Performance Of Chlamydia Screening Tests
Lastly, a proportion of rectal chlamydia treatment failure cases diagnosed are likely to be false positives. Nucleic acid amplification tests are highly sensitive and do not differentiate between live and dead chlamydial nucleic acid, and it has been shown that chlamydia DNA and rRNA can be detected for several weeks after treatment. This highlights the importance of not testing again too quickly after treatment.
Testing And Treating Sexual Partners
If you test positive for chlamydia, it’s important that your current sexual partner and any other recent sexual partners you’ve had are also tested and treated.
A specialist sexual health adviser can help you contact your recent sexual partners, or the clinic can contact them for you if you prefer.
Either you or someone from the clinic can speak to them, or the clinic can send them a note to let them know they may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection .
The note will suggest that they go for a check-up. It will not have your name on it, so your confidentiality will be protected.
Page last reviewed: 01 September 2021 Next review due: 01 September 2024
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.
Read Also: What All Antibiotics Cure Chlamydia
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
Is Azithromycin Better Than Doxycycline At Curing Chlamydia
STD guidelines still favor azithromycin over doxycycline for the treatment of chlamydia. This is because of the following reasons:
- Cure rates of azithromycin and doxycycline are similar, 97% and 98-100% respectively, according to a meta-analysis of 12 trials.
- Azithromycin is given as a single dose, doxycycline needs to be given for seven days, either as a once-daily or twice-daily dose.
- The dose of azithromycin can be easily supervised if need be it is much harder to supervise seven days of once daily or twice daily doxycycline treatment
- People are more likely to take a single dose of azithromycin than finish a seven-day course of doxycycline.
Recently, some reports have suggested that doxycycline may be more effective than azithromycin, particularly when medication adherence can be assured. There is also some concern that azithromycin may not be as effective for anogenital chlamydial infections.
You May Like: How Much Does A Chlamydia Test Cost
What Happens If You Dont Get Treated For Chlamydia
Even though chlamydia is common and doesnt usually cause any symptoms, it can become a big deal if its not caught and treated early.
Chlamydia can spread to your uterus and fallopian tubes if it goes untreated for a long time. This can cause you to have pelvic inflammatory disease . PID can cause permanent damage that leads to pain, infertility, or ectopic pregnancy. So getting tested regularly for chlamydia really lowers your chances of getting PID.
If you have a penis, a chlamydia infection can spread to your epididymis if its left untreated, and can cause chronic joint pain. Rarely, it can make you infertile.
Having chlamydia may increase your chances of getting or spreading HIV.
If you have chlamydia during your pregnancy and dont treat it, you can pass it to your baby when youre giving birth. Chlamydia can also cause eye infections and pneumonia in newborns, and it also increases the risk of delivering your baby too early.
Testing and treatment for chlamydia is quick, easy, and the best way to avoid all of these problems.
Impact Of The Rectal Microbiome On Chlamydia
The unique microbiome of the rectum is another factor that may make rectal chlamydia more difficult to clear. In vivo, IFN- up-regulates the enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, which depletes tryptophan. The genital strains of chlamydia are tryptophan auxotrophs, but have retained the trpBA genes in the tryptophan biosynthesis pathway. This enables them to back-synthesize tryptophan from indole, a compound that is present in the rectum as a product of some bacteria . The availability of indole in the rectum could aid the recovery of chlamydia at this site from attack by the host and could therefore influence how well chlamydia responds to treatment and is cleared. While there is ongoing research investigating the role of the microbiome in cervical chlamydia infection, it should also be investigated for its role in sustaining rectal infection.
You May Like: Can Chlamydia Turn Into Trichomoniasis
How Many Days Does It Take To Recover From Chlamydia
It can take up to two weeks to recover from a chlamydia infection. Most prescriptions last 7 to 14 days on average and chlamydia is typically cleared up at the end. However, you will likely have to be retested after 3 months to ensure you have recovered fully. If you have severe chlamydia it may take longer to recover and a hospital stay may be involved.
How Is Chlamydia Treated In Pregnant Women
Doxycycline, levofloxacin, and ofloxacin are all contraindicated in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Because of this, the recommended treatment is a one-time dose of azithromycin. If azithromycin is not well-tolerated, alternative treatments include amoxicillin or one of several formulations of erythromycin .
Recommended Reading: What To Take For Chlamydia
More About Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
For women, one of the most serious complications from untreated chlamydia is pelvic inflammatory disease .
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 1020% of women with untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea infections may develop PID. And 1 in 8 women with a history of PID experience difficulties getting pregnant. PID can also cause ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain.
Like chlamydia, it is possible for a woman to have PID and not have any symptoms, or have symptoms too mild to notice, for an unknown period of time. If symptoms do occur, they could include:
- Dull pain or tenderness in the lower abdomen
- Burning or pain when you urinate
- Nausea and vomiting
- Increased or changed vaginal discharge
- Pain during sex
What Happens If Chlamydia Isn`t Treated
Not all people with Chlamydia will experience any complications. If the infection gets treatment early, it won`t probably cause any long-term damages. Still, with no treatment Chlamydia will spread to other body parts. The more times you get infected with it, the more like it is for you to experience complications.
- In men this condition may lead to an infection of the testicles and maybe even infertility.
- In women this infection may lead to inflammation and pain around the liver. With proper treatment, this usually gets better in time.
- In women this medical condition may spread to other important body organs leading to PID. In turn, this may lead to long-term damages, such as ectopic pregnancy, pelvic pain, infertility and blocked fallopian tubes.
- In both man and women More rarely, this infection may lead to joint inflammation. This is also known as SARA and it`s on occasion accompanied by eye and urethral inflammation. It occurs more rarely in women than men.
Don’t Miss: What If I Test Positive For Chlamydia
Can Chlamydia Be Prevented
The only sure way to prevent chlamydia is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading chlamydia. If your or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
What Is The Best Home Remedy For Chlamydia
The only consistently proven cure for chlamydia is antibiotics. There are a few products and home remedies out there recommended by countless websites for curing chlamydia at home. Unfortunately, the results of these treatments can be inconsistent and never involve the use of actual antibiotics. The only guaranteed method of treating bacterial infections, like chlamydia, is antibiotics.
Also Check: Cpt Code For Chlamydia Urine Test
How Do You Test For Male Chlamydia
Early testing and treatment of chlamydia is key. If you’ve recently had unprotected sex with a new partner, with someone you suspect may be infected or if you just haven’t been tested for STIs in a while, you should get tested. You can do this at your local GP or GUM clinic, .
Alternatively, you can order a chlamydia test kit from us and take your test at home and further chlamydia treatment if required. Because chlamydia is highly prevalent among 16 to 25 year-olds, chlamydia tests are now offered at most youth clubs and universities too.
You’ll need to provide a urine sample you may need to refrain from passing urine for about two hours leading up to the test to get an accurate result. If you’ve been engaging in oral or anal sex, you should also get a swab test of your rectum or throat.
If you don’t have much time or would prefer a home test, you can order a chlamydia test kit from us and have it delivered to your UK address within 48 hours. Your sample will be sent to a lab for analysis and youll be contacted with the result within a few days.
How Does Chlamydia Spread
Chlamydia is spread when a person has unprotected sex with an infected person.
Because chlamydial infection often has no symptoms, many people do not realise they have the infection.
Even if you know a person well, you may not be able to tell they have an STI, because people can look healthy and still have chlamydia.
Remember, you can get chlamydia and other STIs from a new sexual partner who has in the past had sex with someone who is infected.
It can also be spread from a long-term partner who has had sex with other people.
Read Also: Azithromycin For Gonorrhea And Chlamydia
Chlamydia Treatment In Men
In this article, we will discuss the treatment for male Chlamydia:
Male Chlamydia is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. So for treating this condition, doctors will prescribe antibiotics. During Chlamydia treatment, men undergo a 7 to 14 day course of antibiotics. The antibiotics generally used are azithromycin and doxycycline. A single dose of azithromycin or a double dose of doxycycline for 7 to 14 days should clear the infection in most cases.
During the course of antibiotics, the patient will be asked to abstain from any kind of sexual activity in order to prevent spreading of the infection to the other partners. It is important to finish the course and take all the medicines prescribed because the Chlamydia infection can reoccur or repeat, which is considered as common in this condition.
Doctors may ask the patients to visit again, post the antibiotic course for a retest after a gap of three months. Regular screening for sexually transmitted diseases in people below the age of 25 years who have unprotected sex and change their partners frequently is a great way to keep such conditions at bay. When one is treated for Chlamydia, it is important that his partner also gets tested or treated, irrespective of the fact whether he has passed the infection or not.
Natural Treatments For Chlamydia
1. Goldenseal
According to an article in Alternative Medicine Review, the plant alkaloid berberine found in goldenseal demonstrates significant antimicrobial activity against viruses and bacteria, including chlamydia. Also, in a small clinical study, chlamydia of the eye resulted in no relapses, even one year after treatment with eye drops made from berberine. While the results of this trial are positive, it shows promise that goldenseal may be an effective treatment for chlamydia.
Goldenseal is a natural antibiotic used as an immune system stimulant. Researchers believe it limits clinical symptoms during an infection. When fighting an infection such as chlamydia, goldenseal pills or extracts can help. Four to 6 grams per day in tablet or capsule form is the typical recommendation, or 2 milliliters of an extract, 35 times per day. Do not use goldenseal for more than three consecutive weeks.
2. Echinacea
Widely used by generations as a remedy for snake bites, sore throats, colds, coughs, pain, and intestinal upset, Echinacea has also been found to be highly effective against STDs, including gonorrhea and chlamydia. To stimulate the immune system, the United States Department of Agricultures Natural Resources Conservation Service states that recent research recommends doses of 10 mg per kilogram of body weight over 10 days.
3. Garlic
4. Oil of Oregano
5. Probiotics
Read Also: If You Take Pills For Chlamydia
Get Retested Following Treatment
Many people have more than one chlamydia infection. If youre a girl or woman and your sex partners are not treated for the infection, you will be at high risk for reinfection. Repeated infections with chlamydia make it much more likely that your ability to have children will be affected. Repeated infections also raise your risk of painful complications, such as pelvic inflammatory disease.
Both women and men with chlamydia should be retested about three months after they are first diagnosed and treated. Go to be retested even if you think your sex partners were successfully treated.
Chlamydial Conjunctivitis In Newborns
A pregnant woman who is infected with chlamydia can infect her newborn baby as he or she passes through the birth canal during delivery. Up to 50 percent of newborn babies can contract chlamydia from an infected mother during delivery, according to research.
Symptoms of chlamydial conjunctivitis in newborns may include swelling, redness or watery discharge. Newborns typically begin experiencing these symptoms around 5 to 7 days after birth.
Chlamydial conjunctivitis in newborns is treated through IV antibiotics, as well as with antibiotic ointment. If the condition is left untreated in newborns, it can lead to further complications, such as lung infections and even blindness.
Read Also: What Happens If You Get Chlamydia Twice
Hsv1 & Hsv2 Incubation Periods
The herpes simplex virus can cause sores to appear around the mouth, genitals, and other areas of the body. These sores are both irritating and highly infectious, and direct contact with them is one of the main methods for transmitting herpes. Because the virus can spread through kissing, skin-to-skin contact, and oral, anal, and vaginal sex, it is very common. Herpes comes in two forms: HSV-1 and HSV-2, which are sometimes known respectively as oral herpes and genital herpes, despite that neither type of herpes exclusively affects a single region. Many unknowingly carry herpes infections without issue, but there is treatment available to manage extreme cases for those who need it. It is best to wait 4-6 weeks after the potential first exposure to be tested. 9)
How To Prevent Chlamydia
Since chlamydia is a STD, the only 100% effective way to not contract the disease is to not have oral, anal, or vaginal sex. If you are sexually active, however, there are a few things you can do to reduce the risk:
- Limit the number of sexual partners Have yourself and your partner get tested before having oral, vaginal, or anal sex and remain monogamous to better ensure you are not exposed. The more partners you have at any given time, the more likelihood of contracting chlamydia or any other STD.
- Use condoms Use condoms as directed every time to help reduce the risk, but condoms are not 100% effective in eliminating the risk.
- Get tested regularly Since having a history of STDs increases your likelihood of contracting another, getting tested regularly helps limit exposure.
- Avoid douching Douche or douching refers to washing out the vagina either with an at-home mix of water and vinegar or using a purchased product that can include antiseptics and fragrances. Between 20% to 40% of women ages 15 to 44 in the US use a douche and believe it helps clean and freshen their vagina as well as avoid getting a STD or pregnancy. Health experts agree that douching is both not effective and increases your risk of a STD or other health problems.
Recommended Reading: Is Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Curable
Will I Need To Go Back To The Clinic
If you take your antibiotics correctly, you may not need to return to the clinic.
However, you will be advised to go back for another chlamydia test if:
- you had sex before you and your partner finished treatment
- you forgot to take your medication or didn’t take it properly
- your symptoms don’t go away
- you’re pregnant
If you’re under 25 years of age, you should be offered a repeat test for chlamydia 3 to 6 months after finishing your treatment because you’re at a higher risk of catching it again.