Chlamydia Test: How do I know if I have chlamydia?

Posted by Rick Martin on November 24th, 2020

Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs in the UK and, it can lead to serious complications if left untreated. However, chlamydia is easy to treat when it is detected. Chlamydia does not usually show noticeable symptoms so it can be difficult to know when you are infected, but, a doctor can easily diagnose chlamydia through a chlamydia testing.

A chlamydia infection can affect the vagina, penis, throat, anus or eyes and a simple sexual health test in London can help you to identify the infection.

How is a chlamydia test done?

To know if you have chlamydia infection, your medical professional will collect your cell samples and send them to the lab where they will be analysed to check for the presence of the bacteria responsible for chlamydia.

Test procedure if you have a vagina

To collect your sample, your medical professional will ask you to remove your clothes from your waist down and cover a paper blanket or wear a paper gown. You will then lie down on an exam table and place your feet in stirrups.

Your doctor or nurse will use a swab or small brush to gently swab your vagina, cervix, anus, and/or inside your mouth and throat. A new swab will be used for each sample taken from a different location. Your medical professional will then send the samples to a laboratory for testing.

Test procedure if you have a penis

To get your sample, your medical professional will ask you to remove your pants and underwear and cover a paper blanket then sit on an exam table.

You, doctor or nurse, will swab the head of your penis with alcohol or any other sterile agent before inserting a cotton swab into your urethra through the tip of your penis. A swab of your anus mouth and/or throat may also be taken. A new swab will be used for each location and, your doctor or nurse will send all the samples to a lab for testing.

Testing with a urine sample

Your medical professional will provide a specimen cup and a cleansing wipe for you. To get your urine sample for the chlamydia test, you will clean your genital area using the clean wipe then begin to urinate before slipping the specimen cup into your urine stream. Collect the sample then finish urinating.

You will submit the urine sample in your doctor’s office or a designated place as instructed by your doctor. The sample will then be sent to the lab for testing.

Home Testing

Chlamydia home testing kits are available and can be mailed to you for your sample collection. After you have collected the samples, you will mail them to the lab for analysis and, the result will be sent back to you.

If your result comes back as positive, ensure you go to a doctor immediately to get the necessary treatment to prevent any long-term complications.

How will I get my result?

A chlamydia test may take a few days before the result will be ready and, your doctor can call you to tell you the result. During your initial appointment, ensure you give your doctor your preferred phone number where you can have privacy. Be sure to tell your doctor if you do not want your result to be delivered to your voice mail.

The urine test result may be available on the same day as your appointment but, it is not as accurate as swab test. However, it is effective for men and those with advanced symptoms of the infection.

Who performs chlamydia testing?

You can get a chlamydia test from

• A gynaecologist
• Your family doctor
• Your local health department
• A family planning clinic
• An urgent care facility
• A student health clinic

What are the symptoms of chlamydia?

Chlamydia does not usually show any symptom but, sometimes, after a week or two of contracting the infection, you may notice the following.

• Pelvic pain
• Painful intercourse
• Frequent urination
• Lower abdominal pain
• Painful intercourse and bleeding between periods in women
• Rectal pain or discharge
• Vaginal/penile yellowish discharge
• Testicular pain in men

What is the treatment for chlamydia?

Chlamydia s a bacterial infection so, it can be treated with oral antibiotics taken over 5 – 10 days or as prescribed by the doctor. Generally, it takes about two weeks for the infection to clear and, you need to finish the medications prescribed by your doctor to prevent a reoccurrence of the infection.

How often should I be tested?

If you are sexually active and are at risk of having the infection, you should get tested at least once a year. You may need to get tested more than once in a year if you switch sex partners. You would also need to be tested during your first prenatal appointment if you are pregnant.

Ensure that your partner(s) gets tested too especially if you tested positive to chlamydia.

With early diagnosis and treatment, you can avoid all the complications associated with chlamydia so ensure you get routine chlamydia testing near you.

You can call our STD Check Clinic today on 020 37457523 to book an appointment for your chlamydia testing.