Chlamydia – What You Need To Know
Book your private or home chlamydia test today
Here at Your Sexual Health we offer private STD tests to diagnose a range of conditions including chlamydia. If you’ve had unprotected sex with someone you didn’t know or you’re suspicious that your partner may have, then our private chlamydia testing options will give you the answer you need. This information resource from Your Sexual Health’s Dr Rashid Bani will provide you with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision before booking a test.
What is chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that can only be passed on through sexual contact with an infected individual. It rarely causes symptoms, but can be passed on months and sometimes years after the person was initially infected, which further aides its spread.
Despite its prevalence and contagious nature chlamydia is not considered a serious condition and can be treated early with a special course of antibiotics. However, if the condition is left untreated it can cause a range of complications including infertility or pelvic inflammatory disease. For this reason it’s important to get tested regularly.
If you’ve had unprotected sex with someone who has chlamydia then the chances are that you have it to. If you have it then you’ll pass it on to any future sexual partners that you have.
Chlamydia Symptoms
Most people have no symptoms of chlamydia and completing an STD test is often the first indication that they have of the condition. However, some people develop symptoms which include:-
- Pain when urinating
- Vaginal or penile discharge
- Stomach pain and bleeding during or after sex
- Bleeding between periods
- Pain and swelling of the testicles
If you experience any of these symptoms then our all-inclusive packages, chlamydia home tests or clinic appointments will help you properly identify the cause.
How common is chlamydia?
With over 200,000 people testing positive for chlamydia in 2013, it is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the UK. It is most prevalent amongst teenagers and young adults, with 7 out of 10 who contract the infection being aged under 25 years old. As the STI often has no symptoms, many people with the condition don’t know they have it and are therefore more likely to pass it on. If you’ve had unprotected sex with someone you don’t know, then you should book a private chlamydia test or chlamydia home test today.
How can you catch chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that is spread by sex or contact with an infected person’s genital fluids, including semen or vaginal fluid. There are a range of ways that this can be passed between one person to another: –
- The most common cause is unprotected vaginal sex with an infected individual.
- Sharing sex toys can also cause the spread of chlamydia and a condom should be used to prevent this when sharing sex toys.
- Genital contact without penetration may cause the condition to spread, even without orgasm or ejaculation.
- In rare instances the disease can be passed into the eye if contact is made with semen or vaginal fluid.
Measures to protect yourself against chlamydia
Sleeping with multiple sexual partners is a risk factor of chlamydia and if you’re engaging in a one night stand it’s important that you use protection. The proper use of condoms will dramatically reduce your risk of contracting chlamydia. However, condoms are never 100% guaranteed to prevent STDs. If you’ve had more than one sexual partner in the last six months or have had a one night stand you should book a private chlamydia test to be on the safe side.
There are also other measures that should be taken to ensure that you don’t contract chlamydia, including not sharing sex toys and using a condom or dam when performing oral sex.
What chlamydia testing options are available?
Your Sexual Health offer a range of private chlamydia testing and STD testing packages that can be administered in one of our many clinics across the UK. All you have to do is select the test that you require and book an appointment to leave your sample.
We also have a range of chlamydia home tests in which we post you the container so that all have to do is deposit your sample in your provided pre-paid return envelope. We also offer a chlamydia and gonorrhoea test, which combines testing for the two most common STDs in the UK. Find out more about our private chlamydia testing options on our tests page.