Is Relying On Home Remedies To Treat Chlamydia A Good Idea
Relying on home remedies to cure chlamydia is not a good idea. Doing so increases your risk of health complications and passing the infection on to your sex partners. The only way to cure chlamydia is with antibiotics. However, if youre suffering from the symptoms of chlamydia, natural remedies may provide relief until you can get an STD test and see a doctor.
You can also use the home remedies for chlamydia to supplement your antibiotic treatment. For example, you could soak in a tea tree oil bath every night or take an echinacea supplement each morning. Pay close attention to correct dosages to prevent unwanted side effects.
Again, we want to emphasize this: You should never rely on home remedies alone to cure chlamydia. They wont work, and the infection can significantly damage your reproductive system if you dont treat it.
Remember, chlamydia is often asymptomatic. If you have unprotected sex with one or more sex partners, you should get regular STD tests. At Rapid STD Testing, we offer a full10-panel STD test you can order right now on our website. Then, visit one of our convenient locations to give a quick specimen, and youll have confidential results in one to three days.
Engage In Oral Or Anal Sex
We Recommend: Extragenital Three Site Test
This three-site test allows you to screen for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea not only in the genital region, but also in the mouth and rectum. Many people dont realize that the standard tests for these infections only test the genitals. This is true even for tests at your local clinic or doctors office. These two infections, however, can also spread to the mouth and rectum due to oral and anal sex. An Extragenital test screens for all three of these areas that can potentially be at risk.
What Are The Symptoms
Most women and men with chlamydia are asymptomatic meaning no obvious symptoms are present. However, they can still infect sexual partners.
Women may notice symptoms such as:
- an unusual vaginal discharge
- a burning or stinging sensation when urinating
- pain or bleeding during intercourse and
- pelvic pain.
If left untreated, chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease . Potential infection and scarring of the fallopian tubes may cause infertility or pregnancy complications. Ectopic pregnancies are also a real risk.
For men, typical symptoms include:
- a burning or stinging sensation when urinating
- discharge from the penis and
- if left untreated, painful or swollen testicles.
Men also run the risk of infertility.
Additionally, both genders can develop complications such as reactive arthritis . This is where the urethra, joints and eyes become inflamed.
Symptoms of chlamydia contracted through anal sex may include a painful bum and anal discharge.
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Discreet Ways To Get Tested And Treated For Stds
Wondering whether you have a sexually transmitted disease can be stressful, both physically and emotionally. Getting tested and treated is important for your health. At the same time, you might have concerns and questions about your privacy. But no need to worry you have options for private and confidential STD testing and treatment:
Will I Need To Go Back To The Clinic
If you take your antibiotics correctly, you may not need to return to the clinic.
However, you will be advised to go back for another chlamydia test if:
- you had sex before you and your partner finished treatment
- you forgot to take your medication or didnât take it properly
- your symptoms donât go away
- youâre pregnant
If youâre under 25 years of age, you should be offered a repeat test for chlamydia 3 to 6 months after finishing your treatment because youâre at a higher risk of catching it again.
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Prevention For Pregnant Women
STDs can have harmful health effects on pregnant women, their partners, and their babies. Congenital syphilis passes from a pregnant mother to her baby. The resources on this page provide information about the impact of STDs on pregnant women as well as resources for reaching this population.
The Best Antibiotics For Uti
The top antibiotics for UTI are:
- Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole This is a combination antibiotic drug used for treating UTI and other infections. The antibiotic works by preventing the growth of bacteria. It is available in tablet and suspension form and must be prescribed by a doctor. Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
- Fosfomycin Fosfomycin is an antibacterial drug used for treating urinary tract infections. It kills bacteria that cause UTI. Fosfomycin is available by prescription only in tablet form. Fosfomycin side effects may include diarrhea, nausea, and headaches.
- Nitrofurantoin This antibiotic is frequently used to treat acute UTIs. Nitrofurantoin inhibits bacterial DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis. The most common side effects of Nitrofurantoin are nausea, loss of appetite, and vomiting.
- Cephalexin Cephalexin can treat a variety of bacterial infections, including UTIs. By inhibiting the formation of the bacterial cell wall, Cephalexin helps prevent the growth of bacteria causing a UTI. Cephalexin is available in capsule, and suspension form.
- Ceftriaxone Ceftriaxone injection also treats many different types of infections caused by bacteria. The injection may be administered in a doctors office or hospital. Ceftriaxone kills bacteria that cause urinary tract infections and is only available with a doctors prescription.
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Why Its Important To Get Tested For Stis
Going untreated for an STI can cause major health problems down the line. It can increase your risk of other STIs, infertility and cancer, says Krishna Upadhya, MD. Shes vice president of quality care and health equity at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. All STIs are treatable, and many are curable. But you cant get treatment if you dont know your status, Dr. Upadhya says.
And, yes, its possible to have an STI and not know it even for years.
A common misconception is that people will know if they have an infection because theyll have symptoms, says Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, MD. Shes a professor in the department of general medicine, specializing in womens health, at UC Davis in Sacramento, California. But many times, sexually transmitted diseases have no obvious signs.
Getting screened for STIs is a vital part of taking care of your body, says Dr. Upadhya. How often you should be getting tested depends on different factors. If youre under 25 and are sexually active, the general rule is to get tested every few months to a year. If youre 25 or older, you should be tested yearly if you have a new sex partner, multiple partners or a partner who has an STD. You can learn more about STI screening recommendations on the CDC website.
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 Much Does Azithromycin Cost Without Insurance
Azithromycin is another antibiotic that can be used to treat chlamydia. This is usually given as a single oral dose. Azithromycin may be sold under the brand name Zithromax, or a generic form may be used.
The azithromycin price without insurance is generally higher than for doxycycline, even though you only need to take one dose rather than taking it for a week. However, this is still a relatively affordable medication. The cost of Zithromax without insurance may be higher, since this is a brand name medication. However, generic azithromycin can be substituted, in order to lower the cost.
Does Health Insurance Cover Abortion
The ACA does not require health insurance plans to cover abortion services, like in-clinic abortion and the abortion pill. But some plans do cover abortion. The best way to find out if you have coverage for abortion services is to contact your health insurance provider.
Abortion coverage varies depending on a lot of factors, like the laws where you live, what type of insurance you have, and the reason you need an abortion. Many private health insurance plans cover abortion, but some choose not to or arent allowed to in certain states. Some states ban all health insurance plans from covering abortion, while other states require all plans to cover abortion or dont place limits on abortion coverage. Some states ban certain types of insurance from covering abortion, like ACA marketplace plans and/or Medicaid. Some plans will only cover an abortion under special circumstances, like if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, or it puts your life at risk.
Planned Parenthood opposes laws and policies that restrict coverage for abortion. Abortion is safe and legal in the U.S., and we believe everyone deserves access to the health care they need.
If you need an abortion and youre worried about cost, contact your local Planned Parenthood to see if they can help you get care. You can use our Abortion Clinic Finder to find your closest abortion provider. The National Network of Abortion Funds may also be able to help you cover the cost of your abortion.
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To Get Tested For An Std
- Walk-ins, during clinic hours, are accepted but it may take you longer to be seen.
- Please cancel your appointment if you have a fever, new onset of cough, and/or if you have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
- In order to maintain physical distancing, no additional guests will be allowed in the clinic other than sex partner that may also need to be examined or treated.
- There are no fees for testing. If STD treatment is needed, that is also free.
Kansas City, Mo. Health Department2400 Troost Ave.
Why And When Get Tested For Stds
Sexually transmitted diseases are infections or diseases caused by viruses or bacteria that are transferred from person to person, typically through sexual contact usually vaginal sex, oral sex, and anal sex. Condoms and dental dams can help reduce your chances of being infected by up to 98%, but if youre still concerned that you may have an STD, you can find peace of mind for you and your partner by getting tested.
If you are sexually active, it is in your best interest to get tested for STDs on a regular basis, typically every three to 12 months. While most STDs do have symptoms like abnormal discharge, vaginal odor, itching or irritation, pain during intercourse, or painful urination, it may be hard to visually tell if you are infected as some STDs do not have any physical symptoms.
To protect you and your partners health, catching an STD in its early stages is key! Most STDs, if caught in time, can be treated and/or managed with the help of a physician. If you suspect you might have an STD, you should get tested immediately and begin treatment as soon as possible.
Even though you may not be experiencing any symptoms, you should get an STD test if:
- You are sexually active and have had more than one partner
- You are experiencing any symptoms of STDs
- You have had unprotected sex, or your method of protection failed
Visit CityLife Health and we can help you get tested today. Its quick and painless!
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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.
Is There An Over Counter Treatment For Chlamydia
No, the CDC recommended treatment for chlamydia requires a prescription, but you do not need to visit the doctor’s office in person to get a prescription. Technology has made doctor visits online quick and easy. Just complete an online consultation visit and a prescription can be sent to a local pharmacy.
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How To Treat Chlamydia
This article was medically reviewed by Lacy Windham, MD. Dr. Windham is a board certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist in Tennessee. She attended medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis and completed her residency at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2010, where she was awarded the Most Outstanding Resident in Maternal Fetal Medicine, Most Outstanding Resident in Oncology, and Most Outstanding Resident Overall.There are 19 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 145,142 times.
Experts say chlamydia often causes no symptoms at first, so you may not even realize you have it. Chlamydia is a very common sexually transmitted infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria, and you can contract it during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.XTrustworthy SourceMedlinePlusCollection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of MedicineGo to source Research suggests that untreated chlamydia may increase your risk of contracting other infections, having an ectopic pregnancy, or becoming infertile.XResearch source Fortunately, chlamydia is a curable condition, so itâs possible to make a full recovery with the right treatment.
How Do I Tell My Partner I Have An Sti
Some conversations seem really hard to have. Telling someone you have an STI may be one of them. But its not just about you your partner needs to know so he or she can get tested and treated if necessary.
Everyone gets an STI from a person. Part of stopping the spread of STIs is open communication, so talk to your partner. This is never an easy conversation, but its an important one to have. Many couples report this conversation actually brings them closer together.
Make a plan. As soon as youre ready, bring it up with your partner. You could talk to someone else about it first and practice what youre going to say. You could also journal about it or practice talking in a mirror. You could even write your partner a letter. The main point is just to communicate. Be there for your partner the way you hope they would be there for you.
Testing positive and talking to your partner about having an STI may feel overwhelming. Remember that CAPS is a resource for you if you need it. Visit their website for more information.
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Consider Switching Birth Control
Some older research suggests that certain contraceptives may contribute to the cause of UTIs in some women.
If you use diaphragms, spermicides, or nonlubricated condoms and get frequent UTIs, it may be worth talking to your doctor to find other methods of birth control.
Its not uncommon for UTIs to go away on their own with at-home care and without the use of antibiotics.
Some research estimates that 25 to 42 percent of UTIs can go away on their own. This is usually only common in women with no other health issues.
However, there are some serious risks that can come from leaving a UTI untreated, including pyelonephritis and .
UTIs are painful, but with treatment, you can alleviate an infection and prevent recurrent infections. Talk with your doctor if you have symptoms of a UTI. With proper treatment, you should begin to feel better in a few days.
Take your antibiotics as instructed even after your symptoms improve to prevent complications or a secondary infection.
If the UTI doesnt resolve after antibiotic treatment or you end up with multiple episodes of a UTI, your doctor will likely do further testing.
This could be in the form of:
- cystoscopy
- urodynamic testing
You may be referred to a urologist, depending on the severity of your UTI or if you have chronic infections.
Certain strains of bacteria can cause UTIs. They can range from mild to severe. The degree of severity depends on multiple factors, including: