Chlamydia Trachomatis

Diagnosis

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends testing for chlamydia in anyone who shows symptoms. Even without symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider to find out how often you should be screened.

Some groups are advised to get tested more frequently:

• Sexually active women age 25 or younger: This group has the highest rate of infection, so yearly screening is recommended. Testing is also advised when you have a new sexual partner.

• Pregnant people: Chlamydia testing may be done during the first prenatal visit. If you are at higher risk — under age 25, have a new partner, or have a partner who may be infected — get tested again later in pregnancy.

• People at high risk: Those with new or multiple sex partners or men who have sex with men should consider regular screening. Other signs of high risk include having another sexually transmitted infection (STI) or exposure to an infected partner.

Screening and diagnosis are simple. Some people may use an at-home test to check for chlamydia, but a healthcare professional must confirm the diagnosis and start treatment if the test is positive.

To determine whether you have chlamydia, your healthcare professional may take one of the following samples for testing:

• Urine test: A urine sample is analyzed in a lab for the presence of infection. This can be done for both males and females.

• Swab test: A swab is used to collect a sample from the cervix, vagina, throat, or anus.

  • For the cervix, a sample is taken during a pelvic exam, sometimes along with a Pap test.

  • For the vagina, the sample can be collected by either you or a healthcare professional.

  • For males and females, depending on sexual history, a throat or anal swab may also be taken.

Treatment

Chlamydia trachomatis infections are treated with antibiotics. Treatment usually involves:

• A one-time dose or a 7-day course of medication.

• Most infections clear up within 1 to 2 weeks after completing the antibiotic.

Avoid sexual activity from the time treatment starts until all symptoms are gone. This helps prevent spreading the infection.

Sexual partners from the last 60 days should also be tested and treated, even if they have no symptoms. Otherwise, reinfection can occur. Avoid sexual contact until all exposed partners have completed treatment.

Having chlamydia once does not protect you from getting it again.

The CDC recommends a follow-up test three months after treatment to check for reinfection. Retesting is important because people can get infected again if partners are untreated or new partners carry the bacteria.