What To Do If I Think I Have Chlamydia

How Chlamydia Diagnosis Process Is Carried On In Men

Early treatment of Chlamydia is essential to have a healthy life ahead. In case if you had unprotected sex with your recent partner then you must get tested for STIs as soon as possible. This test can be carried out at any local GUM clinic or GP. With improved facilities of digital world, patients can also order Chlamydia test kits to their home from online sources.

Once this test is carried out then depending upon its results further treatment will be carried out. Note that, Chlamydia disease is very common between age groups of 16 to 25 so most of the clinics these days are offering free tests to identify this disease on time. In case if you had oral or anal sex with your new partner who is suspected to be infected then it is good to undergo an oral swab test pr rectal swab test.

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

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.

Recommended Reading: What Medicine You Take For Chlamydia

Male Complications Of Untreated Chlamydia

Men can also experience complications when chlamydia is left untreated. The epididymis the tube that holds the testicles in place may become inflamed, causing pain. This is known as epididymitis.

The infection can also spread to the prostate gland, causing a fever, painful intercourse, and discomfort in the lower back. Another possible complication is male chlamydial urethritis.

These are just some of the most common complications of untreated chlamydia, which is why its important to get medical attention right away. Most people who get treatment quickly have no long-term medical problems.

What To Do If You Think You Have An Sti

Christmas is a time for giving, but some of the presents we receive are not always ones we want. I’m not talking about that pair of socks that continues to play ‘Silent Night’ long after you’ve gone to bed, or the jumper that appears to give you sparkly dandruff. No, I’m talking about sexually transmitted infections , the gifts that keep on giving.

Reviewed byDr Sarah Jarvis MBE

16-Nov-17·6 mins read

Supported by sexual health charity FPA, a champion of peoples right to sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing.

Festive frolicking

Our survey of 2,000 UK office workers revealed that nearly 20% of Brits have had a sexual encounter with a colleague at the office Christmas party. 1 in 10 admitted they have caught an STI, or know someone who has, from a co-worker.

The lights are low, the Christmas party is in full swing, and that person you have been lusting after all through the year is right there in front of you. You have both had a few Jägerbombs too many, and – as they say – ‘one thing leads to another’. OK, the deed is done, and you may start feeling regretful and worried. Your head may start to fill up with all sorts of questions.

Also Check: How Effective Is Chlamydia Antibiotics

Heres How To Know If Your Partners Sperm Is Healthy Just By Looking At It

You can tell if sperm is healthy just by looking at your partnerâs semen.

Trying to conceive can be one of the most challenging times for a couple. Safe to say, having healthy sperm or strong sperm improves the chances of getting pregnant. But sometimes, this topic might be hard to broach with your husband. It can be a sensitive issue to bring up.

So how can you tell if your husbands sperm is healthy? What does healthy sperm look like? We have some tips on how to tell if sperm is healthy.

Do Any Stis Produce Symptoms Straightaway

You’ve woken up the morning after with one heck of a hangover, and your bits are starting to feel sore. Is this just the genital equivalent of ‘carpet burns’ or the signs of something more worrying?

There are no STIs that show up the morning after. Probably the first infection to do so – which being an insect is more properly called an infestation – is pubic lice. About five days after exposure , you may notice intensely itchy red spots in the pubic area and other hair-bearing areas of the body.

Gonorrhoea can show up as a discharge from the vagina or penis a few days after exposure but can take up to a month. Chlamydia can produce similar symptoms about a week afterwards but can take as long as three weeks. Scabies can cause itching a few days after a re-infection, but if you’ve never had it before, symptoms can take one or two months to appear.

Syphilis can cause a painless ulcer to appear on the genitals about 10 days after acquiring the infection but this can take up to three months. Other infections, such as hepatitis B, can take at least a month to declare themselves, and some, such as HIV can take much longer.

It’s worth repeating that many of these infections produce no symptoms at all. Don’t wait for symptoms to appear before getting tested, because the sooner these infections are treated, the

Don’t Miss: Things Not To Do When You Have Chlamydia

What Is The Treatment For Chlamydia

It is important that treatment for chlamydia should be started without delay. In some people where chlamydia is strongly suspected, this may even mean starting treatment before test results are available. Prompt treatment reduces the risk of complications in the future.

A short course of an antibiotic medicine usually clears chlamydial infection. You should tell your doctor if you are pregnant or are breast-feeding. This may affect the choice of antibiotic. You should not have sex until you and your sexual partner have finished treatment .

The most commonly used antibiotics are:

• Doxycycline one tablet twice a day for seven days or
• Azithromycin one tablet only – single dose.

Other options are used if these are not suitable for you. Your doctor will advise.

What Are The Prominent Chlamydia Symptoms In Men

Actually, no one can easily ensure that his body has some trouble due to the silent infection because its symptoms are rarely reflected. But once if they start occurring then they can be easily noticed even within few weeks. Medical doctors say that symptoms of Chlamydia in men can be random and infrequent so most of the time patients are not able to know if they are in contact with the infection.

Some of the most common signs of Chlamydia in men include:

• Very small cloudy or clear Chlamydia discharge in men from penis tip.
• It can cause painful urination.
• Leads to itching and burning sensation around penis openings.
• Swelling and pain in the area surrounding testicles.

Major symptoms of Chlamydia are observed for genitals but in few cases it can affect rectum, eyes and throat. Note that, the actual effect varies with type of transmission. Few uncommon symptoms of chlamydia in men can include:

• Throat infections.
• Rectal bleeding, discharge or pain.

Also Check: What Are The Early Signs Of Chlamydia

How Can I Know If I Have Chlamydia

If you think you have chlamydia, or any STI, contact your healthcare provider. He or she will examine you and perform tests, if necessary, to determine if you have an STI.

To check for chlamydia, a woman is given a pelvic exam. A sample of fluid is taken from the vagina. In men, a sample of fluid may be taken from the penis. The fluid is sent to a laboratory for testing. The cultures can also be taken from a urine test. Your provider will discuss which way is the best way to check for an infection in your particular situation.

What Should I Do If I Think I Have An Sti

If you think you may have an STI, see a doctor right away. You may feel scared or shy about asking for information or help. Keep in mind, the sooner you seek treatment, the less likely the STI will cause you severe harm. And the sooner you tell your sex partner that you have an STI, the less likely they are to infect you again or spread the disease to others.

To learn about STIs or get tested, contact your doctor, local health department, or an STI and family planning clinic. The American Social Health Association keeps lists of clinics and doctors who provide treatment for STIs. Call ASHA at 800-227-8922. You can get information from the phone line without leaving your name.

Read Also: How To Cure Chlamydia Without Going To The Doctor

Also Check: What Kind Of Antibiotics Cure Chlamydia

Why Do I Keep Getting A Chlamydia Infection

You can get chlamydia even after treatment. You may get it again for several reasons, including:

• You did not complete your course of antibiotics as directed and the initial chlamydia did not go away.
• Your sexual partner has untreated chlamydia and gave it to you during sexual activity.
• You used an object during sex that was not properly cleaned and was contaminated with chlamydia.

How Chlamydia Is Treated

Chlamydia can usually be treated easily with antibiotics.

You may be given a course of doxycycline to take for a week or azithromycin to take once a day for 3 days.

If you have doxycycline, you should not have sex until you and your current sexual partner have finished treatment.

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

It’s important that your current sexual partner and any other recent sexual partners you have had are also tested and treated to help stop the spread of the infection.

Under-25s who have chlamydia should be offered another test 3 to 6 months after being treated.

This is because young adults who test positive for chlamydia are at increased risk of catching it again.

Sexual health or genitourinary medicine clinics can help you contact your sexual partners.

Either you or the clinic can speak to them, or they can be sent a note advising them to get tested.

The note will not have your name on it, so your confidentiality will be protected.

Recommended Reading: How Fast Can I Get Chlamydia Results

What Should I Do If I Have Chlamydia

Chlamydia is easy to treat. But you need to be tested and treated as soon as possible.

If you have chlamydia:

• See a doctor or nurse as soon as possible. Antibiotics will treat chlamydia, but they will not fix any permanent damage to your reproductive organs.
• Take all of your medicine. Even if symptoms go away, you need to finish all of the antibiotics.
• Tell your sex partner so they can be tested and treated. If they are not tested and treated you could get chlamydia again.
• Avoid sexual contact until you and your partner have been treated and cured. Even after you finish your antibiotics, you can get chlamydia again if you have sex with someone who has chlamydia.
• See your doctor or nurse again if you have symptoms that don’t go away within a few days after finishing the antibiotics.

Why It Is Done

A test for chlamydia is done to:

• See whether symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection are caused by a chlamydia infection.
• Check people who are at high risk for being infected with chlamydia. A chlamydia infection does not always cause symptoms. The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends checking for chlamydia for:
• All sexually active women age 25 or younger.
• Women and men with high-risk sexual behaviours.
• All pregnant women in the first trimester and again in the third trimester if high-risk sexual behaviours are reported. Treating a pregnant woman who has a chlamydia infection can prevent an infection in her newborn.

Don’t Miss: Does Any Antibiotics Get Rid Of Chlamydia

Why Do Partners Need Treatment For Chlamydia

People who have Chlamydia, especially women, usually have no symptoms, so may have an infection without even knowing. If they dont get medication to treat it they can pass it back to you or onto other people, which isnt good for anyone, right? Sometimes Chlamydia can cause serious health problems, including infertility. So its really important people get the chance to be treated if you think they might have it.

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.

Recommended Reading: How Soon Can You Feel Symptoms Of Chlamydia

What Should I Do If I Think I Have Chlamydia

If you think you have chlamydia, you need to see your doctor immediately and have a chlamydia test. You may have another STD with similar symptoms, and your doctor needs to know the exact STI you have so that you can get the best treatment.

Chlamydia tests involve collecting a urine sample or swabbing the affected area. Your doctor will send the specimen to a lab for testing to see if you have chlamydia or another type of STI.

If your test is positive for chlamydia, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic immediately.

Read Also: Can Chlamydia Cause Prostate Cancer

What You Need To Know:

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria. Chlamydia is spread during oral, vaginal, or anal sex. The infection most often affects the urethra, rectum, or throat. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from your bladder to the outside of your body. Anyone with multiple sex partners is at higher risk for chlamydia. Your risk is also increased if you have another STI, such as gonorrhea.

You May Like: How To Make Chlamydia Go Away

How Will I Get My Results

It can take a few days to get your results from a swab test, similar to a Pap smear test in women. If youre a woman, you may also be able to obtain an at-home kit to do the vaginal testing on your own.

Your doctor will call you with the results of your test. Be sure you give your doctor your preferred phone number where you can have privacy, such as a mobile phone number. If you dont want them to leave you a voicemail, be sure you tell them before you leave your appointment.

A urine test is much faster to analyze. Your doctor should be able to tell you the results during the same day as your appointment. The downside is that urine tests may not be as accurate as traditional swab testing.

However, urine testing may be more suitable for men. Its also used for more advanced signs of chlamydia, as your body will have a greater number of bacteria to detect at this stage.

You can obtain a chlamydia test from:

• your primary doctor
• a home testing kit and service

find affordable testing

There are clinics that can perform chlamydia testing at a low cost. In some cases, you may obtain testing free-of-charge. You can find a clinic through the American Sexual Health Associations free locator here. All results are confidential.

Ways To Prevent Chlamydia Infection

In case if you are infected with Chlamydia then it is important to take preventive steps to stop spreading it further to other sex partners. Always prefer to follow these tips for prevention:

Any genital chlamydia symptoms in men like burning sensation at the time of urination or discharge can cause unusual rashes or sore. It is the right symptom to stop sexual contact and visit your doctor immediately. In case your doctor immediately identifies presence of Chlamydia in your body then it is good to start treatment from the same day.

Let your past partners know about this disease and ask them to have test fast at a trusted medical clinic. As Chlamydia symptoms are rarely noticeable so it is important to stay aware and protected with proper Chlamydia cure.

Recommended Reading: Does Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Go Away