Chlamydia Tests How is Chlamydia Tested

Chlamydia Treatment is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. Chlamydia tests use a sample of body fluid or urine from the affected area to see whether chlamydia bacteria (Chlamydia trachomatis) are present and causing an infection. In adults, these areas may include the cervix, urethra, rectum, or eye. Several types of tests can be used to find a chlamydia infection. Most tests use a sample of body fluid from the affected area.

- Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT). These tests find the genetic material (DNA) of chlamydia bacteria. These tests are the most sensitive tests available. That means they are very accurate and that they are very unlikely to have false-positive test results. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is an example of a nucleic acid amplification test. This test can also be done on a urine sample.
- Nucleic acid hybridization tests (DNA probe test). A probe test also finds chlamydia DNA. A probe test is very accurate but is not as sensitive as nucleic acid amplification tests.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, EIA). This quick test finds substances (chlamydia antigens) that trigger the immune system to fight chlamydia infection.
- Direct fluorescent antibody test (DFA). This quick test also finds chlamydia antigens.
- symptoms chlamydia culture. A culture is a special cup that allows the chlamydia bacteria to grow. This test is more expensive, and the results take longer (5 to 7 days) than the other tests. The culture must be done in a lab.

What is Chlamydia Test for?

The test is used:
1 to diagnose the cause of symptoms,
2 to screen sexually active people for the microorganism, or
3 to document that a person has been sexually abused.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends checking for chlamydia for:
- All sexually active women age 24 or younger.
- Women older than age 24 with high-risk sexual behaviors.
- All pregnant women in the first trimester and again in the third trimester if high-risk sexual behaviors are reported. Treating a pregnant woman who has a chlamydia infection can prevent an infection in her newborn.
- All women with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
- All women with symptoms of a cervical infection (cervicitis) found on a pelvic exam.

How to Prepare for the Test?

A chlamydia test is done on either fluid (direct sample) collected from the area of the body that is most likely to be infected or on a urine sample. If your chlamydia test is being done on a:
- Direct sample (usually from the cervix): A woman should not douche or use vaginal creams or medicines for 24 hours before having a chlamydia test.
- Urine sample: Do not urinate for 2 hours before a urine sample is collected.

Direct sample
In a direct sample, a sample of body fluid is taken from the affected area. In adults, these areas may include the cervix, urethra, rectum, or eye.
- For men. To collect a sample from the urethra or rectum, your doctor will insert a swab into the opening of your urethra or rectum to collect a sample. A sample from the urethra is more likely to detect chlamydia if a man has not urinated for at least 2 hours before the sample is taken.

- For women. To collect a sample from the cervix, you will take off your clothes below the waist and drape a cloth around your waist. You will lie on your back on an exam table with your feet raised and supported by stirrups. This allows your doctor to examine your vagina and genital area. Your doctor will insert an instrument with curved sides (speculum) into your vagina. The speculum gently spreads apart the vaginal walls so the inside of the vagina and the cervix can be looked at. Samples are collected from the cervix with a swab or small brush.

To collect a sample from your eye, your doctor will gently brush the insides of your lower and upper eyelids with a swab.

In rare cases, a throat culture may be done.

Urine sample
If a urine sample is collected for nucleic acid amplification testing (such as PCR testing), do not urinate for 2 hours before the test. Do not wipe the genital area clean before urinating. Collect the first part of your urine stream, immediately as you begin urinating.

Is there anything else I should know?

People who are infected have a higher risk of developing other sexually transmitted diseases, including a 3 to 5 times greater risk of acquiring HIV if exposed to it. If you are infected, your sexual partner(s) should also be tested and treated as well.

Because symptoms of chlamydia can be similar to those of other STDs, other screening tests, such as for gonorrhea, may be performed along with the chlamydia test.
Dr. Lee is good at treating female and male reproductive and urinary system diseases, such as chlamydia, endometriosis, prostatitis, cystitis, mycoplasma, etc.

Sexual Active Teens Should Notice That You May Have Chlamydia

What is Chlamydia Treatment, caused by Chlamydia Trachomatis bacteria, is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases out there. The majority of sexually active teenagers who contract Chlamydia don't even know it. Many of them don't experience the symptoms at all, and it continually gets passed from person to person without anyone having a clue. It is passed along when people don't use protection during sex, and even through oral sex. Those who do experience a Chlamydia infection will have multiple, painful symptoms affecting their genital areas. If you have become sexually active, and are wondering if you may have contracted Chlamydia, check yourself for obvious Chlamydia symptoms. If you are male, some of the symptoms for Chlamydia are itching and burning around the penis, discharge from the tip of the penis, and rarely, swelling of the testicles.

Symptoms of Chlamydia in women usually results in pain while urinating, discharge from the vagina, and possibly pains in the lower abdomen. Some women will also experience irregular bleeding in between periods, fever-like symptoms and aches in their muscles. The signs of Chlamydia usually appear one to three weeks after a person has had sex with a person who was already infected. If you have the disease then you should undergo treatment as soon as possible. If you are a woman and it is left untreated, it will cause an infection in the urethra, and also inflammation of your cervix. It even leads to PID, pelvic inflammatory disease. It will affect your ovaries, your uterus, and sometimes the fallopian tubes. Pelvic inflammatory disease leads to infertility, or ectopic pregnancies, which means that the embryo will attach itself somewhere outside of the uterus and cause complications. If you are a man, and the symptoms chlamydia is untreated, it will result in inflammation of the epididymis, which transports sperm from testicles.

It will also cause inflammation of the urethra. As a young teenager you may have to explain to your parents that you may have a serious infection and that you need testing. Your parents can take you to be diagnosed by your family doctor or your gynecologist. Depending on your gender, your vagina or penis will be swabbed for secretions, or the doctor may take a urine sample from you to test it. If you do have Chlamydia, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics, and the infection should clear up in a week. Make sure to let your sexual partners know to get tested. Keep in mind that people can't create immunity to this disease, and a Chlamydia infection can reoccur. To lessen your chances of getting any STDs, wear protection during sex and chose your partners carefully.
Dr. Lee is good at treating female and male reproductive and urinary system diseases, such as chlamydia infection, prostatitis, cystitis, mycoplasma, etc.

Important Chlamydia Information Unveiled

Sexually transmitted infections (STI) are very prevalent in almost every part of the world. STIs are infections that are spread from one infected person to another through unprotected sexual contact. If it is left untreated, it can cause permanent damage to your body. Chlamydia Treatment is an STI which is more common amongst young men and women. It caused by a bacterium called chlamydia trachomatis. It is one of the most easily spread infections as it can survive inside the vagina, penis and rectum. Some hints of it can be found in male semen and the vaginal fluids as well.

Chlamydia is considered an extremely dangerous infection as it remains undetected for a long time because of a lack of any visible symptoms. However, you may experience some possible symptoms such as unusual or increased vaginal or penile discharge. Women can also experience cystitis, mild lower abdominal pain along with change in vaginal discharge. In men, it can cause slight discharge from the sex organ and irritation at the head. These symptoms might disappear in a short time, but you should take a test for chlamydia immediately.

If this infection is not treated on time, it can cause serious and life threatening complications. In women, it can cause a painful condition called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can further lead to many serious health complications such as infertility, chronic pain in the pelvis, an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy which can possibly be lethal. Moreover, those women infected with this infection are more likely to get infected with HIV as compared to other uninfected women. Your fallopian tubes can also get damaged permanently which will prevent you from conceiving.

In men, PID decreases sperm production which affects your fertility. In some rare cases, it can cause arthritis along with skin lesions and eye infection. It can also cause an inflammation of the testicles and sperm tubes. Additionally, you may also experience swelling and redness on the scrotum. You can prevent the serious consequences of this infection by opting for annual screening test, especially those are sexually active or have multiple sex partners. All pregnant women should also take a test for symptoms chlamydia.

Fortunately, this infection can be treated with the help of effective antibiotics. The most common types of treatments prescribed by doctor are single doses of Azithromycin or Doxycycline taken for a week. Azithromycin belongs to the class of macrolide antibiotic which is used to treat and prevent numerous bacterial infections. It prevents the multiplication of the chlamydia trachomatis bacterium by stopping the production of protein in the bacterial cells. This gives your immune system enough time to fight off the infection and get it removed from your system. This medication normally stays in your body for a longer period as compared to other antibiotics, therefore it is recommended to take shorter courses of this treatment.

Doxycycline, another effective antibiotic, works by delaying the spread of a bacterial infection, making the bacteria more susceptible to be killed by body's immune system and removed effectively. This antibiotic is taken in a lower dosage for over a period of seven days. This treatment is considered more suitable for people who are more prone to develop side effects with the supply of high doses of antibiotics. Doctors usually prescribe a single dosage Azithromycin tablet of 1000mg if the condition is severe. Otherwise, one 100mg Doxycycline tablet is required to be taken twice a day for seven days. It will give effective and speedy recovery as well. You can buy any of these medications from registered online clinics after completing an online consultation with a licensed doctor.
Read further to know more about Chlamydia infection and common symptoms of STIs from LabsDirect, the leading online testing laboratory in the UK.