Chlamydia is the commonest STD and although persons who are infected show no symptoms, it is easy to cure with antibiotic medication. But you have to know you have chlamydia first, and that’s where a Chlamydia STD Test Kit can be invaluable.
Since there are no symptoms associated with chlamydia, getting tested is the only way to find out if you have this disease. Anyone who is sexually active needs to have regular tests for chlamydia. The tests are usually quick, painless, and occasionally free.
For women who are pregnant, testing for this STD is vital especially since an infected person will not show any symptoms. If you are pregnant, you should take the test on your earliest prenatal visit.
Being knowledgeable is key; therefore, with so many common STDs out there, you need to be able to source information about STDs on any website with relevant information. Having the correct information, helps you to identify the common STDs and learn about the different testing procedures for each including chlamydia.
Chlamydia test procedure
Chlamydia testing is very simple. Testing includes rubbing the genitals with a cotton swab, taking cell samples from the vagina, urethra, cervix or the anus. During the exam, your doctor can detect symptoms such as discharge on the cervix.
Chlamydia can look a lot like other common STDs, for example, gonorrhoea, therefore your doctor or nurse can test for other infections.
Getting tested may be a bit scary for you, but getting tested is important because your health is your primary concern. The fact that it is curable with medication should encourage you to take the test and get started on your medication right away.
Several STD test kits available on the market, so you can do your test at home too.
Where to get tested
Testing for chlamydia and other STDs is available at the doctor’s office, the health department, community health clinic or at the Planned Parenthood Health Center in your area. You can go online in some states and buy an STD kit to take your test at home.
Since testing is never included in your usual gynaecologist exam or regular checkup, you need to ask for it. There is no reason to be shy about this, ask your doctor or nurse about the specific test you want. Be open and share your concerns with your trusted medical professional. They will help you because that’s what they are trained for.
Chlamydia is so easy to cure with antibiotics. So encourage your sexual partner to be treated as well. Letting chlamydia remain untreated can result in serious health issues.
Treatment
It is very easy to get rid of chlamydia. Your doctor or nurse will prescribe antibiotics as a treatment for the infection. The dosage depends on what your medical professional recommends. Sometimes only one dose of medication is necessary. However, another treatment lasts for seven days. Your doctor will assist you in figuring out which treatment is your best option.
Once you are being treated, it means that your sexual partners must be treated too. If they are not treated, you will both be infected repeatedly and possibly other persons will be infected too. If you ask, your doctor will prescribe oral antibiotic medication for you and your partner as well.
Precautionary measures while on treatment
Here’s what you should do if you are being treated for chlamydia:
- Follow your doctor’s recommended dosage, even if the symptoms disappear early. Completing your oral antibiotic medication will guarantee that you are fully cured of chlamydia.
- Let your partner seek treatment for chlamydia too, so you’ll not re-infect one another or anybody else.
- Abstain from sex for an entire week (7days). If you are on the one dose medication and don’t engage in sex until the seven days are up. If you are on the seven-day dosage, don’t engage in sex until you have taken all the medication.
- Be sure to return for testing 3-4 months after to ensure your body is completely free of infection.
- Like all other medications, don’t share your STD medication with anyone. If your doctor gives you antibiotics medicine for your partner, don’t take his and vice versa. Ensure you both complete the medication you got.
- This is not a one-time-only infection. You can become infected again if you’re exposed. Therefore, use condoms and test often.
What happens if chlamydia is not treated?
Although chlamydia is a common STD with symptoms that are not visible, it can become a real health hazard if it’s not identified and properly treated at the initial stage.
If you are a female, it can infect your uterus and fallopian tubes and lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). With PID, you may not have any symptoms initially, but permanent damage can occur and cause pain, ectopic pregnancy, or infertility. A test will ultimately reduce your risks of getting PID.
If you are a male, an infection can travel to your epididymis -the tube that transports the sperm from your testicles- and cause chronic pain in the joint. An infection of this sort hardly even cause infertility in men.
If you have chlamydia, it may increase the possibility of you getting or spreading HIV.
A pregnant woman who has chlamydia and leaves it untreated can infect the baby during the birth process. Your newborn baby can get eye infections and develop pneumonia because you are infected. There is also the increased risks of having a premature birth.
If you want to prevent these problems, get tested and treated for chlamydia early. Testing and treatment are quick and easy.
