I Took Antibiotics For Chlamydia

Whats The Recommended Treatment For Chlamydia

Doctors can easily treat chlamydia with a course of antibiotics. Theyll either prescribe azithromycin or doxycycline tablets.

You should avoid sexual intercourse during treatment, and for a week after youve finished the antibiotics. Its also a good idea for your partner to be examined and tested during your treatment period.

If your partner is being treated for the infection, again avoid sex for a week following treatment completion.

In most cases, chlamydia is curable with this simple treatment. Symptoms should start to improve in a few days and disappear after a week or two. We recommend a follow-up test three months after treatment to confirm the all-clear.

Its also essential to tell recent sexual partners about your positive result. Known as contact tracing, informing partners that they may also have chlamydia minimises their chance of developing complications.

We recommend contacting any sexual partners from the past six months.

When Would Be The Right Dosage And Time To Take Antibiotics To Prevent An Sti

Based on the limited research available, those at risk for exposure to bacterial STIs would either need to take a 100mg pill of doxycycline daily or take a 200mg dose after a sexual encounter .

A small qualitative study with Australian men who have sex with men indicated a preference for daily dosing. However, taking doxycycline as doxyPEP as opposed to taking it daily might be best in terms of reducing the amount of antibiotics taken.

As there are currently no clinical guidelines on dosage or formulation of doxycycline for STI prophylaxis, further research is required to answer this question with more certainty. More research is also needed regarding STI prophylaxis in people taking HIV PrEP, and for people living with HIV who are taking antiretrovirals.

How Chlamydia’s Passed On

Chlamydia is usually passed from one person to another through sexual contact.

You can get the infection if you come into contact with the semen or vaginal fluids of someone who has chlamydia.

Chlamydia is most commonly spread through:

• vaginal or anal sex without a condom
• sharing sex toys that arent washed or covered with a new condom each time theyre used.

It can be spread by giving or receiving oral sex with someone who has chlamydia. The risk can be lowered by using a condom or a dam to cover the genitals.

If infected semen or vaginal fluid comes into contact with the eye it can cause conjunctivitis (infection or irritation of the eye.

If youre pregnant its possible to pass chlamydia to the baby .

Its not clear if chlamydia can be spread by transferring infected semen or vaginal fluid to another persons genitals on the fingers or through rubbing vulvas together.

You cant get chlamydia from kissing, hugging, sharing baths or towels, swimming pools, toilet seats or from sharing cups, plates or cutlery.

Also Check: Can You Take Amoxicillin 500mg For Chlamydia

Uti Symptoms After Period Cycle What Could This Mean

The beginning of this year Ive gotten bad symptoms of UTI and went to the doctors to get it check out couple months later. These symptoms would go on and off. They check my vagina for any STDs and gonorheea, and other nasty infections. I had nothing. The doctor told me I had UTI bladder infection. They prescribe me some antibiotics. And I took all of them till it was gone. I felt somewhat better for a couple of weeks until it started to reoccur again. I keep track of the reoccurring of the symptoms. It always happens to be a day or days right after I finish my period cycle. Im on birth control so I only bleed within the first three days. And when Im back on the birth control the symptoms can last for a day or a week. The symptoms arent that bad than before but its annoying and my husband thinks its because we have sex frequently and the friction has to do something with it. My husband and I have sex on a regular basis. At least 5-6 times a week. We BOTH do not have any type of STDs whatsoever. We both are clean people. What should I do?

Follow Up With Your Doctor As Directed:

Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

You May Like: Can You Buy A Chlamydia Test Over The Counter

Chlamydia Can Live In Your Gut And Reinfect You After Youre Cured

Doctors have known that chlamydia can reappear, but until now theyve been stumped as to how exactly it happens

Chlamydia is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. Thankfully, its also curable. But new research suggests that for some people, curing chlamydia doesnt prevent reinfection, even if theyre not exposed to it again. Apparently the disease can live inside your gut, and reinfect you out of the blue.

Apparently doctors have known that chlamydia can reappear in cured patients for about 80 years, but theyve been stumped as to how exactly it happens. This study points out that, in many animals, chlamydia has been found to live in the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, if gastrointestinal infection occurs in most hosts, the authors write, then it is very likely that gastrointestinal infection occurs in humans as well.

The study in question doesnt actually test this theory on any human beings. Instead it looks at data in animal models about reinfection, and the failure of certain drugs to treat chlamydia when it lives in the gut. From there, they propose that women who are infected with chlamydia could see the same kind of issues: the drugs theyre given might cure the disease genitally, but not gastrointestinally, leaving the bug to live inside waiting for the right time to strike.

Recommended Reading: How Much Azithromycin Do I Take For Chlamydia

Urethritis Due To Gonorrhea Or Chlamydia

You have urethritis. This is an inflammation in the urethra. The urethra is the tube between the bladder and the tip of the penis. Urine drains out of the body through the urethra. There are 2 main types of this condition:

• Gonococcal urethritis . This is an infection caused by gonorrhea.

• Nongonococcal urethritis . This is an infection that is often caused by chlamydia. Other infections can also be the cause.

Men are more likely to have symptoms, but may not. Symptoms can start within 1 week after exposure to an infection. But they can take a month or more to appear. Or they may not even occur. Some symptoms are:

• Burning or pain when urinating

• Irritation in the penis

• Pus discharge from the penis

• Pain and possible swelling in one or both testicles

Infections in the urethra are often caused by a sexually transmitted infection . The most common STIs are gonorrhea, chlamydia, or both.

Gonococcal urethritis is an infection of the urethra. Its caused by gonorrhea. Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection . Gonorrhea can also be in other areas of the body. This can cause:

• Rectal pain and discharge

• Throat infection

• Eye infections

Without treatment, the infection can get worse and spread to other parts of your body. The infection can cause rashes, arthritis, and infections in your joints, heart, and brain.

You May Like: Cpt Code For Chlamydia Urine Test

What Is The Best Medication For Chlamydia

Finding the best medication for chlamydia isnt too much of a struggle as antibiotics tend to be pretty effective. However, different patients will have different needs, allergies, and factors that determine their best medication. The correct antibiotic to treat your chlamydia may vary from the one that works for another patient. Consult a healthcare professional when selecting a medication for your chlamydia, especially if pregnancy is suspected.

Dosage is determined by your doctor based on your medical condition, response to treatment, age, and weight. Other possible side effects exist. This is not a complete list.

How Long Can You Have Chlamydia Without Knowing

Chlamydia is sometimes called a silent infection because the majority of people who have chlamydia regardless of gender never notice symptoms. People who do notice symptoms often dont recognize the signs that they have chlamydia until a few weeks after theyve been infected. Because chlamydia cases are often asymptomatic, its easy to spread chlamydia to someone else without realizing it. And its easy to miss out on receiving the treatment needed to prevent the serious complications that can result from chlamydia.

Also Check: How Can You Tell If Someone Has Chlamydia

What About My Partner

If youre in a relationship where youve been sleeping with the same person for a period of time, its important that the other person also get tested and treated. There is a very high likelihood that theyll also have chlamydia and without treatment theyll pass it back to you once youre all clear. In these instances its important that you dont have sex until both of you have been treated for the condition.

What Is Sti Prophylaxis

One approach would be to take a daily dose of the antibiotic this would be considered pre-exposure prophylaxis , meaning that there may be enough of the antibiotic in the body before exposure occurs. Another way would be to take a dose soon after sex. In this case, the antibiotic would work as a form of post-exposure prophylaxis preventing bacterial growth and making it less likely for exposure to lead to infection.

This factsheet focuses specifically on using antibiotics to prevent bacterial STIs, which is still an experimental technique. It is not to be confused with HIV PrEP and PEP, which are effective forms of preventing HIV, as outlined below.

Recommended Reading: What Happens If A Male Has Chlamydia For Too Long

Do Hot Tubs Cause Utis

Though time in the hot tub is often blamed for urinary tract infections, it is actually not a common cause of UTI and very rare that a long soak would cause the infection. Hot tubs, or even very long baths, can cause the spread of yeast, known as vaginitis, and common skin infections like folliculitis. In the rare instance that a UTI is contracted while in the hot tub the bacteria known as, pseudomonas are going to be the cause. This bacteria makes up less than thirty percent of UTI cases, as E. coli is the most common cause of cases.

Both infections present with similar symptoms and irritation so the one might be confused for the other and a doctor should be consulted in either case in order to gain a correct diagnosis and the best treatment. Even though time in the hot tub is thought to be a major cause of UTIs, women are more likely to contract the bacteria after intercourse, or through the use of diaphragms.

Getting Treated For Chlamydia And Often Gonorrhea

If you have your own doctor, he will prescribe the antibiotics you need to treat chlamydia. If you dont have your own doctor, you can often find free or low-cost care at either a Planned Parenthood site or a community health clinic.

Listen carefully to the instructions for taking the medicine that you are given by the doctor or other healthcare provider, and follow them closely.

Ask questions if you dont understand something. Also, if you have other questions as you take your medicine, you can always call the pharmacist for help. They are often easier to reach than the doctor.

If you test positive for chlamydia, your healthcare provider is likely to also recommend that you be treated for gonorrhea. This is because the cost of treating gonorrhea is less than the cost of testing for the infection.

Recommended Reading: If My Partner Has Chlamydia Do I Have It

How Do You Get Chlamydia

Chlamydia is caused by a bacterial infection called chlamydia trachomatis, that is spread through unprotected sex or any contact with infected genital fluids such as, semen or vaginal fluid. You can get chlamydia by:

• Having unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has chlamydia even if they are asymptomatic.
• Sharing sex toys that have not been washed before use or covered with a clean condom each time they are used.
• Your genitals coming into contact with your sexual partners genitals who is already infected with chlamydia. Even if there is no penetration, orgasm or ejaculation you can still catch chlamydia.
• Infected semen or vaginal fluid getting into your eyes or other body part that is moistened with infected discharges.
• Pregnant women with chlamydia can pass on the infection to their unborn baby.

How Do You Know If Chlamydia Is Gone After Treatment

If youve had treatment after testing and taking the right antibiotics, its always important to confirm chlamydia cure. You can wait till five weeks after medications and recheck for chlamydia to verify cure.

If you still test positive after five weeks, please let your health professional know right away

You May Like: Chances Of Getting Chlamydia And Hiv

I Took Medicine For Chlamydia Am I Cured

About 2 or 3 months ago, I found out that I had chlamydia. I took a medicine for it. Does that mean its out of my body for good? Paige

If you took all of the antibiotic as it was prescribed, the chlamydia infection was likely cured. However, you can still get chlamydia again in the future, either from the same partner or a new partner.

Because people can get infected with chlamydia more than once, your partner also needs to have had treatment. If this didnt happen, and the two of you had sex since you were treated, you may have been reinfected.

Chlamydia can have serious effects if its not treated or if you get it multiple times. Thats why doctors recommend getting retested 3 months after youve been treated to make sure you were not reinfected.

Using condoms every time you have sex can help prevent future infections. And anyone having sex should be routinely tested for sexually transmitted infections, even if they dont have any signs of them.

Date reviewed: January 2015

*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.

Note: All information on KidsHealth is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.

Does Chlamydia Transfer Every Time

It is myth that once you have had chlamydia, you are immune and cannot get it again. It is unlikely that you will be immune to chlamydia, and you may catch it again if you do. The drug chlamydia does not work like chick pox. If you dont protect yourself from catching it, you will be at risk of catching it more than once.

Also Check: How To Cure Chlamydia Over The Counter

What’s The Treatment For Chlamydia

Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. If you take the treatment according to instructions, its over 95% effective at treating chlamydia.

• Youll be given a course of antibiotics for 3 or 7 days or sometimes up to two weeks.
• If theres a high chance you have chlamydia, treatment may be started before the results of the test are back. Youll always be given treatment if a sexual partner is found to have chlamydia.
• You may also need other treatment if complications have occurred.
• Tell the doctor or nurse if youre pregnant, or think you might be, or youre breastfeeding. This may affect the type of antibiotic youre given.
• Complementary therapies cant cure chlamydia.

Can I Get Chlamydia Treatment Over The Counter

Tessa Chatham Registered Nurse

Tessa Chatham Registered Nurse

Tessa is a MSN prepared Registered Nurse with 10 years of critical care experience in healthcare. When not practicing clinical nursing, she enjoys academic writing and is passionate about helping those affected by medical aliments live healthy lives.

You May Like: How Much Are Antibiotics For Chlamydia

Does The Treatment Work

Usually, yes. You can infect another sex partner as soon as you get chlamydia. Most women and some men do not have early signs of the disease.

A pregnant women can also pass on the infection to her baby as it is being born. This can lead to infection of the eyes and lungs in the infant. It is important to inform people you have had sex with during the past 3 months because they may have the disease and not know they need treatment. Your public health nurse will contact your partner if you prefer. Your name will be kept confidential.

Read Also: Can You Get Sick From Chlamydia

How Long Does It Take

It takes about one week for azithromycin to completely cure a chlamydial infection, and in some cases it can take up to two weeks for the infection to clear.

If you are sexually active during this time, you can pass the infection to your partner, even if you have no symptoms. For these reasons, you should avoid having sex of any kind during treatment.

Don’t Miss: I Know I Have Chlamydia What Do I Do

What Is The Prognosis For A Urinary Tract Infection

A good prognosis is usual for spontaneously resolved and quickly treated UTIs. Even patients that have rapidly developing symptoms and early pyelonephritis can have a good prognosis if quickly and adequately treated. The prognosis begins to decline if the UTI is not quickly recognized or treated. Elderly and immunosuppressed patients may not have the UTI recognized early their prognosis may range from fair to poor, depending on how much damage is done to the urinary tract or if complications like sepsis occur. Like adults, most adequately treated children will have a good prognosis. Children and adults with recurrent UTIs may develop complications and a worse prognosis recurrent UTIs may be a symptom of an underlying problem with the urinary tract structure. These patients should be referred to a specialist for further evaluation.

Recommended Reading: How Much Does A Chlamydia Treatment Cost