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How Would I Know If I Had Chlamydia

How Will I Know If I Have Chlamydia

I Have Chlamydia (And Im Not Ashamed To Talk About It)

You can only be certain you have chlamydia if you have a test.

Anyone can get chlamydia. Youre more likely to have it if youre under 25, have a new sexual partner, or more than one sexual partner in the last year, and if you havent used condoms.

You should have a test if:

  • you, or a partner, have or think you might have symptoms
  • youve recently had sex without a condom with a new partner
  • you, or a partner, have had sex without a condom with other partners
  • during a vaginal examination, your doctor or nurse says that the cervix is inflamed and/or theres an unusual discharge
  • a sexual partner tells you they have a sexually transmitted infection
  • you have another STI.

If you live in England, and youre a woman who is under 25 and sexually active, its recommended that you have a chlamydia test when you change sexual partner and once a year.

If youre a man who is under 25 and sexually active, its recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year if you are not using condoms with new or casual partners.

You could still have chlamydia even if a partner has tested negative. The only way to make sure you dont have chlamydia is to get tested yourself.

If you have chlamydia, youll be encouraged to be tested for other STIs as you can have more than one STI at the same time.

Female Complications Of Untreated Chlamydia

Some women develop PID, an infection that can damage the uterus, cervix, and ovaries. PID is a painful disease that often requires hospital treatment.

Women can also become infertile if chlamydia is left untreated because the fallopian tubes may become scarred.

Pregnant women with the infection can pass the bacteria to their babies during birth, which can cause eye infections and pneumonia in newborns.

What Happens During A Chlamydia Test

If you are a woman, your health care provider will use a small brush or swab to take a sample of cells from your vagina for testing. You may also be offered the option of testing yourself at home using a test kit. Ask your provider for recommendations on which kit to use. If you do the test at home, be sure to follow all the directions carefully.

If you’re a man, your health care provider may use a swab to take a sample from your urethra, but it is more likely that a urine test for chlamydia will be recommended. Urine tests can also be used for women. During a urine test, you will be instructed to provide a clean catch sample.

The clean catch method generally includes the following steps:

  • Wash your hands.
  • Clean your genital area with a cleansing pad given to you by your provider. Men should wipe the tip of their penis. Women should open their labia and clean from front to back.
  • Start to urinate into the toilet.
  • Move the collection container under your urine stream.
  • Collect at least an ounce or two of urine into the container, which should have markings to indicate the amounts.
  • Finish urinating into the toilet.
  • Return the sample container as instructed by your health care provider.
  • Also Check: Free Clinics For Chlamydia Testing

    Hpv Chlamydia And Herpes: The Stigma Around Stis Is Harmful

    I was 20 when I was diagnosed with chlamydia and HPV. My gynecologists nurse called me, sent the prescription to my pharmacy and told me to abstain from sex for a week. I had little to no information and felt very dirty and that I had acted slutty and cried myself to sleep. I informed my then-partner and the other three partners I had been with since my last screening. My then-partner dumped me, even after he tested negative. Two of the other men dodged my phone calls for weeks. Only one person, still a friend now 10 years later, answered that he had screened a week prior and was negative.

    I hadnt screened for HIV at the initial visit so I went to my university clinic where the nurse raised her eyebrows at me and gave me a lecture. As a medical professional myself years later, I realize that she was wrong to judge and should have encouraged me and my friends to screen regularly. The man who dumped me was eventually diagnosed with herpes, another very common STI, but had faced a lot of stigma since. He eventually apologized and described his own struggles with the stigma and it was very healing.

    Ive had more patients cry in my office about herpes than HIV, which is actually life-threatening. But stigma around STIs is harmful. I never say clean or dirty. I want everyone to know that all STIs are manageable and most are curable.Anonymous, woman, 29

    How Do You Prevent Chlamydia

    How to recognize and treat Chlamydia trachomatis

    Using a new male or female condom or dental dam every time you have sex is the best way to protect against chlamydia.

    Chlamydia can be passed on by sharing sex toys. Always cover sex toys with a new condom and wash them after use to reduce your risk of getting chlamydia and other STIs.

    Its important to regularly test for chlamydia, even if you dont have any symptoms, especially if youve had multiple sexual partners.

    The contraceptive pill and other types of contraception wont prevent you getting chlamydia, and neither will PrEP.

    Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Chlamydia And Gonorrhea

    Chlamydia Can Be Prevented

    The most effective way to avoid getting a sexually transmitted infection is to not have sex. However, if you wish to have sexual contact, you can reduce your risk of infection with these actions:

    • Minimizing the number of partners with whom you have intimate contact
    • Asking your partners to get screened for STDs before engaging in sexual activity
    • Always using latex condoms when having intercourse of any kind

    Additional reporting by Ingrid Strauch.

    What Increases Your Risk

    Risk factors for getting chlamydia include:

    • Having unprotected sex .
    • Having more than one sex partner.
    • Having a high-risk partner or partners. This includes people who have more than one sex partner or sex partners who have chlamydia.
    • Starting sexual activity before age 18.

    Any child with chlamydia needs to be seen by a doctor to determine the cause and to assess for possible sexual abuse. For more information, see the topic Child Abuse and Neglect.

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    What If My Results Are Positive

    The Everlywell Chlamydia & Gonorrhea test includes an easy-to-understand lab report. But if youre not sure how to read your chlamydia test results, your healthcare provider can help.

    A positive STI test result can be unsettling, but you arenât alone: with the Everlywell Chlamydia & Gonorrhea Test, you have the opportunity to speak with a physician in our network to discuss your results further if you test positiveâand you may be prescribed medication.

    If your chlamydia test is positive, STI testing is recommended for your sex partner . If they are infected and dont receive treatment, they can pass the chlamydial infection back to you.

    Chlamydia By Giving Oral Sex To A Woman

    Do I Have Chlamydia? Symptoms of Chlamydia

    I’ve several questions regarding oral sex and the spreading of STIs. If a man can catch an STI like Chlamydia by giving oral sex to a woman, does the STI live in his throat and, therefore, is the only way he can spread Chlamydia by action involving his throat – kissing, giving oral sex etc? In other words, could a man have Chlamydia in his throat and be “clear” in his genitals? For a woman to catch an STI from giving oral sex to a man, does the man have to ejaculate in her mouth? Or is the act of simply taking his penis in her mouth enough for an STI to spread to her?

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    What Are The Symptoms Of Chlamydia

    Like most STDs, chlamydia often does not show any symptoms. As a result, many people with chlamydia do not know it. The only way to know is to get tested.

    If symptoms do appear, they may include pain or burning while peeing and/or during sex, lower belly pain, swollen or tender testicles, or abnormal discharge from the vagina, penis or anus.

    When Will The Signs And Symptoms Go Away

    You should notice an improvement quite quickly after having treatment.

    • Discharge or pain when you urinate should improve within a week.
    • Bleeding between periods or heavier periods should improve by your next period.
    • Pelvic pain and pain in the testicles should start to improve quickly but may take up to two weeks to go away.

    If you have pelvic pain or painful sex that doesnt improve, see your doctor or nurse as it may be necessary to have some further treatment or investigate other possible causes of the pain.

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    Chlamydia : : Tested Negative But Having Symptoms

    A little over a month ago I had unprotected intercourse with a girl at the small school I go to. Then I heard about a chlamydia outbreak among the athletes at the school and she was one. After I found this out, which was about 2 weeks after it happened, I went and got tested even though I had no symptoms. The results came back negative but after I got tested symptoms like a very slight irritation here and there. About 2 weeks ago I woke up with a lot of eye discharge but that went away and now the past week I have had very very slight clear and kind of sticky discharge. I didn’t know if the test could have been wrong? If not, could this be from a lot of stress about it?

    More Questions From Patients:

    Chlamydia Treatments

    What are chlamydia symptoms in men?

    Most people with chlamydia dont have any symptoms. Or if they do get symptoms, they show up weeks after having sex without a condom.

    Even without symptoms, if you have chlamydia and you dont get it treated it can damage your reproductive system, cause epididymitis, or lead to infertility. Thats why its so important to get tested for STDs if youve had sex without a condom.

    Chlamydia symptoms in men can include:

    • Pus, or watery or milky discharge from the penis

    • Pain or burning when peeing

    • Pain and/or swelling in one or both testicles

    You can also get chlamydia in your butt, usually from receiving anal sex. Symptoms arent common, but you might notice:

    • A painful or itchy anus

    • Discharge or bleeding from your anus

    • Diarrhea

    • Swelling in or around your anus

    Chlamydia can also infect your eyes, causing redness, itching, or discharge.

    Regardless of where on your body they show up, chlamydia symptoms in men are most likely to appear in the morning.

    If you notice any of these symptoms, if your partner has been diagnosed with chlamydia or another STD, or if your partner has symptoms, check in with your doctor or nurse or local Planned Parenthood health center right away.

    What are chlamydia symptoms in women?

    Most people with chlamydia dont have any symptoms. Or the symptoms show up weeks after having sex with someone whos infected.

    Chlamydia symptoms in women can include:

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    Antibiotics Are A Highly Effective Cure For Chlamydia Infection

    Antibiotics prescribed for chlamydia include:

    A single oral dose of Zithromax is the most common treatment. Other drugs may be given in varying doses for a period of up to a week. Most cases of chlamydia clear up within a week after you start on antibiotics.

    If you think you have been exposed to chlamydia, Stoner says, see your healthcare provider to receive antibiotic medication to prevent the onset of infection.

    The partners of individuals diagnosed with chlamydia will need treatment, too, and in some states they can get it without a doctor visit through a practice called expedited partner therapy, in which the first person treated delivers the treatment to their partner or partners.

    Telling Your Partner You Have An Std

    Megan and Josh have been friends since middle school, and somehow they always knew theyd end up as a couple. But although they shared all kinds of personal secrets over the years, Megan dreaded telling Josh about her STD. After she summoned the nerve to talk about it, she was surprised when Josh said he had the same STD and was wondering how he would tell her.

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    How Do I Test For Chlamydia

    You can get tested for chlamydia even if you dont have any symptoms.

    Getting tested for chlamydia is easy and doesnt hurt. A healthcare professional will ask for a urine sample and/or take a swab from the area that might be infected. This is usually the lower part of the womb or the vagina for women, and the tip of the penis for men. If youve had anal or oral sex, you may have a swab taken from your anus or throat.

    In some countries you can get a self-testing kit to do at home.

    If you test positive for chlamydia, its important to tell any recent sexual partner/s so they can also get tested, and treated if necessary. If you need advice about how to do this, speak to your healthcare professional. You should also test for other STIs.

    What Are Chlamydia Symptoms

    HOW I GOT CHLAMYDIA

    Chlamydia in women and people with female reproductive organs is often asymptomatic. This means that people often do not experience any discomfort or notice any changes while infected.

    Without any symptoms, people may be infected and not know it. Some people may have very mild or vague symptoms after they are infected, which can be confused with a urinary tract infection or vaginal infection .

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    How To Tell Someone About Your Sti

    Whether youâre telling a new partner before you have sex, or a past partner that they need to get tested, there is no silver bullet to broaching this conversation. What is most comfortable varies from person to person, but there are some options to consider which could help you decide how you would like to approach it.

    A recent study published by the US National Library of Medicine found that most people chose to give the news in person, followed by calling them. Less than a quarter chose to email or text their past or current partners about their STI. The study found that telling someone in person was the way to go, as it demonstrated care, respect and courage. Less common were email and SMS, as people thought that they might not be taken seriously or shown to others.

    The takeaway? Basically, the more honest and open you can be about telling someone, the better. But every relationship is different, and you do you. As long the conversation takes place in some shape or form, thatâs what matters.

    If you really, really canât face the talk youâll be happy to know that there are escape routes. letthemknow.org.au sends an anonymous text message telling your past partner to get tested. Alternatively, you can ask your GP to contact people for you.

    Itâs worth thinking about how you would like to find out â would you rather someone tell you in person, or get an anonymous text?

    MORE: Why are millennials having less sex?

    Can I Still Get Pregnant If I Have Had Chlamydia

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    Chlamydia Infection May Have Long

    For women, the long-term effects of an untreated chlamydia infection may include:

    • Severe infection with pain and fever requiring a hospital stay
    • Pelvic inflammatory disease, an infection of the upper reproductive tract
    • Scarring in the reproductive tract that causes infertility
    • Higher risk of ectopic pregnancy

    Men are less likely than women to have major health problems linked to chlamydia, although they can develop epididymitis, an inflammation of a structure within the testicles called the epididymis that can result in infertility.

    A chlamydia infection can sometimes result in reactive arthritis in both men and women.

    Chlamydia Cured How Long To Take Doxycycline And Lamisil

    Things you must know about Chlamydia (infographics)

    I was diagnosed with chlamydia nearly 3 weeks ago and was prescribed doxycycline twice a day for 7 days and was told by my doctor to not have sex for 3 weeks. The first time i took the antibiotic rashes all over my body appeared. I have had an allergic reaction to one other antibiotic before but i assumed it was a one time thing. Since i was worried that my rashes would get worse i did not take the second pill on the first day but i made it up by taking 3 pills on a separate day. I also opened the capsules of the pill and poured the medicine in water the next two days but then went back to taking them normally after that. I finished taking my medication this past tuesday but i still have a small dark spot near my urethra although it is smaller than it was before i started taking the medication. My doctor also told me to apply lamisil to get rid of the fungi which i have been applying. Am i cured of chlamydia? Should the spot have disappeared by now? I have no other symptoms but of course i know that they can be dormant. Would taking the medicine with water and not taking one pill have any effect on curing the chlamydia?

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