to detect, and can cause more severe medical conditions if not treated. There is no reason to hesitate, get tested today with Better2Know. They provide fast scheduling, simple testing, accurate test results, confidentiality, and a consultation with a doctor if you test positive. Getting tested will protect your health, your partners health, and help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections and diseases. If chlamydia is left untreated it could lead to other serious health conditions and infertility.
Are Test Results Accurate
Although chlamydia testing is an important method of finding and treating this common STD, test results could be impacted by the following:
- The use of antibiotics within several days before testing
- Urinating within one hour of sample collection
- Vaginal douching within 24 hours of testing
- Improper sample collection
- Contamination of rectal samples with fecal matter
Read Also: How Long It Takes For Chlamydia To Go Away
How Much Does The Test Cost
The cost of chlamydia testing varies based on many factors. Chlamydia testing may be paid for by health insurance when ordered by a doctor. Because health plans vary, its important for patients to discuss the cost of testing, including any copays or deductibles, with their health plan.
For patients without health insurance coverage, the cost of testing may include the cost of the office visit and sample collection as well as technician fees. Testing may also be available for free or at low cost through community-based organizations and local health departments.
When Should I Call My Doctor About A Chlamydia Test
A note from Cleveland Clinic
A chlamydia test is essential to limiting the spread of this sexually transmitted infection. Its especially important to get screened for chlamydia regularly if youre at a higher risk of this STI. Untreated, the infection can cause health problems and you can spread it to your partner. While youre waiting for results and during treatment, avoid having sex. Wait until your provider says its safe to have sex again. Be sure to use a condom and practice safe sex to avoid getting an STI.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 01/28/2022.
References
Also Check: Symptoms Of A Man Having Chlamydia
How Is Chlamydia Transmitted
Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease. It can be transmitted through sexual activity with the partner who is already infected with it. A pregnant mum can give Chlamydia to her baby during childbirth. Also, if youve already been infected with Chlamydia in the past, you can get infected once again. It means that your body cant make antibodies to fight against this infection and thus strengthen immune system.
If you ever have has unprotected sex then you can perform private chlamydia home test for your self confidence.
How Can I Reduce My Risk Of Getting Chlamydia
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.
Read Also: How Easy Is It To Contract Chlamydia
Don’t Miss: How Do You Test For Chlamydia In Men
Is There Anything Else I Need To Know About A Chlamydia Test
Chlamydia testing enables diagnosis and treatment of the infection before it can cause serious health problems. If you are at risk for chlamydia due to your age and/or lifestyle, talk to your health care provider about getting tested.
You can also take steps to prevent getting infected with chlamydia The best way to prevent chlamydia or any sexually transmitted disease is to not have vaginal, anal or oral sex. If you are sexually active, you can reduce your risk of infection by:
- Being in a long-term relationship with one partner who has tested negative for STDs
- Using condoms correctly every time you have sex
Can Chlamydia Be Cured
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.
You May Like: What Can Untreated Chlamydia Cause
How Is Chlamydia Tested
Unlike most STD tests that we offer, you may choose to have either your blood or urine screened for chlamydia. Urine testing is standard for chlamydia and suitable for most cases because most infections are local to the urogenital area. That being said, chlamydia tests by urine sample do not detect infections of other sites like the throat, anus, or eye . A chlamydia blood test will be able to detect an infection, wherever it was contracted.
What About Partners
If a person has been diagnosed and treated for chlamydia, he or she should tell all recent anal, vaginal, or oral sex partners so they can see a health care provider and be treated. This will reduce the risk that the sex partners will develop serious complications from chlamydia and will also reduce the persons risk of becoming re-infected. A person with chlamydia and all of his or her sex partners must avoid having sex until they have completed their treatment for chlamydia and until they no longer have symptoms. For tips on talking to partners about sex and STD testing, visit www.gytnow.org/talking-to-your-partner/external icon
To help get partners treated quickly, healthcare providers in some states may give infected individuals extra medicine or prescriptions to give to their sex partners. This is called expedited partner therapy or EPT. In published clinical trials comparing EPT to traditional patient referral , EPT was associated with fewer persistent or recurrent chlamydial infections in the index patient, and a larger reported number of partners treated.52 For providers, EPT represents an additional strategy for partner management of persons with chlamydial infection partners should still be encouraged to seek medical evaluation, regardless of whether they receive EPT. To obtain further information regarding EPT, including the legal status of EPT in a specific area, see the Legal Status of Expedited Partner Therapy.
Recommended Reading: How Long Can You Have Chlamydia Without Knowing
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:
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:
Treatment Of Oral Chlamydia
The bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis can trigger the body to turn up for the natural defense mechanisms, which may result in fever infected organism will try to get rid of germs. However, it is rare for oral chlamydia to cause any clear symptoms and therefore it may be very difficult to detect this infection. It is usually through a medical examination, that chlamydia in the throat is detected. A simple method to determine if you are infected with chlamydia bacteria in the throat is to take a chlamydia test. The most common treatment for oral chlamydia is a course of antibiotics with doxysyklin for approximately 7 days.
Also Check: What Gets Rid Of Chlamydia
Also Check: Is There An At Home Chlamydia Test
How Common Is Pharyngeal Chlamydia
You may think about cold sores on the mouth caused by the herpes simplex virus , but for the most part, you probably associate other STIs with genital infections. Chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause burning while urinating and discharge syphilis can cause ulcers HSV can cause blisters human papillomavirus can cause warts, and so on. However, many of these STIs can also cause symptoms in other parts of the body, called extragenital infections.
Common parts of the body that are susceptible to extragenital infections are the rectum and mouth or throat since these parts of the body may also be involved in sexual contact. Being aware of infections outside the genital area is important for your sexual health, especially if you want to be screened for STIs. To truly make sure you dont have certain STIs, you cant just rely on a urine sample or vaginal swab. Instead, you need to check everywhere that may be at risk for infection.
Chlamydia is one of the STIs that can cause an extragenital infection and is sometimes found in the throat. This is sometimes called oral chlamydia or pharyngeal chlamydia. Chlamydia is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, so when you say you have pharyngeal chlamydia, it means you have an infection with the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis in the throat.
A review of the medical literature shows the rates of oral chlamydia in women, men who have sex with women , and men who have sex with men are as follows :