Heres How The Average At Home Chlamydia Test Works:
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 cure 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.49 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.50,51 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.40
Infants infected with chlamydia may develop ophthalmia neonatorum and/or pneumonia.10 Chlamydial infection in infants can be treated with antibiotics.
How To Get Tested
Chlamydia testing is usually ordered by a doctor. In people without symptoms, a doctor can evaluate their risk and suggest an appropriate screening schedule. If a patient has symptoms of this infection, a doctor will order testing to diagnose or rule out chlamydia.
Testing for chlamydia can be conducted at a hospital, doctors office, health clinic, or community health program.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Chlamydia
Chlamydia is known as a silent infection because most infected people are asymptomatic and lack abnormal physical examination findings. Estimates of the proportion of chlamydia-infected people who develop symptoms vary by setting and study methodology two published studies that incorporated modeling techniques to address limitations of point prevalence surveys estimated that only about 10% of men and 5-30% of women with laboratory-confirmed chlamydial infection develop symptoms.21.22 The incubation period of chlamydia is poorly defined. However, given the relatively slow replication cycle of the organism, symptoms may not appear until several weeks after exposure in those persons who develop symptoms.
In women, the bacteria initially infect the cervix, where the infection may cause signs and symptoms of cervicitis , and sometimes the urethra, which may result in signs and symptoms of urethritis . Infection can spread from the cervix to the upper reproductive tract , causing pelvic inflammatory disease , which may be asymptomatic 23 or acute, with typical symptoms of abdominal and/or pelvic pain, along with signs of cervical motion tenderness, and uterine or adnexal tenderness on examination.
Men who are symptomatic typically have urethritis, with a mucoid or watery urethral discharge and dysuria. A minority of infected men develop epididymitis , presenting with unilateral testicular pain, tenderness, and swelling.24
Who Should Be Tested For Chlamydia
Any sexually active person can be infected with chlamydia. Anyone with genital symptoms such as discharge, burning during urination, unusual sores, or rash should refrain from having sex until they are able to see a health care provider about their symptoms.
Also, anyone with an oral, anal, or vaginal sex partner who has been recently diagnosed with an STD should see a health care provider for evaluation.
Because chlamydia is usually asymptomatic, screening is necessary to identify most infections. Screening programs have been demonstrated to reduce rates of adverse sequelae in women.31,41 CDC recommends yearly chlamydia screening of all sexually active women younger than 25, as well as older women with risk factors such as new or multiple partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection.40 Rectal chlamydia testing can be considered for females based on sexual behaviors and exposure. 40 Pregnant women under 25 or older pregnant women at increased risk for chlamydia should be screened during their first prenatal visit and again during their third trimester.40 Women diagnosed with chlamydial infection should be retested approximately 3 months after treatment.40 Any woman who is sexually active should discuss her risk factors with a health care provider who can then determine if more frequent screening is necessary.
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What Is Being Tested
Chlamydia is one of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted diseases in the United States and can cause serious complications if not treated. Chlamydia testing identifies the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis as the cause of your infection.
The preferred method for chlamydia testing is the nucleic acid amplification test that detects the genetic material of Chlamydia trachomatis. It is generally more sensitive and specific than other chlamydia tests and can be performed on a vaginal swab on women or urine from both men and women, which eliminates the need for a pelvic exam in women.
Screening for, diagnosing, and treating chlamydia is very important in preventing long-term complications and spread of the infection to others. Chlamydia infections are especially common among people 15 to 24 years of age. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 2.86 million Americans are infected with chlamydia each year and notes that women are frequently re-infected if their partners don’t get treatment. The actual number of cases may be higher since many people do not experience any symptoms and do not get tested and diagnosed. Still, over one million new cases are reported each year.
Chlamydia is generally spread through sexual contact with an infected partner. Risk factors include having multiple sex partners, infection with another STD at the same time or previous STD infection, and not using a condom correctly and consistently.
Suggestions For Practice Regarding The I Statement
Potential Preventable Burden. Chlamydial and gonococcal infections are often asymptomatic in men but may result in urethritis, epididymitis, and proctitis. Uncommon complications include reactive arthritis and disseminated gonococcal infection. Infections at extragenital sites are typically asymptomatic. Chlamydial and gonococcal infections may facilitate HIV transmission in men and women.1,4,5 Median prevalence rates among men who have sex with men who were tested in STD Surveillance Network clinics in 2012 were 16% for gonorrhea and 12% for chlamydia.1
Potential Harms. Potential harms of screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea include false-positive or false-negative results as well as labeling and anxiety associated with positive results.
Costs. According to the CDC, STIs in the United States are associated with an annual cost of almost $16 billion.8 Among nonviral STIs, chlamydia is the most costly, with total associated costs of $516.7 million . Gonococcal infections are associated with total costs of $162.1 million .9
In 2008, estimated direct lifetime costs per case of chlamydial infection were $30 in men and $364 in women. Similarly, gonococcal infections were associated with direct costs of $79 in men and $354 in women.9
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Just How Typical Is Chlamydia
In 2017, more than 1.7 million instances of chlamydia were reported to the Centers for Condition Control as well as Avoidance . Nevertheless, several cases go unreported, so the actual number of chlamydia infections yearly may be closer to 3 million.
Men and women can both get the infection, but much more situations in females are reported.
Infection prices are greatest among more youthful ladies, with the highest prices of infection happening in ladies in between ages 15 and also 24.
The CDC recommends that all sexually energetic women ages 25 years and also younger obtain screened for chlamydia each year, as well as older ladies with threat aspects like several or new partners.
Statistically, an individual is more likely to obtain an STI if theyve made love with greater than one person. Other danger elements include having had an STI in the past, or presently have an infection due to the fact that this might lower resistance.
Prices for chlamydia and other STIs have been climbing over the last few years.
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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.
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What Are Public Health Gains By Managing Extra
Avoided morbidity
Some studies in MSM linked anorectal NG to symptomatic proctitis, which is an inflammatory syndrome of the distal 10â12 cm of the rectum. Some LGV strains cause a severe proctocolitis . In women, it is yet unknown whether anorectal infections can cause anal symptoms. Even so, the large majority of extra-genital infections in MSM and in women are asymptomatic and no solid evidence is present showing that symptoms are regularly associated with anorectal CT or pharyngeal CT or NG infections.
Hypothetically, anorectal infections in women could have an impact on the reproductive outcomes. This would be if an anorectal infection could be spread to the genital site. A recent study estimated that, when self-infection from the anorectal site plays a role, a less adequate treatment would sustain CT in a woman . Thus anorectal infections would act as a reservoir for genital infections . This would expand the spectrum of morbidity of anorectal infections in women, increasing the negative consequences of overlooking the anorectal infection. In genital CT, repeat infections have been linked to increased reproductive morbidity â more PID and more adverse reproductive outcomes it is unknown if morbidity is also linked to repeat infection with extra-genital STI.
Avoided transmission
Is Every Home Testing Kit The Right Pick
There is no guarantee that one particular test kit is most suited for you it depends on every individual. Whether you have a history of STIs or you want to purchase a specific kit based on your needs, you should consult with a health professional first. If you have any doubts about picking the ideal kit for you, a professional can advise you on what test kit would be a better fit for your sexual health.
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How Long Does It Take To Show Up In The Throat
Symptoms of chlamydia in your throat are typically caused by having oral sex with someone whos contracted the infection.
Its much less common to notice throat symptoms, but they may still appear after a week or so, up to a few months or longer.
STI tests that look for chlamydia arent always done on the throat since its an area that does not carry the infection often. Ask your doctor for a throat swab or other chlamydia test if you think youve been exposed through oral sex.
Here are the most common symptoms of chlamydia in both people with penises and people with vulvas.
What Do The Results Mean
A positive result means you have been infected with chlamydia. The infection requires treatment with antibiotics. Your health care provider will give you instructions on how to take your medicine. Be sure to take all the required doses. In addition, let your sexual partner know you tested positive for chlamydia, so he or she can be tested and treated promptly.
Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
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Other Sexually Transmitted And Blood
STBBI screening varies by age, gender/sex, medical and sexual history. Screen anyone who presents with STBBI risk factors and treat as appropriate to prevent transmission and reinfection.
People with Neisseria gonorrhoeae often have a co-infection with C. trachomatis.Footnote 20Footnote 21
Infection with C. trachomatis can increase the risk of acquisition and transmission of human immunodeficiency virus .Footnote 22Footnote 23Footnote 24
People being evaluated or treated for a chlamydia infection should be screened for:
- HIV, as per the recommendations in the HIV Screening and Testing Guide
Because of high rates of co-infection, people being evaluated or treated for LGV should be screened for:
- gonorrhea
What Does The Test Measure
Chlamydia testing looks for evidence of infection with the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. There are several types of tests that can be used to detect chlamydia, including molecular testing, also called Nucleic Acid Amplification Test , and cell culture.
NAAT is the preferred method for detecting a chlamydia infection. This type of test detects the genetic material of Chlamydia trachomatis. It can be performed using a urine sample or swab of fluid taken from a site of potential infection such as the urethra, vagina, rectum, or eye.
Traditionally, NAAT takes a day or more to provide results, but there have also been rapid chlamydia tests developed using NAAT methods. Rapid chlamydia tests can often provide a result within 30 to 90 minutes. Rapid chlamydia tests are typically performed on urine samples or swabs of fluid taken from the vagina or cervix.
Although much less commonly used, cell cultures can help diagnose a chlamydia infection. Chlamydia cell cultures may be used in children with a suspected chlamydia infection, when evaluating potential infections in the anus or rectum, and when initial treatment for chlamydia is unsuccessful. In these cases of treatment failure, doctors may use a cell culture to help understand which treatments may be most effective for an individuals infection.
Other types of chlamydia tests are available but are rarely used given the accuracy and availability of NAAT.
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How Do You Catch Chlamydia
Chlamydia is carried in genital fluids and can be passed on when you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the infection.
Its possible, but less likely, that chlamydia can be passed during other types of sex e.g. sharing sex toys, dipping or when mutual masturbation or genital to genital rubbing involves a lot of genital fluids.
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When Should I Do A Home Test For Chlamydia
If you had unprotected intercourse not too long ago or you are worried your partner might have carried an infection, then you should get tested. The best time to do a test kit for chlamydia is two weeks after youve been exposed.
Gonorrhea and chlamydia need around two weeks to show up on test results, but for any other infection, like HIV, for example, you will need around four weeks.
Chlamydia is easy to detect and treat, so its crucial that you get tested as much as you can. The best way to know for sure if you are carrying the infection is by getting tested every 3 to 12 months. If you have a history of STIs, you should get tested more often.
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Can A Urine Test Detect Stds
Urine tests can detect a variety of STDs and urine tests are becoming more easily available to those who need to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases.
Urine tests are may be used to test for the presence of chlamydia and gonorrhea and are much less invasive than receiving a swab sample collection. This is good news for those who are putting off getting tested due to the thought that they may need to get a swab sample collected or get their blood drawn.
It is so important to regularly get screened for sexually transmitted diseases due to the fact that the majority of STDs do not have any symptoms so it is easy to pass them onto your loved ones.
Taking a urine test makes it easier for those who want to screen for sexually transmitted diseases, whats more, it is possible to get tested from the comfort of home.
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