The recommended tests for chlamydia are simple, painless and generally very reliable. They involve sending a sample of cells to a laboratory for analysis. You don't necessarily have to be examined by a doctor or nurse first and can often collect the sample yourself. Men will usually be asked to provide a urine sample, while women will usually be asked to either swab inside their vagina or provide a urine sample. The results will normally be available in 7 to 10 days.
If there's a high chance you have chlamydia — for example, you have symptoms of the infection or your partner has been diagnosed with it and you've had unprotected sex with them — you might start treatment before you get your results. Read more about treating chlamydia. In addition, let your sexual partner know you tested positive for chlamydia, so he or she can be tested and treated promptly.
Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results. Chlamydia testing enables diagnosis and treatment of the infection before it can cause serious health problems. You can also take steps to prevent getting infected with chlamydia The best way to prevent chlamydia or any sexually transmitted disease is to not have vaginal, anal or oral sex.
If you are sexually active, you can reduce your risk of infection by:. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice.
Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. Chlamydia Test. What is a chlamydia test? What is it used for? A chlamydia test is used to determine whether or not you have a chlamydia infection. Why do I need a chlamydia test?
These recommendations include yearly chlamydia tests for: Sexually active women under the age of 25 Women over the age of 25 with certain risk factors, which include: Having new or multiple sex partners Previous chlamydia infections Having a sex partner with an STD Using condoms inconsistently or incorrectly Men who have sex with men In addition, chlamydia testing is recommended for: Pregnant women under the age of 25 People who are HIV-positive Some people with chlamydia will have symptoms.
Your health care provider may order a test if you experience symptoms such as: For women: Stomach pain Abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge Pain during sex Pain when urinating Frequent urination For men: Pain or tenderness in the testicles Swollen scrotum Pus or other discharge from the penis Pain when urinating Frequent urination.
What happens during a chlamydia test? The clean catch method generally includes the following steps: Wash your hands. The test may be positive within a month, and by 4 months, blood testing finds most cases. While it is possible for males to pass human papillomavirus HPV on to a partner, the CDC have not approved a male test.
Instead, doctors may test for symptoms of the relatively rare cancers that HPV can cause, including penile cancer. In females , HPV rarely causes symptoms. If there are indications, they could appear months or years later. The most reliable test is a Pap smear , which involves swabbing the cervix. This can detect HPV 3 weeks to a few months after exposure.
In some cases, hepatitis B and C may not cause any obvious symptoms for years. If they do appear, hepatitis B usually produces signs within 6 weeks to 6 months. Hepatitis C symptoms may appear as early as 2—6 weeks, but can sometimes take as long as 6 months. A blood test can look for both types of hepatitis. The hepatitis B testing window is 3—6 weeks, while the hepatitis C testing window is 2—6 months.
Early testing at 2 months may miss some cases, so a doctor may recommend retesting at 6 months. A doctor can test for trichomoniasis with a swab of the rectum, penis, or vagina. Many people do not have symptoms, but some may notice a discharge or burning sensation within 5—28 days of exposure.
It is possible to get a positive test within a week of exposure, though some people need to wait up to a month. Syphilis usually begins with a sore on the genitals called a chancre. Blood tests can detect the bacteria within 1—2 weeks after the chancre appears. Chancres are typically painless and usually develop within 3 weeks of exposure, so the total testing window is about 4 weeks. Because the development of syphilis varies from person to person, doctors often recommend retesting about 3 months after exposure.
Some STIs live in the body for many years without triggering any symptoms. Doctors may refer to them as dormant, meaning a person can never diagnose themselves based on symptoms alone. This also means if a person is untested, they can unknowingly pass a dormant STI on to a sexual partner. Getting tested is the only way to know for sure if you have an STD. Chlamydia and gonorrhea can both be cured with the right treatment.
This can help protect you from getting infected again. When there are symptoms, chlamydia and gonorrhea cause very similar things. A doctor or nurse can test your urine for both chlamydia and gonorrhea. Sometimes, the doctor might take a sample from the vagina, penis, rectum, or throat instead. The test is easy and painless. Learn more about chlamydia:. Learn more about gonorrhea:. Get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea if you're at risk.
Talk with your partner about getting tested, too.
0コメント