I Got Treated For Chlamydia And Still Have It

Can Chlamydia Come Back After Being Treated

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease that remains in a persons body for long time. The disease presents mostly as an asymptomatic one, but features of pelvic pain, mucopurulent discharge and dysuria may arise. In the case of a chronic infection the persistent inflammatory states lead to autoimmunity, uncontrolled inflammation, tissue injury and healing by fibrosis causing complications such as reactive arthritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, subfertility and preterm labor.

Chlamydia trachomatis, the causative agent, is a gram-negative spore forming bacteria which is the causative organisms for chlamydia sexually transmitted infections. Two of the three known biovars cause chlamydia sexually transmitted infection while serovars L1, L2 and L3 cause lymphogranuloma venereum another sexually transmitted infection. The treatment for this organism involves oral doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for seven days or azithromycin 1 gram as a stat dose in most patients. The drugs control up to 98% of the infections.

In cases of chlamydia infections in pregnancy, then amoxicillin 500 mg three times a day for seven days or erythromycin 500 mg four times a day for seven days are the antibiotics of choice to ensure safety of the fetus. The patients must be retested again three or four weeks after completion of therapy to ascertain that they have been cured of the disease.

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When Can I Have Sex Again

If you had doxycycline, you shouldnt have sex including vaginal, oral or anal sex, even with a condom until both you and your partner have completed treatment.

If you had azithromycin, you should wait 7 days after treatment before having sex .

This will help ensure you dont pass on the infection or catch it again straight away.

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Female Issues Of Untreated Chlamydia

Some ladies create PID, an infection that can harm the uterus, cervix, and also ovaries. PID is a painful disease that commonly requires medical facility treatment.

Females can also become infertile if chlamydia is left without treatment because the fallopian tubes may become marked.

Expecting women with the infection can pass the microorganisms to their children during birth, which can create eye infections and also pneumonia in infants. Can You Test Negative For Chlamydia And Still Have It

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What Happens If Chlamydia Is Not Treated

In women, untreated chlamydia can spread to the womb and fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease. This causes permanent damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus and leads to chronic pain, infertility and potentially life threatening ectopic pregnancies

Men and women can suffer from joint stiffness, swelling and swell and eye pain following a chlamydia infection.

This is why it is very important to get treated for chlamydia with antibiotic tablets as soon as you know you are infected.

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What Happens If Chlamydia Isnt Treated

Only some people who have chlamydia will have complications. If chlamydia is treated early, its unlikely to cause any long-term problems. But, without proper treatment, the infection can spread to other parts of the body. The more times you have chlamydia the more likely you are to get complications.

• If you have a vulva, chlamydia can spread to other reproductive organs causing pelvic inflammatory disease . This can lead to long-term pelvic pain, blocked fallopian tubes, infertility and ectopic pregnancy .
• In people with a vulva, chlamydia can also cause pain and inflammation around the liver, though this is rare. This usually gets better with the correct antibiotic treatment.
• If you have a penis, chlamydia can lead to infection in the testicles. If this isnt treated, theres a possibility it could affect your fertility but more research is needed to understand how likely this is.
• Rarely, chlamydia can lead to inflammation of the joints. This is known as Sexually Acquired Reactive Arthritis and is sometimes accompanied by inflammation of the urethra and the eye. This is more likely to occur in people with a penis than people with a vulva.

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What Happens If Chlamydia Isn’t Treated

Only some people who have chlamydia will have complications. If chlamydia is treated early, its unlikely to cause any long-term problems. But, without proper treatment, the infection can spread to other parts of the body. The more times you have chlamydia the more likely you are to get complications.

• If you have a vulva, chlamydia can spread to other reproductive organs causing pelvic inflammatory disease . This can lead to long-term pelvic pain, blocked fallopian tubes, infertility and ectopic pregnancy .
• In people with a vulva, chlamydia can also cause pain and inflammation around the liver, though this is rare. This usually gets better with the correct antibiotic treatment.
• If you have a penis, chlamydia can lead to infection in the testicles. If this isnt treated, theres a possibility it could affect your fertility but more research is needed to understand how likely this is.
• Rarely, chlamydia can lead to inflammation of the joints. This is known as Sexually Acquired Reactive Arthritis and is sometimes accompanied by inflammation of the urethra and the eye. This is more likely to occur in people with a penis than people with a vulva.

Chlamydia Symptoms & Treatment

FAST FACTS

• Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection that is normally passed on through sex without a condom or sharing sex toys with someone who has the infection.
• Using male or female condoms and dental dams during sex will help to protect you from getting chlamydia.
• Chlamydia is often symptomless however if left untreated it can lead to long-term health problems.
• Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics.
• Chlamydia can be passed on from mother to child during pregnancy, so its important for pregnant women to get tested.

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What Happens If You Dont Get Treated For Chlamydia

Even though chlamydia is common and doesnt usually cause any symptoms, it can become a big deal if its not caught and treated early.

Chlamydia can spread to your uterus and fallopian tubes if it goes untreated for a long time. This can cause you to have pelvic inflammatory disease . PID can cause permanent damage that leads to pain, infertility, or ectopic pregnancy. So getting tested regularly for chlamydia really lowers your chances of getting PID.

If you have a penis, a chlamydia infection can spread to your epididymis if its left untreated, and can cause chronic joint pain. Rarely, it can make you infertile.

Having chlamydia may increase your chances of getting or spreading HIV.

If you have chlamydia during your pregnancy and dont treat it, you can pass it to your baby when youre giving birth. Chlamydia can also cause eye infections and pneumonia in newborns, and it also increases the risk of delivering your baby too early.

Testing and treatment for chlamydia is quick, easy, and the best way to avoid all of these problems.

What Happens If I Get Chlamydia When I’m Pregnant

• Chlamydia during pregnancy has been associated in very rare cases with problems such as premature birth, and infection of the uterus lining after the birth.
• It can be passed to the baby during the birth and before the baby is born. This can cause inflammation and discharge in the babys eye and/or pneumonia.
• You may be offered a chlamydia test as part of your antenatal care.
• Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics when youre pregnant and when youre breastfeeding. The antibiotics wont harm the baby, but do tell the doctor or nurse that youre pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Youll be advised to have another test after you complete your treatment.

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How Can I Prevent The Spread Of Chlamydia And Other Stis

Ask your healthcare provider for more information about the following safe sex practices:

• Use a male or female condom during sex. This includes oral, genital, or anal sex. Use a new condom each time. Condoms help prevent pregnancy and STIs. Use latex condoms, if possible. Lambskin condoms do not protect against STIs. A polyurethane condom can be used if you or your partner is allergic to latex. Condoms should be used with a second form of birth control to help prevent pregnancy and STIs. Do not use male and female condoms together. Ask for more information about the correct way to use condoms.
• Limit your number of sex partners. This will help lower your risk for chlamydia and other STIs.
• Do not have sex with someone who has an STI. This includes oral, vaginal, and anal sex.
• Do not have sex while you or your partner are being treated. Ask when it is safe to have sex.
• Ask about medicines to lower your risk for some STIs:
• Vaccines can help protect you from hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and the human papillomavirus . The HPV vaccine is usually given at 11 years, but it may be given through 26 years to both females and males. Your provider can give you more information on vaccines to prevent STIs.
• Pre-exposure prophylaxis may be given if you are at high risk for HIV. PrEP is taken every day to prevent the virus from fully infecting the body.

Can You Test Negative For Chlamydia And Still Have It

Chlamydia is an usual sexually transmitted disease that can infect both men and women. It can cause severe, irreversible damages to a ladys reproductive system. Can You Test Negative For Chlamydia And Still Have It

This can make it difficult or impossible for her to get expectant in the future. Chlamydia can likewise cause a potentially fatal ectopic maternity a maternity that takes place outside the womb.

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Letting Partners Know You Have Chlamydia

Sexual partners may be infected too. If you have chlamydia, anyone you have had sex with from the last 6 months needs to be informed, tested and treated.

If they dont know, they could reinfect you or infect someone else if they are not treated. dont receive treatment.

Most people will appreciate being told they may have an infection and it is an important step in preventing further infection in the community.

Your local GP and sexual health centre can help you inform your partners and let them know that they need a test. This process is called partner notification. It can be done anonymously, and your confidentiality is always respected.

You can also anonymously notify your sexual partners of the need to get tested and treated for chlamydia via the Let Them Know website if you feel unable to speak to them personally.

There are also nurses who can help you anonymously notify your partners. They can be contacted on .

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Testing And Treating Sexual Partners

If you test positive for chlamydia, its important that your current sexual partner and any other recent sexual partners youve had are also tested and treated.

A specialist sexual health adviser can help you contact your recent sexual partners, or the clinic can contact them for you if you prefer.

Either you or someone from the clinic can speak to them, or the clinic can send them a note to let them know they may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection .

The note will suggest that they go for a check-up. It will not have your name on it, so your confidentiality will be protected.

Page last reviewed: 01 September 2021 Next review due: 01 September 2024

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How Long Does Treatment Take

Treatment time for chlamydia can vary from one to seven days. Azithromycin requires only one dose for one day, while you must take other antibiotics multiple times a day for seven days.

To cure a chlamydia infection, take the antibiotics exactly as prescribed by your doctor and for the full length of the prescription, being sure to take every dose. There should be no medication left at the end of the treatment period. You cannot save medication in case you acquire chlamydia again.

Contact your doctor if you still have symptoms but have taken all your antibiotics. You will need a follow-up test with your doctor

Does Your Partner Need To Get Treated Too

If you have a sexual partner, or if youve recently had sex with someone, talk with them about your chlamydia diagnosis. Theyll need to get tested and treated, too.

If your sexual partner doesnt seek treatment, theres a risk that they can transmit it back to you, even after your infection has been cured.

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Do I Need To Have A Test To Check That The Chlamydia Has Gone

If you take the treatment according to the instructions, you wont usually need a test to check the chlamydia has gone.

If youre aged under 25, you should be offered a repeat test 3 months after finishing the treatment. This is because youre at a higher risk of getting chlamydia again.

Whatever your age, you may need a repeat test or more treatment if:

• you think youve come into contact with chlamydia again
• you had sex without a condom with a partner before the treatment for both of you was finished
• you didnt complete the treatment or didnt take it according to the instructions
• the signs and symptoms dont go away
• your test was negative but you develop signs or symptoms of chlamydia
• youre pregnant.

A repeat test can be done 56 weeks after the first test.

If the chlamydia was in your rectum , you may need another test around 3 weeks after finishing the treatment. Your doctor, nurse or clinic will let you know if you need another test.

You can go back to the doctor, nurse or clinic if you have any questions or need advice on how to protect yourself from infection in the future.

Does My Partner Need To Be Treated

Yes. Also, any other sexual partners within the previous six months should also be tested for infection.

If your sexual partner is infected and not treated then chlamydia can be passed back to you again after you are treated.

There may be certain occasions when you may not want to contact partners from previous relationships. In these cases staff at the clinic can contact previous partners for you without disclosing your details. This is because it is important that anyone who is at risk of infection with chlamydia be both identified and treated.

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How Accurate Are The Tests

The accuracy of a chlamydia test depends on the kind of test used and the type of sample thats collected. The recommended tests are over 95% accurate in picking up chlamydia. As no test is 100% accurate theres a small chance that the test will give a negative result when you do have chlamydia. This is known as a false negative result. This can sometimes explain why you might get a different result from another test or why you and a partner might get a different test result.

Its possible for the test to be positive if you havent got chlamydia, but this is rare.

Im Pregnant How Does Chlamydia Affect My Baby

If you are pregnant and have chlamydia, you can pass the infection to your baby during delivery. This could cause an eye infection or pneumonia in your newborn. Having chlamydia may also make it more likely to deliver your baby too early.

If you are pregnant, you should get tested for chlamydia at your first prenatal visit. Testing and treatment are the best ways to prevent health problems.

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What Are The Causes Of Chlamydia

You can get Chlamydia bacterial infection during oral, vaginal, and anal sex with someone who has this type infection. In woman case, she can also pass Chlamydia to her baby during childbirth. If you treated this infection in past then also it can be reappeared if you have unprotected sex with someone who have this type infection.

Best Way to Identify Such Infection:

There are some lab test exist of Chlamydia just provide your urine sample to care health care person and for women, provide cotton swab sample for vagina to test for this infection.

What Kinds Of Complications Can The Infection Cause

The initial damage that chlamydia causes often goes unnoticed. However, chlamydial infections can lead to serious health problems.

In women, untreated infection can spread upward to the uterus and fallopian tubes , causing pelvic inflammatory disease . PID can be silent, or can cause symptoms such as abdominal and pelvic pain. Both symptomatic and silent PID can cause permanent damage to a womans reproductive tract and lead to long-term pelvic pain, inability to get pregnant and potentially deadly ectopic pregnancy .

Complications are rare in men. Infection sometimes spreads to the tube that carries sperm from the testis, causing pain, fever, but, rarely, preventing a man from being able to father children.

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Why Cant I Repeat The Chlamydia Test After Ive Taken My Treatment To Check It Worked

You can, but it takes up to 6 weeks for the test to go back to negative after an infection. If you re-test too early a positive result can be a sign of continuing or re-infection, but its most likely to be positive from the initial infection, so its not at all helpful.

If you are under 25 years of age, it is recommended to have a repeat test 3 months after treatment as a significant number of young people get repeat infections which are linked to an increased risk of complications.