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Chlamydia

Chlamydia - how common is it?

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the UK. In 2oo6, over 113,000 people were diagnosed with chlamydia in UK GUM clinics. Unfortunately, chlamydia tends not to show any symptoms so unless you have a chlamydia test, you might not know you have it. Through this website you can purchase a chlamydia test by post or, if you already know you have chlamydia, request chlamydia treatment by post.

Chlamydia - what are the symptoms in men?

Chlamydia can cause a discharge from the end of the penis and a feeling of burning when peeing. Occasionally a more complicated infection occurs in men when chlamydia infects the epididymis (a tube at the top of the testicle) causing epididymitis. Epididymitis leads to pain and sweeling on one side of the scrotum. Chlamydia infection can cause a painful joint condition in men known as sexually acquired reactive arthritis (SARA).

Chlamydia - what are the symptoms in women?

Women might get an abnormal vaginal discharge, bleeding between periods and a feeling of burning when peeing. The chlamydia infection can spread to the fallopian tubes and ovaries leading to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID typically causes lower abdominal pain, a fever and a discharge. PID can affect a woman’s fertility if left untreated. Untreated chlamydia infection in pregnancy has also been implicated in miscarriages and pre-term labour. Chlamydia infection in the eye can also occur, particularly when passed to a newborn baby during vaginal delivery. If left untreated, a chlamydia infection in the eye can lead to blindness. Chlamydia is probably the biggest cause of blindness worldwide. Chlamydia infection can cause a painful joint condition in women known as sexually acquired reactive arthritis (SARA).

Chlamydia - how do you test for it?

There are two good ways to test for chlamydia – a chlamydia test using a urine sample or using a chlamydia test using a genital swab. Both methods are very accurate but each chlamydia testing method has its pros and cons. Chlamydia tests off a urine sample are much more convenient and don't involve any kind of examination. Chlamydia tests off a genital swab are slightly more accurate. On the internet women can buy what are called 'chlamydia wands' - i.e. chlamydia test that give you the chlamydia result there and then. Our doctors and nurses have decided that we're not going to use this type of chlamydia test, as we think that laboratory-based home testing is more accurate.

Chlamydia - what tests can I request from this website?

Our chlamydia home test uses urine samples. Our reasoning is that urine tests are just so much easier from the patient's perspective than taking one's own genital swab at home. Anyone testing positive for chlamydia using our postal chlamydia test receives one course of treatment by post at no extra charge.

Chlamydia - how might I have got it?

Chlamydia is spread by full, unprotected sex - whether vaginal or anal - with a partner who already has chlamydia. Chlamydia can also spread if a condom breaks during sex, even if a man hasn't ejaculated. It's pretty rare for chlamydia to spread through oral sex, but never say never. Chlamydia has been known to spread on fingers, from one persons vagina or penis to another's.

Chlamydia - when might I have got it?

It isn't that easy to know when you contracted chlamydia because often chlamydia won't show any symptoms. If you've had unprotected sex with someone who is subsequently diagnosed with chlamydia, that's probably how you got your chlamydia. Chlamydia is very easy to pass on.

Chlamydia - how do I get it treated?

The good news is that chlamydia tends to be very easy to treat with antibiotics. If you already know that you need chlamydia treatment, you can request chlamydia treatment through this website. Very little drug resistance has been reported to chlamydia treatment. The most common antibiotic treatments used are azithromycin, doxycycline and erythromycin. Azithromycin as a chlamydia treatment has the advantage that it's taken as a one-off dose while the doxycycline and erythromycin as chlamydia treatments require a one week course. If your chlamydia infection was complicated you may require a longer course of chlamydia treatment.

Chlamydia - if I have it, should I tell a partner?

If you've been told you have chlamydia, it's absolutely essential that you tell your partners. If you don't tell them and they don't realise that they have a high risk of already having chlamydia, there are at risk of serious and preventable health problems. If you don't want to tell your partners yourself, your local clinic can tell your partners for you. Anyone who uses our postal testing service for chlamydia can ask us to tell their partners for them.

Chlamydia - after I've taken treatment, should I have a retest?

If you've taken your chlamydia medication as instructed and there's no risk that you've been reinfected by a partner, there's generally no reason to have a retest for chlamydia. If you do want a retest, you'll have to wait three weeks after you've finished the treatment before taking the test. Otherwise, the retest may pick up signs of the original chlamydia infection, even though the chlamydia infection has been treated effectively.

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