About The Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea Test For Women
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What the test is for
If you are unsure whether you need this test, you can take our free STI assessment. If you have symptoms, we recommend attending your local sexual health clinic.
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Required samples for the chlamydia and gonorrhoea test
To test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea, you will need to provide a vaginal swab.
The test kit contains all the information and equipment you will need to safely collect this sample at home.
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When to take the chlamydia and gonorrhoea test
We recommend doing the test 2 weeks after the unprotected sex. Tests done too early may not be accurate.
However, if you think you might have chlamydia or gonorrhoea, you can test immediately and repeat the test two weeks after having sex .
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Accessing results
Test results are normally ready within 3 working days of your sample arriving at our partner laboratory. You will receive a text and an email when your results are ready.
If you dont receive your results within seven days of posting your sample, contact us via your Patient Record.
Detection Of Genitourinary C Trachomatis And N Gonorrhoeae Infections In Women
Screening programs have been demonstrated to reduce both the prevalence of C. trachomatis infection and rates of PID in women . Sexually active women aged 25 years and women aged > 25 years with risk factors should be screened annually for chlamydial infections .
The prevalence of gonorrhea varies widely among communities and populations health-care providers should consider local gonorrhea epidemiology when making screening decisions. Although widespread screening is not recommended, targeted screening of young women at increased risk for infection is a primary component of gonorrhea control in the United States because gonococcal infections among women are frequently asymptomatic. For sexually active women, including those who are pregnant, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that clinicians provide gonorrhea screening only to those at increased risk for infection . USPSTF does not recommend screening for gonorrhea in women who are at low risk for infection .
BOX 2. Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae testing in women
How To Swab For Gonorrhea And Chlamydia
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , a record 2 million-plus cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were reported in the United States in 2016. According to the annual Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report released in September 2017, most of these new diagnoses were cases of chlamydia.
There were also 470,000 gonorrhea cases and almost 28,000 cases of primary and secondary syphilis the most infectious stages of the disease.
All three of these STDs can be cured with antibiotics. But if left undiagnosed and untreated, they can have serious health consequences, including infertility, life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth in infants, and increased risk for HIV transmission.
*Please note: When collecting samples, it is recommended to wear appropriate personal protective equipment .
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Just How Usual Is Chlamydia
In 2017, more than 1.7 million cases of chlamydia were reported to the Centers for Disease Control as well as Avoidance . Nevertheless, several situations go unreported, so the real variety of chlamydia infections annually may be closer to 3 million.
Males and female can both obtain the infection, however more situations in ladies are reported.
Infection prices are greatest among younger women, with the highest prices of infection occurring in women between ages 15 and 24.
The CDC recommends that all sexually energetic ladies ages 25 years and younger obtain screened for chlamydia annually, as well as older females with danger aspects like numerous or brand-new companions.
Statistically, an individual is more probable to get an STI if they have actually made love with more than someone. Other danger variables consist of having had an STI in the past, or presently have an infection since this can lower resistance.
Rates for chlamydia and various other STIs have actually been climbing up in recent times.
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What Happens During A Chlamydia Test
To do a chlamydia test, you will need to provide a sample of fluid from the part of your body that may be infected. There are two ways to gather the sample:
- A first-catch urine sample. You use a sterile cup to a collect urine from the very first part of your urine stream. To get an accurate test result, you will need to stop urinating for two hours before the test.
- A swab sample. Your provider will use a special swab or brush to gather cells, usually from the genital area . This may cause some brief discomfort. In certain cases, the rectum, cervix, throat, or eyes may be swabbed. Your provider may give you the option to swab yourself following special instructions.
Test results are usually ready in a day. There are some rapid chlamydia tests that can provide results in 90 minutes or less.
You can also buy at-home collection kits to test for chlamydia and other STDs. With these kits, you collect a swab or urine sample at home and send it to a lab for testing. Its important to follow all the instructions carefully.
You should not use an at-home test if you have symptoms of chlamydia or if your partner has chlamydia. In that case, its important to talk with your provider right away so you dont delay treatment.
Ask your provider whether at-home chlamydia testing is right for you.
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Tests Not Recommended For Routine Use
Direct fluorescent antibody tests. This assay should not be used for routine testing of genital tract specimens. Rather, DFA tests are the only FDA-cleared tests for ocular C. trachomatis infections. Depending on the commercial product used, the antigen that is detected by the antibody in the C. trachomatis DFA procedure is either the MOMP or LPS molecule. Specimen material is obtained with a swab or endocervical brush, which is then rolled over the specimen well of a slide. After the slide has dried and the fixative applied, the slide can be stored or shipped at ambient temperature. The laboratory should process the slide < 7 days after the specimen has been obtained. Staining consists of flooding the smear with fluorescein-labeled monoclonal antibody that binds to C. trachomatis elementary bodies. Stained elementary bodies are then identified by fluorescence microscopy. Only C. trachomatis organisms will stain with the anti-MOMP antibodies used in commercial kits. The anti-LPS monoclonal antibodies will react with family-specific epitopes found within the LPS of Chlamydiaceae and might cross-react with LPS of other bacteria. The procedure requires an experienced microscopist and is labor-intensive and time-consuming. No DFA tests exist for the direct detection of N. gonorrhoeae in clinical specimens.
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How Long Does It Take To Get An Std
Each STD has a unique incubation period. For some STDs, the incubation period for testing can be as short as a week or two, and for other STDs, as long as a few months.
If you believe you have been exposed to a specific STD, its important to learn about its incubation period so you know how long you should wait to get tested.
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How To Get Tested
Testing for gonorrhea is typically ordered by a doctor. In order to determine the most appropriate testing strategy, a doctor will ask about any signs or symptoms of gonorrhea and individual risk factors such as your sexual and health history.
Gonorrhea testing is often performed at hospitals and doctors offices, as well as clinics and community health programs.
Comparing Urine Std Tests To Other Std Tests
Some people still question whether urine testing is as effective at detecting bacterial STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea. These questions usually focus on the efficacy of the tests in women. Why?
The most common site of female infection is not on the pathway that urine travels out of the body. In contrast, urine passes through the most common site of infection , in men.
A 2015 review that examined 21 studies on the relative effectiveness of using different types of samples to detect chlamydia and gonorrhea found that:
- For chlamydia testing in women, the sensitivity and specificity were 87% and 99% for urine samples compared to cervical samples.
- For chlamydia testing in men, the sensitivity and specificity were 88% and 99% for urine samples compared to urethral samples.
- For gonorrhea testing in women, the sensitivity and specificity were 79% and 99% for urine samples compared to cervical samples.
- For gonorrhea testing in men, the sensitivity and specificity were 92% and 99% for urine samples compared to urethral samples.
By and large, these results are relatively consistent across studies. Interestingly, self-collected vaginal swabs were closer in effectiveness to cervical swabs than urine testing. For some women, those may be a more acceptable alternative to a pelvic exam if urine testing isnt available.
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Chlamydia And Gonorrhea: Screening
Recommendations made by the USPSTF are independent of the U.S. government. They should not be construed as an official position of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea are among the most common sexually transmitted infections in the US.1 Approximately 1.8 million cases of chlamydia and more than 600,000 cases of gonorrhea were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2019. The rate of chlamydia infection among women was nearly double the rate among men . Gonorrhea infection was more prevalent in men than in women . Infection rates are highest among adolescents and young adults of both sexes. In 2019 almost two-thirds of all reported chlamydia infections, and in 2018 more than half of new gonococcal infections, were among persons aged 15 to 24 years.1,2
The US Preventive Services Task Force concludes with moderate certainty that screening for chlamydia in all sexually active women 24 years or younger and in women 25 years or older who are at increased risk for infection has moderate net benefit.
The USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that screening for gonorrhea in all sexually active women 24 years or younger and in women 25 years or older who are at increased risk for infection has moderate net benefit.
What Your Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Test Results Mean
Having a negative chlamydia test result means that you do not have an active chlamydia infection, at the time of the test. However, this does not imply that you will remain negative if you had high risk sex. Having a positive chlamydia test result means that you have an active infection that has to be treated by your doctor. The treatment normally consists of an antibiotic, such as the Zithromax, that should clear the infection in one to two weeks. If the chlamydia infection is severe, women might need hospitalization and an intravenous antibiotic.
Having a negative gonorrhea test results means that you do not have an active gonorrhea infection at the time of taking the test. This test is not significant for people will get engaged in risky behaviors such as having unprotected sex with multiple partners, among others. In that case, even if your test is negative, you have to repeat it after a possible infection. Having a positive gonorrhea test indicates an active gonorrhea infection. You will have to check with your doctor to address problem and, get treated with a course of antibiotics.
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Is There A Cure For Chlamydia And Gonorrhea
Yes. Chlamydia and gonorrhea can both be cured with the right treatment. If these STDs arent treated, they can cause serious health problems, like making it difficult or impossible for a woman to get pregnant.
If you have an STD, its important to get treatment right away. Its also important to tell anyone youve had sex with that you have an STD so they can get treated, too. This can help protect you from getting infected again.
Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Testing
If you have had unprotected sex and think that you have contracted chlamydia or gonorrhea, it is a good idea to get tested in order to get treatment as quickly as possible. In order for the test to show clearly whether or not you have been infected, you must wait at least one week after possible infection.
Testing for chlamydia/gonorrhea and treatment are free, whether you do the test at a clinic or online. If the test shows that you have chlamydia, you need to get treatment at a health centre , youth clinic or sexual health clinic . You will also have to notify any sexual partners. You can read more about sexual diseases, treatment and partner notification at Youmo.se.
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How We Chose The Best At
To narrow down at-home gonorrhea tests for this list, we dove into patient feedback, cost, result accuracy, result timeline, and ease of use.
Next, we broke them down into the categories like best on a budget and most comprehensive so that you can find the best at-home gonorrhea test for you.
As you scroll down, youll notice that each of the four at-home gonorrhea tests below also test for chlamydia. Thats because both bacterial infections are often asymptomatic, but present with similar symptoms, when symptoms are present.
Do You Need An Std Test
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Benefits Of Early Detection And Intervention Or Treatment
The USPSTF found adequate direct evidence that screening reduces complications of chlamydial infection in women who are at increased risk, with a moderate magnitude of benefit.
The USPSTF found adequate evidence that screening for gonorrhea results in a moderate magnitude of benefit based on the large proportion of cases that are asymptomatic, the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment to reduce infections, and the high morbidity associated with untreated infections.
The USPSTF found inadequate evidence that screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea reduces complications of infection and transmission or acquisition of either disease or HIV in men. The magnitude of benefit is unknown.
Get Your Accurate Confidential Std Test At Arcpoint Labs Of Fort Myers
Taking a proactive role in your sexual health shouldnt be stressful, which is why ARCpoint Labs makes it simple to receive discreet, professional STD testing in Fort Myers. Our professional technicians provide chlamydia testing, gonorrhea testing, and a wide range of other STD testing options, so you can customize your services to suit your needs. Here, youll have the advantage of quick, hassle-free lab services, making it easier than ever to take charge of your sexual health and protect yourself from untreated STDs. Whether youre concerned about potential STD symptoms or simply want to take preventive measures, ARCpoint Labs has a testing solution for you.
Learn more about our selection of STD testing and other lab services by contacting ARCpoint Labs of Fort Myers today.
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What Types Of Chlamydia And Gonorrhoea Tests Are There
The most common test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea is a simple urine or swab test, which is what Superdrug Online Doctor offers. This is the same type of test that you would get in any sexual health clinic. This test is easy to use at home, or with the help of a clinician, and provides highly accurate results.
While chlamydia is not a bloodborne infection, blood tests can pick up the presence of chlamydia antibodies. But, blood tests cannot be used to diagnose chlamydia as they can only detect whether you have had chlamydia in the past and developed antibodies against it. It cannot confirm if you have a current infection.
Why should I get tested for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea?
Testing for chlamydia and gonorrhoea, as well as other sexually transmitted infections, is important to keep yourself and your partners safe. Regular testing makes sure that, if you do pick up an infection, you can get treated as soon as possible. Left untreated, these infections can cause serious health problems, like pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.
Getting tested regularly also helps you reduce the spread of these infections. Chlamydia is the most common STI in the UK, and making sure you get tested before having sex with a new partner helps to protect them from a potential infection. Some people choose to do a home chlamydia and gonorrhoea test when they meet a new partner to check they do not have either of these sexually transmitted infections .
Who Should Get Tested
If youre experiencing symptoms associated with gonorrhea, you might choose to take an at-home gonorrhea test.
However, because the symptoms of gonorrhea are similar to those of many other STIs, as well as infections like yeast infections, it may be more cost efficient for you to take an at-home STI test that tests for multiple STIs, or to get tested at a doctors office or Planned Parenthood.
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