QUESTIONS YOU’D LIKE ANSWERED?
Here are the most frequently asked questions and answers sabout chlamydia
Chlamydia can only be passed through sexual contact (penetrative, oral or anal) or by sharing sex toys. However if these don’t apply to you, then your risk of Chlamydia is very low and we would not be advising you to get tested.
If you have not had sex
Don’t forget not everybody is having sex – and the age of first time sex is rising. You are not unusual in any way if you have not yet started having sex. You should wait until you are ready, and when that time comes make sure you use a condom and protect yourself from unplanned pregnancy or any sexually transmitted infections. You should also think about having a Chlamydia test after you have had sex.
A positive test result does not give any indication of the length of time someone has been infected for. You may not have any symptoms at all or they may appear a long time after you have been in contact with somebody infected with Chlamydia.
Unless you have been given information from somebody aware that they have Chlamydia, you will not know if you caught it from your current partner or a previous sexual partner. These doubts can be hard to handle but you should be proud of yourself for having the test and being sure. This way treatment can be given quickly, minimising the spread of Chlamydia or problems to your future health.
No. The result from the sample you provide is only for your test. Although Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection, and therefore passed between partners, we do advise your partner has their own test, and obtain a result from their own wee sample.
Testing for Chlamydia in Wirral Antenatal Services is usual practice, so do not be alarmed if you are asked if you would like a test.
We would strongly advise you take up this offer – even if you feel your risks are low as Chlamydia can be linked to early miscarriage and premature birth of the baby.
If you were found to have Chlamydia and didn’t know we can make sure we get you and your partner treated before the baby is born, minimising any risk to the baby.
The antibiotics we give are safe to take whilst pregnant.
If you are still infected when the baby is born, Chlamydia can be passed to the baby during the birth and this can cause inflammation and discharge from the baby's eye (conjunctivitis) or, rarely, pneumonia.
Yes of course. Neither the urine sample or the test result will be effected by your period.
After our health advisers give you the correct antibiotics, they will ask for you not to have sex for seven days (even with protection). You need to give a chance for the medication to clear the infection. If you have sex in this time there is a high chance you will re-infect yourselves or others if you have a new partner. You should make sure your current sexual partner is treated with antibiotics before you consider having sex with them again.
The treatment that we give is the best you can get – and very effective. We feel confident that if it is taken correctly and the instructions we give are followed the antibiotics should work to clear up Chlamydia. However, some people do like to have a further test after treatment ‘just to make sure’ . We would advise you wait at least five weeks after taking your tablets as traces of dead bacteria can be found in the urine for a while after. If you test too soon your result may be inaccurate.