What Happens During A Chlamydia Test
Chlamydia testing can be as simple as peeing in a cup. Sometimes the test is done by gently rubbing your genitals with a cotton swab, to take cell samples from your urethra, vagina, cervix, or anus. The samples are tested for chlamydia bacteria. Your doctor may also be able to see chlamydia symptoms, like discharge on your cervix, during an exam.
Chlamydia can look like other common STDs like gonorrhea, so your nurse or doctor might test for a few infections.
The idea of getting tested may seem scary, but try not to freak out. STD testing is a regular part of being a responsible person and taking care of your health. The good news is chlamydia is totally curable with medication so the sooner you know you have it, the faster you can get rid of it.
Can I Test For Chlamydia At Home
Yes, you can. If you are not brave enough to visit your doctor and share your worries with him, theres another way. Testing for Chlamydia at home isnt a difficult task to do. Basically, all you need to do is buy an STI test. It is easy to find an STI and Gonorrhea test kit online, so make sure you purchase it as soon as possible.
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
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Each Year There Are Approximately 15 Million Cases Of Chlamydia And 350000 Cases Of Gonorrhea Reported To The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention
However this may not accurately reflect the total number of infected individuals, as most people with these infections have no symptoms and go untested. These bacterial infections are spread through sexual intercourse . This test will not be able to tell you the specific site of the infection, but will detect the infection if present.
Pregnant women with an active gonorrhea or chlamydia infection at the time of vaginal delivery can spread the infection directly to their children during birth. All sexually active women under age 25 and women over age 25 with risk factors for contracting chlamydia or gonorrhea should get tested every year: risk factors include unprotected sex, new sexual partners, or multiple sexual partners. Men at risk for chlamydia or gonorrhea should get tested each year, and more often as needed: risk factors include having sex with a partner who has chlamydia or gonorrhea, men who have sex with men, unprotected sexual intercourse, and multiple sex partners.
Online Doctor Sti Tests
Our Online Doctor service can offer discreet advice and treatment for a number of STIs without the need for a face-to-face appointment. It you are prescribed a treatment you can either have it delivered to you by next day delivery or you can pick it up at participating LloydsPharmacy stores the same day . If you test positive for chlamydia when using one of Online Doctors tests, their clinicians can prescribe you FREE and discreet treatment.
To find out more about our service and how you can start your confidential consultation .
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Can Chlamydia Affect My Fertility
A chlamydia or gonorrhea infection may cause inflammation or scarring of the reproductive organs. Sometimes, this may lead to infertility . Both men and women can experience fertility problems after a chlamydia infection. Your risk of infertility increases if you delay treatment.
Women with untreated gonorrhea or chlamydia can also develop a condition known as pelvic inflammatory disease . PID sometimes causes your reproductive organs to swell, triggering chronic pelvic pain and making it difficult to conceive.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea can also trigger early laborâand pregnant women with chlamydia can spread the infection to their babies during delivery .
Prompt treatment reduces your risk of complications, as undiagnosed chlamydia may put your health at risk. Regular STI testing can help with early diagnosis of the infection, and most people who receive treatment for chlamydia make a full recovery.
Learning more about the different types of STDs someone can getâlike chlamydiaâcan help you care for your sexual health. To easily check for chlamydia from the comfort of home, simply collect a urine sample and send it to a lab with prepaid shipping using the Everlywell at-home Gonorrhea and Chlamydia test kit.
Can Chlamydia Be Avoided How To Test Yourself For Chlamydia At Home
The only certain means to prevent chlamydia is to not have genital, rectal, or foreplay.
Correct use of latex prophylactics considerably lowers yet does not get rid of, the risk of capturing or spreading out chlamydia. If your or your companion is allergic to latex, you can utilize polyurethane condoms.
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Symptoms Of Chlamydia In Men And Women
What symptoms will you experience if you have chlamydia?
This depends on whether you are a female or male. Lets take a look at both symptom types for each respective gender:
Chlamydia Symptoms in Women
- Vaginal discharge that is abnormal and may be accompanied by a strange odor
Chlamydia Symptoms in Men
- Burning or itching around the penal opening
- Swelling or pain around the testicles
- Clear or cloudy discharge which forms around the tip of the penis
If you have any of these symptoms, its time to order an at home Chlamydia test. These tests are taken in the comfort of your home, and offer the utmost in privacy and confidentiality. You can be treated for this disease, but it requires that you take action immediately, especially if youre a woman.
Women who are currently pregnant or become pregnant and have chlamydia can pass the disease onto their child. If you seek treatment that is successful, your child will not have this disease. Disease will be contracted during childbirth itself, and can cause:
- Eye infections
- Pneumonia
Complications do occur during childbirth in some cases. If you are pregnant, you should be tested for chlamydia at your very first prenatal visit. Getting tested is the smart choice for any mother to be, and this is essential if you have more than one sex partner and you engage in unprotected sex.
If you are suffering from any of the symptoms listed above, its time to get tested.
How Long In Total Does The At
At-home testing is surprisingly fast in many cases. You can expect results in as little as a week, though some variables can make that process take a little longer.
Exactly when you place your order can add a few days to your wait since you arent supposed to collect a sample on a Thursday or Friday if you want it to be fresh when it arrives at the lab. Since our testers received most of their shipments within two or three days, we recommend placing your order mid-week. That allows you to receive it early enough the following week that you can get it off to the lab quickly.
LetsGetChecked proved to be the fastest at-home choice in our tests, with a total turnaround of just over a week from ordering to results. If you need your results as fast as possible and are willing and able to go to one of STDchecks labs without delay, then you can have results in as little as two days from the time you place your order.
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Anything Else I Should Know
Chlamydia is spread through any form of unsafe sex. So if your test shows that you have chlamydia, its really important that you let your sexual partners know that you have it, as they may have it too. Your current sexual partner and any recent partners should all get tested and treated.
The staff at the clinic can get in touch with your partners confidentially if youre not up to it.
To make sure that you don’t re-infect each other, you must not have any sex or share sex toys with your partner until seven days after you have both completed your treatment.
Re-test after six weeks to confirm that treatment has been successful and that the test result was accurate.
If your original test was positive its also important to get a repeat test after three months. We will contact you to remind you.
Over The Counter Std Test Walgreens
They have over the counter std test kits at CVS or Walgreens, and they usually have home kits at Walmart and Rite Aid as well. There are some pros and cons of buying kits at those places.
Pros
They are usually the cheapest std test option
you do it yourself from home, so you don’t have to be embarrassed going to your regular doctor
Cons
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Are There Any Downsides To Taking An Std Test At Home
Taking an at-home test ordered online is similar to taking a test administered by a local lab clinic or your doctor. The sample extraction process is essentially the same. There are some important differences to be aware of, however.
Although many of our favorite at-home STD testing companies give you access to medical professionals throughout the purchasing and testing process, not all of these services are equal. STDcheck, for example, charges a hefty fee to speak with a doctor, where other companies offer consultations for free. Some like LetsGetChecked even offer free medication for specific diagnoses.
While the sample collection process is simple, drawing blood from your fingertip can be a little more painful than having a nurse draw it from a vein. Many people have difficulty getting enough blood from a single finger prick, and the lancets can leave minor uncomfortable bruises on your fingertips for a day or two.
At-home collection introduces a certain risk of human error, as well. You may insufficiently wash your hands before collection or touch a blood spot sheet in a way that could contaminate a sample. And problems with shipping could potentially delay your samples arrival to the point where its no longer viable. These issues dont necessarily cancel out the many benefits of at-home testing, but you should be aware of them going into the process.
What To Keep In Mind
A chlamydia test is one of the important procedures and every sexually active person, especially those who have multiple partners should have themselves tested. Chlamydia can lead to serious health problems if left untreated.
There are various types of sexually transmitted disease and chlamydia is one of the most common not only in the United States but in other parts of the world. Through chlamydia testing, chlamydia trachomatis a bacterium responsible for causing chlamydia can be identified.
If you test positive for chlamydia, it is not only important to begin the course of treatment but it is also important to take measures to prevent the spread of infection to other people. Avoid having a sexual contact until such time that you clear from the infection. Chlamydia can be spread through oral, vaginal, and anal sex. If you are going to make love with your partner, make sure you wear a condom so as not to spread the infection to your partner.
Be very vigilant with the signs and symptoms of chlamydia. Take extra measures to prevent contracting the infection. Unfortunately, not all people who have chlamydia exhibits the signs and symptoms. Some people confused chlamydia with other types of sexually transmitted diseases.
Which is why it is important to have yourself tested, especially if you are sexually active and has multiple partners. Being tested as soon as possible can help detect the presence of infection.
References
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Men May Experience The Following Symptoms:
- pain when peeing.
- discharge from the tip of the penis .
- pain in the testicles
- burning or itching in the genital area.
Remember: most people have no symptoms, so if you notice any of the above, get a full sexual health check at your local GUM/STI clinic.
The best way to make sure you dont get chlamydia is to use condoms.
Chlamydia Signs In Male
Many men dont notice the signs and symptoms of chlamydia. Many males have no signs and symptoms in all.
If signs do show up, its normally 1 to 3 weeks after transmission.
Some of one of the most usual signs and symptoms of chlamydia in males include:
- melting sensation during peeing
- yellow or green discharge from the penis
- pain in the lower abdomen
- discomfort in the testicles
Its likewise possible to get a chlamydia infection in the anus. In this situation, the major signs are commonly discharge, pain, and hemorrhaging from this area.
Having oral sex with someone that has the infection raises the threat of obtaining chlamydia in the throat. Signs can consist of a sore throat, coughing, or high temperature. Its additionally possible to carry germs in the throat and also not know it. How Long Does A Chlamydia Test Take
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Women Complications Of Neglected Chlamydia
Some ladies establish PID, an infection that can harm the uterus, cervix, and ovaries. PID is a painful disease that frequently requires medical facility therapy.
Ladies can additionally come to be sterile if chlamydia is left neglected since the fallopian tubes may end up being marked.
Expecting ladies with the infection can pass the bacteria to their babies throughout birth, which can trigger eye infections and pneumonia in infants. How Long Does A Chlamydia Test Take
How Often Should I Get Tested
The CDC recommends that sexually active women younger than 25 years old get tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year. Women 25 years and older with a new partner, multiple partners, or a partner who has an STI should also get tested annually.
Sexually active gay and bisexual men should be tested for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea annually. In cases of frequent sexual encounters with multiple partners, the CDC recommends testing every 3 to 6 months.
If youre experiencing any symptoms of an STI, you should get tested immediately.
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How Is Chlamydia Test Done
If a urine sample is collected for a NAAT test, a person must not urinate for atleast 2 hours before the test. It is also necessary that a person collects the first part of the urine as soon as urination takes place.
A person must not wipe the genital area clean before urinating.
In case, a body fluid is to be collected for testing, the following are the procedures for both men and women:
For men: A doctor will insert a swab into the opening of your urethra or rectum. A man must not urinate for atleast 2 hours before the sample is taken.
For women: A woman has to lie on her back on an exam table with her feet raised and supported by stirrups. The doctor will examine the vaginal and genital areas. The doctor will insert a lubricated speculum into the vagina to open up the vaginal walls. Once the vaginal walls are spread apart,the inside of the vagina and cervix become visible. Samples are collected from a cervix with a swab or brush.
To collect a sample from the eye, the doctor has to gently brush the insides of the lower and upper eyelids with a brush.
There are self-tests that a woman can perform and bring it to the lab for testing. Throat culture is also a test to detect Chlamydia though it is rarely opted for.
Some Of The Best Home Chlamydia Tests
Below, we look at some testing options for individuals to consider. People can take several of the tests at home, whereas others require a lab visit.Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.
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Can You Buy A Walgreens Std Test Kit
They do sell at home STD testing kits at Walgreens.
Home STD testing kits for Chlamydia,HIV,Gonorrhea, Herpes, Hepatitis. FDA approved, fast results, order online, test at home We will explain about the different types of std test kit options that there are. Many people want to know if they have any sexually transmitted diseases, but they do not want to go to their doctor to find that out. You may be looking for the bestat home STD test kit so you can test yourself at home.
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.
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