What Is The Test For Gonorrhea And Chlamydia

Young People And Sexual Health Clinics

You can attend a sexual health clinic at any age and all results will be treated confidentially.

If you’re 13 to 16 years old, nobody in your household will be contacted without your permission. However, you may be encouraged to talk to your parents, guardian or another trusted adult.

The situation is different for people under 13, because the law says that people of this age cannot consent to sexual activity.

Page last reviewed: 15 September 2021 Next review due: 15 September 2024

Specimen Collection And Handling

Urine specimens are the specimen of choice for males and post-hysterectomy female patients.

For females in general, urine is a second-line option, because it is less sensitive than cervical swabs for CT/GC NAAT. For testing non-post-hysterectomy female patients, please refer to the test information sheet for specimen collection and testing information.

How Do I Know If I Have An Sti

Dont wait until you show symptoms, as you might never get any. If youve had unprotected sex then its important to get tested to make sure that you dont have an STI. Especially because infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea can be symptomless, you run the risk of infecting your partner, or any future partner.

You can visit a sexual health clinic to get tested where they will ask you questions about your sexual history before examining you. The tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea involve giving a urine sample and possibly a swab test from the vagina. If you prefer, you can order a test kit online to do at home.

If you test positive for one, or think that you have symptoms of one, then its advisable to get tested for all common STIs. It is possible to have multiple sexually transmitted infections.

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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.

How Does This At

This gonorrhea and chlamydia at-home test is a urine test â so a vaginal swab or blood sample is not required. To take the test, simply urinate in a collection cup and place your sample in the mail. Weâll send your sample to one of the labs we use for testing .

The lab will then use molecular testing technology that can identify the DNA of gonorrhea and chlamydia in your sample. This type of testing, known as nucleic acid amplification, is usually more accurate than other methods of gonorrhea and chlamydia testing .

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Important: Using Sexual Health Clinics During Coronavirus

Find a sexual health clinic.

It’s possible to buy a gonorrhoea test from a pharmacy to do yourself at home. However, these tests vary in accuracy, so it’s recommended that you go to your local sexual health service.

All tests are free through the NHS, but you’ll have to pay if you go to a private clinic.

If you go to your GP practice, you may have to pay a prescription charge for any treatment.

Where Can I Get Tested For Chlamydia

You can get tested for chlamydia and other STDs at your doctors office, a community health clinic, the health department, or your local Planned Parenthood health center. In some states, you can do an online visit and take a chlamydia test at home.

STD testing isnt always part of your regular checkup or gynecologist exam you have to ask for it. Be open and honest with your nurse or doctor so they can help you figure out which tests you may need. Dont be embarrassed: Your doctor is there to help, not to judge.

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What To Do After First False Positive Chlamydia Test Result

We should try as much as possible never to accept a false positive test result without asking for a re-test especially when we are very sure of our status. Because accepting a false positive Chlamydia test result could lead to unethical and unnecessary surgery, treatment or inefficient/ineffective doctors appointment, when unknowingly to us and the lab technician we never did had such infection after all.

Originally posted 2016-09-15 13:27:04.

Urine Testing Vs Bacterial Culture

Urine testing is currently primarily used to detect bacterial STDs. Chlamydia and gonorrhea urine tests are widely available. Trichomoniasis urine tests are also available, but they are less common.

The gold standard for diagnosing bacterial STDs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, used to be bacterial culture. That involved attempting to grow bacteria out of samples that were taken directly from the cervix or urethra.

These days, bacterial DNA testing is considered a better option. It works differently than bacterial culture. Instead of trying to grow bacteria, these tests just look for bacterial DNA. This can be done using a process called ligase chain reaction or with other DNA amplification techniques.

These types of testing are sensitive to even very small amounts of bacterial DNA. Even better, they do not require a live bacterial sample. As such, they can be run on urine samplesnot just urethral or cervical swabs.

For most people, the thought of a getting gonorrhea urine test or chlamydia urine test is a lot less intimidating than the thought of needing a physical exam.

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How Long Before Chlamydia Becomes Serious

Symptoms usually appear within one to three weeks after being infected and may be very mild. If not treated, chlamydia can lead to damage to the reproductive system. In women, chlamydial infection can spread to the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease , according to the CDC.

Im Pregnant How Does Gonorrhea Affect My Baby

If you are pregnant and have gonorrhea, you can give the infection to your baby during delivery. This can cause serious health problems for your baby. If you are pregnant, it is important that you talk to your health care provider so that you get the correct examination, testing, and treatment, as necessary. Treating gonorrhea as soon as possible will make health complications for your baby less likely.

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Can I Take The Test At Home

Samples for gonorrhea NAAT testing can be collected at home, while other gonorrhea tests must be performed by a healthcare professional. At-home testing for gonorrhea involves collecting a urine sample and using a prepaid shipping label to mail it to a certified lab for testing.

If an at-home test comes back positive or if you have symptoms of gonorrhea, its important to talk with a doctor.

How Does A Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Test Work

Screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea can be done at home or at a clinic. A sample of urine is typically sent to a laboratory, which checks the urine for chlamydia and gonorrhea DNA. If you are using the Everlywell at-home test, youâll receive secure, online results just a few days after the lab receives your sample.

Learn more:How to test for gonorrhea

Also Check: Tell Tale Signs Of Chlamydia

How Is Each Condition Transmitted

Both STIs are caused by bacterial infections that are transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, meaning sex without using a condom, dental dam, or another protective barrier between you and your partner during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

Its also possible to contract the infection through sexual contact that doesnt involve penetration. For example, if your genitals come into contact with the genitals of someone whos contracted the infection, its possible to develop the condition.

Both STIs can also be contracted through protected sex with a condom or other barrier if you dont use protection properly, or if the barrier breaks.

Either STI can be contracted even if you arent showing visible symptoms. Both STIs can also be transmitted to a child at birth if the mother has either condition.

Youre at increased risk for developing these and other STIs if you:

• have multiple sexual partners at one time
• dont properly use protection, such as condoms, female condoms, or dental dams
• regularly use douches which can irritate your vagina, killing healthy vaginal bacteria
• have contracted an STI before

Sexual assault can also increase your risk of both chlamydia or gonorrhea.

Both STIs can be diagnosed using similar diagnostic methods. Your doctor may use one or more of these tests to ensure that the diagnosis is accurate and that the right treatment is given:

How Accurate Are Urine Gonorrhea And Chlamydia Tests

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How Are Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Treated

Both chlamydia and gonorrhea are treated with an antibiotic called azithromycin. Youll usually be given a 1000mg dose in four tablets to be taken all at once. The infection/s will take a week to fully clear and you should avoid having sex during this time and until your partner has been tested and treated too. Using condoms will help to protect you from either transmitting or spreading an STI.

Did You Know It Gets In Your Mouth Oh And Your Butt Too

Thats right guys , were talking about those pesky sexually transmitted infections, gonorrhea and chlamydia. And you read that rightit can end up in your mouth and your butt.

So listen up to learn about the only way to test for these two serious infections, because your previous provider may not have done it correctly.

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Purpose Of Urine Testing For Stds

It used to be that STD testing, particularly for bacterial STDs, was very uncomfortable.

Men who thought they might have a bacterial STD like chlamydia or gonorrhea got tested by having a swab inserted into their urethra. Women had to undergo a pelvic exam, during which a cervical swab would be taken and tested for bacteria.

The fact that STD testing was uncomfortable and invasive made it less likely that people would undergo regular STD screening.

That probably contributed to what is sometimes known as the hidden epidemic of asymptomatic STDs. Because many STDs have no symptoms, the only way to detect them is through testing. When people aren’t tested regularly, they can spread STDs to their partners without even knowing it.

Urine testing makes it easier for people to undergo STD testing as part of their regular medical care. Note, however, that STD testing is still not a standard part of most annual exams.

Suggestions For Practice Regarding The I Statement

Potential Preventable Burden. Chlamydial and gonococcal infections are often asymptomatic in men but may result in urethritis, epididymitis, and proctitis. Uncommon complications include reactive arthritis and disseminated gonococcal infection. Infections at extragenital sites are typically asymptomatic. Chlamydial and gonococcal infections may facilitate HIV transmission in men and women.1,4,5 Median prevalence rates among men who have sex with men who were tested in STD Surveillance Network clinics in 2012 were 16% for gonorrhea and 12% for chlamydia.1

Potential Harms. Potential harms of screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea include false-positive or false-negative results as well as labeling and anxiety associated with positive results.

Costs. According to the CDC, STIs in the United States are associated with an annual cost of almost $16 billion.8 Among nonviral STIs, chlamydia is the most costly, with total associated costs of $516.7 million . Gonococcal infections are associated with total costs of $162.1 million .9

In 2008, estimated direct lifetime costs per case of chlamydial infection were $30 in men and $364 in women. Similarly, gonococcal infections were associated with direct costs of $79 in men and $354 in women.9

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What Measures Can I Take To Prevent These Conditions

The only way that you can completely prevent yourself from catching chlamydia, gonorrhea, or another STI is by abstaining from sexual activity.

But there are also plenty of ways you can reduce your risk of contracting or transmitting these infections:

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Copyright 2021 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. All rights reserved. Read copyright and permissions information.

This information is designed as an educational aid for the public. It offers current information and opinions related to women’s health. It is not intended as a statement of the standard of care. It does not explain all of the proper treatments or methods of care. It is not a substitute for the advice of a physician. Read ACOGs complete disclaimer.

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Can You Prevent Chlamydia And Gonorrhea

As both infections are so common that almost anyone who is sexually active is at risk of contracting it, the only surefire way to prevent chlamydia and gonorrhea is by remaining abstinent.

In saying that, there are a number of steps that can be taken in order to reduce your risk, including:

• Use protection during sexual contact
• Regularly screen your sexual health
• Dont share sex toys

If you have tested positive for chlamydia or gonorrhea, dont forget to abstain from sexual activity until you have completed treatment and all symptoms are gone.

Regular sexual health screening is one of the best steps you can take towards knowing more about your sexual health. This can be done with your doctor or from the comfort of home with an at-home lab test.

LetsGetCheckeds range of STI Tests detect some of the most common infections – this includes our Simple 2 Test which tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Online results will be available within 2-5 days and our dedicated medical team will be available every step of the way to answer any questions you may have regarding the process, results, or treatment.

You should consider taking a test if:

• You become sexually active
• You have had unprotected sex
• You are experiencing symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection
• You are entering into a new sexual relationship
• You have received a notification from a previous partner that they are infected

How Is Gonorrhea Contracted

Gonorrhea spreads through semen or vaginal fluids during unprotected sexual contact, heterosexual or homosexual, with an infected partner:

• vaginal or anal sex with an infected partner
• oral sex, although this is less common
• sharing sex toys
• touching parts of the body with fingers
• any very close physical contact
• the bacteria can be passed from hand to hand
• from a mother to her baby at birth

You can NOT catch it from simple kissing, sharing baths, towels, cups, or from toilet seats.

114 days.

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What If My Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Test Result Is Not Normal

Test results are only one part of a larger picture that takes into account your medical history and current health. Sometimes a GC Chlamydia STD test needs to be repeated to check the first result. Talk to your health care provider about your result and ask questions.

If your test result is positive, ask your health care provider:

• If you need additional tests
• Any questions you have about your treatment
• When you need to be tested again
• When it is safe to have sex again
• How to protect yourself against reinfection

If you have a positive urine chlamydia and gonorrhea lab test result, you should tell your sexual partner. Follow your health care provider’s advice about when it is safe to start having sex again. Use latex or polyurethane condoms every time you have sex to prevent another infection.

How To Test For Chlamydia

You can use an at-home chlamydia test or get tested at a clinic. A chlamydia test kit like the Everlywell test requires a urine sample you collect with materials included with the kit. You then send the sample to a lab and get secure, online results a few days later. Screening at a clinic may require a urine sample or oral and/or rectal samples collected with a swab . How you get your results will depend on the clinic you go to.

Hereâs how to test for chlamydia at home using the Everlywell Chlamydia & Gonorrhea Test kit:

• Register your kit online. Use the unique ID included inside your kit and go to www.everlywell.com/register. Write your date of birth and the sample collection date on the transport tube provided by the kit.
• Collect your sample by urinating into the specimen collection cup thatâs included with the kit.
• Use the pipette to place the sample into a transport tube, and put the tube into the biohazard bag .
• Place the bag into the shipping envelope , apply the prepaid shipping label, and place your envelope in the mail. Your sample will then arrive at a laboratory, where it will be analyzed for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
• Just days later, youâll be notified that your results are ready. You can privately view your results online on our secure platform.

Taking a chlamydia test at home is a great way to skip the trip to your doctorâs office âand, instead, check for chlamydial infections from the comfort and privacy of your home.

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