Ive Been Given Medication For Chlamydia What Now
If you have been given a medication or a prescription to take to a pharmacy please read the Partner Info Sheet that came with it before taking the medication.
Dont have a Partner Info Sheet? No problem. Click here for a copy.
For more info on PDPT, or advice around telling your partner, call Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624.
What Are The Symptoms Of Chlamydia
Most men and women with chlamydia have no signs or symptoms, which makes it very easy to spread. Some people have the infection for many months or years without knowing it.
Women who get symptoms may have:
- vaginal discharge
- bleeding between periods or after sex
- burning or pain when urinating
- abdominal or pelvic pain
- pain during sex
Men who get symptoms may have some clear discharge from the penis or pain during urination.
In rare cases, people with chlamydia have sore joints or inflammation of the eye .
How Can You Get Rid Of Chlamydia
If your chlamydia test comes back positive, you may be wondering how to get chlamydia treated. Itâs important to discuss treatment options with your healthcare provider. Most likely, you will be treated for chlamydia with oral antibiotics. With treatment, infections often clear up in one to two weeks.
Even if your symptoms resolve sooner, however, itâs very important to complete your healthcare providerâs entire course of prescribed antibiotics. Otherwise, the infection may not be completely eliminated and you could be at risk for reinfection. You could also still pass chlamydia to a partner if you donât complete the recommended course of antibiotics.
Finally, as part of your treatment for chlamydia, connect with any sexual partners you may have unintentionally exposed to this infection. Your healthcare provider may also recommend antibiotics for your partner. This is a key part of chlamydia treatment, since it can help prevent reinfection when you resume sexual intercourse.
Chlamydia is a potentially harmful infection, but fortunately, itâs easy to test for. Itâs also simple to treat when you have a confirmed diagnosis. The important thing is stay informed and know your statusâsomething you can do from the privacy and comfort of home with our STD Test for women.
References
1. Overview: Chlamydia. National Health Service. URL. Accessed March 27, 2020.
2. Chlamydia – CDC Fact Sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. URL. Accessed March 27, 2020.
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When Can I Have Sex Again
If you had doxycycline, you shouldn’t 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 don’t pass on the infection or catch it again straight away.
How Did I Get Chlamydia In Faithful Relationship
Guest over a year ago
So, almost a year ago my girlfriend went for her to her gynecologist because Ihad a rash on my penis, which I had my doctor look at and he said it was justan irritation and to put some Cortizone cream on it and this was in June 2011.When my girlfriend got her results back she tested positive for Chlamydia.Her doctor gave her the pill form, and I just called my doctor’s officeassuming I had it too and he prescribed Azithromycin, the one you stir up anddrink. We both had follow ups to make sure it was gone. I went back tookand pee test and came back negative and so did her follow up. But her doctorwas telling her it was a strand on Chlamydia that was only 2 weeks ago,and that I cheated on her 100%, and was being unfaithful. Which is not true atall. I have NEVER cheated on my girlfriend nor even thought about it and I knowshe has never cheated on me. The question is how did this come up? I don’tunderstand. We’ve had vaginal, anal, and oral sex . The only way I can think of is maybe contracting Chlamydiaby having anal and vaginal sex, which I’m not even sure is possible. Or rightbefore I started talking to my girlfriend now, I had a blow job by a girl Iknew back in august 2011. Which then Chlamydia would have had tobeen dormant for 10 months, which I’m also not sure about. I’ve beentrying to research it, and everyone is saying one of you had to of cheated. Butthis isn’t the case there has to be another explanation.
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cay12345 over a year ago
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Can You Get Chlamydia More Than Once
Its possible to have chlamydia multiple times. The bacteria will not create antibodies to protect your body from further infection. You can get re-infected by continuing sexual relations with a partner who is untested and untreated.
Its best to always use condoms with partners who may have chlamydia.
Can You Forgive Him Can You Rebuild That Trust Together
Until the doctors visit, you felt that youd be able to forgive him for the infidelity. Understandably, the stakes of his betrayal feel heightened with the chlamydia diagnosis. There is a more tangible consequence of his actions now.
There are a couple of other points to consider. First, you didnt mention whether or not you had symptoms that led you to get tested.
The typical incubation period for chlamydia is one to three weeks, and, in some cases, it can take up to six weeks. So if you were experiencing symptoms, the infection was transmitted sometime in the past six weeks, which doesnt add up with the end of his affair.
If you were asymptomatic, you might have had it much longer, even before this relationship . Up to 75% of women and 50% of men have no symptoms at all.
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Chlamydia Can Lead To Infertility
A lot of us don’t realize that some sexually transmitted diseases can cause no symptoms, meaning you could have an STD and not know it. And some STDs can silently lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy, or chronic pelvic pain.
Chlamydia is one of those diseases. CDC estimates that more than 2.8 million people are infected each year.
Chlamydia is most common in sexually active young adults. More than half of all infections involve people ages 18 to 24. You can get chlamydia during oral, vaginal, or anal sexual contact with an infected partner. The disease can cause penile discharge in men and infertility in women. It can also cause serious health problems in newborn babies of infected mothers.
Many women, and some men, are infected with chlamydia but don’t know it. Even without symptoms, the disease can cause complications, particularly infertility. The longer the infection is untreated, the more damage that can be done.
If symptoms do show up, they usually occur within weeks of exposure. Men and women may face painful urination, an abnormal discharge from the urethra, or both. Women also may have abdominal pain, bleeding, and an abnormal discharge from the vagina. Symptoms usually appear within one to three weeks after being infected and may be very mild.
In pregnant women, chlamydia can cause premature delivery, the CDC says. A child born to an infected woman can develop an infection in their eyes and respiratory tracts.
Chlamydia Is Really Common
Chlamydia is a SUPER common bacterial infection that you can get from sexual contact with another person. Close to 3 million Americans get it every year, most commonly among 14-24-year-olds.
Chlamydia is spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex. The infection is carried in semen , pre-cum, and vaginal fluids. Chlamydia can infect the penis, vagina, cervix, anus, urethra, eyes, and throat. Most people with chlamydia dont have any symptoms and feel totally fine, so they might not even know theyre infected.
Chlamydia can be easily cleared up with antibiotics. But if you dont treat chlamydia, it may lead to major health problems in the future. Thats why STD testing is so important the sooner you know you have chlamydia, the faster you can cure it. You can prevent chlamydia by using condoms every time you have sex.
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When And How To Test Again
Gersh recommends that people get tested once a year, or after every new partner whichever comes first!
Its also good practice to get site-specific STI tests before engaging in sex acts that incorporate a new part of the body.
For example, if you and your partner have never had anal sex and now want to, its a good move to get anal STI tested first.
To get tested, find an STI clinic that tests for all the STIs youre interested in getting tested for.
If you dont know which STIs you want to get tested for and are looking for a doctor to breakdown what STIs youre most at risk for given what sex acts are part of your sex life, its best to go to a clinic that *doesnt* specify one or two or three STIs in their online marketing.
Some clinics, for example, only test for HIV or only test for gonorrhea and chlamydia.
How To Help Partners Get Treatment
If you are not sure whether your sexual partner will seek treatment, ask your doctor for extra chlamydia medication . You can give it to them so they can be treated as soon as possible.
This is known as patient delivered partner therapy for chlamydia. Talk to your doctor to see if PDPT is right for you and your sexual partner.
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Telling A New Partner About An Std
If you have an active STD, it’s normal to be nervous about telling someone new. Everyone raises the subject differently.
Here are some ideas for handling the conversation:
Imagine that your roles are reversed. What would you expect your partner to do and say if he or she were in your shoes? Be proud of your intentions. Your willingness to have this hard conversation shows that you care about the other person and your relationship. We’re more likely to trust and respect people who are honest enough to talk about tough topics like STDs.
It’s best to be direct. You could start by saying, “Before we have sex, I want us to talk about STDs and protection because I have an STD.” Say what type of STD you have and how you got it. You don’t have to share every detail of your past relationships, but showing that you’re open to talking and answering questions can help your partner feel more comfortable.
It’s best to be honest. It’s better for your partner to find out because you said something before getting an infection.
Let the conversation proceed naturally. Listen rather than doing all the talking. Prepare for your partner to be surprised. Each person reacts differently to the news. Some might get panic. Some might be full of questions. Others might just need to time to think.
How Do I Know If I Have Chlamydia
Most people who have chlamydia have no symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they may not appear until several weeks after you have sex with an infected partner. Even when chlamydia causes no symptoms, it can damage your reproductive system.
Women with symptoms may notice
- An abnormal vaginal discharge
- A burning sensation when urinating.
Symptoms in men can include
- A discharge from their penis
- A burning sensation when urinating
- Pain and swelling in one or both testicles .
Men and women can also get infected with chlamydia in their rectum. This happens either by having receptive anal sex, or by spread from another infected site . While these infections often cause no symptoms, they can cause
- Rectal pain
- Discharge
- Bleeding.
You should be examined by your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms or if your partner has an STD or symptoms of an STD. STD symptoms can include an unusual sore, a smelly discharge, burning when urinating, or bleeding between periods.
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Young People Not Getting Tested
Telling your partner that youve got chlamydia is one thing. But you need to know youve contracted it in the first place.
Thats where it gets tricky.
Professor Jane Hocking heads up the sexual health unit at the University of Melbourne. Hockings new research reveals that around 1 in 5 young people aged 16-29 didnt get tested for chlamydia – even after their GP suggested they do so.
For men, 23 per cent didnt provide a specimen, compared with 18 per cent in women, Jane Hocking told Hack. The younger you are, the less likely you’ll take the test. “Among the 16-19 year-olds, it was just over 21 per cent were less likely to leave a specimen, compared with about 18 per cent among the 25-29 year-olds.”
Theres already low numbers for sexual health screenings in Australians aged 15-29.
Less than 10 per cent of this age group are screened each year in general practice, the studys authors write in the Medical Journal of Australia.
Doctor Melissa Kang, Senior Lecturer at the Sydney Medical School in Westmead, says talking about sexual health doesnt always come easily. And that can be especially true for young people who have only just started to become sexually active.
All sexually transmitted infections carry some kind of stigma…it can kind of mess with people’s sense of who they are, how they feel about themselves.
“The awkwardness, the feeling self conscious factor is probably never going to go away, Dr Kang told Hack.
Why Can One Partner Have Chlamydia And Not The Other
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It Depends On How You Define Sex
Theres a massive misconception that STIs can only be transmitted through one type of sex: penis-in-vagina sex.
But an STI can actually be transmitted during any kind of sexual play that involves skin-to-skin contact or body fluid exchange with a person who has an STI.
This includes any kind of play that involves:
An STI test is only able to test for the STIs that are currently beyond their latency period. Meaning, theyve been in the body long enough for the body to create antibodies.
Latency period
Sometimes known as the incubation period, the latency period is the amount of time between when a person has been exposed to an infection and when they can test positive for it.
Antibodies are what STI tests are looking for to determine if an STI is present. If antibodies are present, you test positive for the STI. If antibodies arent present, you test negative for the STI.
An STI test cant detect an infection that has not yet surpassed its latency period, nor any STI you were exposed to after the test.
And remember: Its possible to be exposed to an STI during any sexual activity.
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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Its Okay To Be Cautious He Jeopardized Your Physical And Emotional Well
You are young, and its okay if this is not your person. While I am all for forgiveness, I also know from experience that life is too short to spend time in a relationship where you feel unappreciated, in a relationship with someone who is reckless with your heart and health.
If you choose to rebuild things, getting some guidance from a therapist would be so helpful. I understand that you feel reluctant to talk to friends about this, but while you take the time to figure things out, lean on your friends. Focus on giving yourself some joy, even in small ways, today.
Whatever you decide, I promise that you will be able to enjoy your birthday again. This feels huge right now, but as someone with 20 more years of living, I can tell you that even the sharpest wounds become less painful over time.
The information within Ask Erin should in no way be interpreted as medical advice because Im not a medical professional. But I am here to help to share the wisdom Ive gained after years of making mistakes. If you have a question for me about relationships, addiction, dating, friendships, depression, parenting, sex, consent, what Im watching, what Im reading, what Im listening to, Rhodizite, or anything at all, use the contact form HERE
Did you know I wrote a book about my 15-year struggle with heroin addiction? Its called STRUNG OUT: One Last Hit and Other Lies that Nearly Killed Me, and its on sale now!