Also known as:
Name: Chlamydia
Related tests: Gonorrhoea
Why is the test done?
To diagnose a chlamydia infection.
When is it done?
If you are sexually active or pregnant, if you have one or more risk factors for chlamydia infection, or if you have a cervical infection; depending on risk factors, probably once a year.
What samples are required?
A swab of cells or secretions from the infected area.
What is being analysed?
The test looks for infection with the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, a sexually transmitted infection.
How is the sample collected for testing?
Usually the doctor uses a swab to take a sample of cells from the infected area, such as the cervix, urethra, penis, anus or throat. A urine sample may be collected instead, but only if the laboratory performing the test uses a new, highly sensitive molecular biology method.
How is it used?
When is it requested?
What does the test result mean?
Is there anything else I should know?
How is it used?
The test is used in two ways:
1. to diagnose the cause of symptoms
2. to look for the bacterium in sexually active people
A definite diagnosis is important because chlamydia can resemble gonorrhoea, and the two infections need different antibiotic treatment.
When is it requested?
The doctor may request the test if you have symptoms such as vaginal discharge and abdominal pain (in women) or unusual discharge from the penis or pain when passing urine (in men). However, about 75% of infected women and 50% of infected men have no symptoms, so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend testing in the following cases:
• all sexually active women under 20 (at least once a year)
• women aged 20 or over who have one or more risk factors (once a year). Risk factors include having new or multiple sexual partners, or having sex without a condom with someone who has other partners.
• all women with a cervical infection.
• all pregnant women
What does the test result mean?
A positive test indicates an active infection that needs antibiotic treatment.
Is there anything else I should know?
Chlamydia is often called the “silent epidemic”, because the infection is so common and many people do not know they are infected. Chlamydia is particularly widespread among young people under 25. It is four times more common than gonorrhoea and six times more common than herpes.
Chlamydia can be treated easily, but if left untreated it can cause serious general and reproductive problems.
If the infection is diagnosed, your partner should also be tested and treated.
People who are infected are at higher risk of catching other sexually transmitted diseases, including a 3-5 times higher risk of catching HIV if exposed to it.
A diagnosis of sexually transmitted disease should not be ruled out even if the test is negative; the patient’s clinical picture should always be taken into account.
1. What are the symptoms of chlamydia?
2. What would happen if it were not treated?
3. How is chlamydia transmitted?
4. How is it treated?
1. What are the symptoms of chlamydia?
Many infected people have no symptoms and so are not treated. In women the symptoms (if any) are bleeding between periods or after sex, abdominal pain, painful sex and abnormal vaginal discharge. In men the symptoms include a pus-like or milky discharge from the penis. Both sexes may have painful or frequent urination.
2. What would happen if it were not treated?
If untreated, women can develop pelvic inflammatory disease starting from lesions of the cervix, which can also spread to the fallopian tubes or ovaries. This very often causes infertility and increases the risk of a tubal (ectopic) pregnancy, which can be fatal. Infected pregnant women may have heavy bleeding before delivery or premature rupture of the membranes. Men can also become infertile. Both sexes can develop anal redness and itching and swollen, red eyes.
3. How is chlamydia transmitted?
It is generally transmitted through sexual contact (oral, vaginal or anal) with an infected partner. An infected mother can pass the infection on to her baby during birth. These babies are at risk of developing conjunctivitis (an inflammation that can lead to blindness) or pneumonia.
4. How is it treated?
Chlamydia infection can easily be treated with a course of antibiotics