Description
Gonorrhea and Chlamydia Test
Testing Recommendations:
It is recommended that sexually active individuals, especially those under the age of 25, get a chlamydia and gonorrhea test annually. If you have multiple sexual partners or engage in unprotected sex, more frequent testing is advisable.
Confidentiality and Privacy:
Testing for STIs, including chlamydia and gonorrhea, is confidential. INDICAID health protects your privacy and is HIPAA compliant.
Treatment:
Chlamydia and gonorrhea can be effectively treated with antibiotics. It’s crucial to complete the full course of medication as prescribed, even if symptoms subside. Treatment is essential to prevent complications and further transmission. It is also recommended that sexual partners be notified and tested so that they can receive treatment if necessary.
Retesting:
After completing treatment for chlamydia or gonorrhea, it is generally advised to undergo retesting to ensure the infection has been cured. This is typically done about three months after treatment, especially in cases where compliance with medication or reinfection is a concern.
Prevention:
Practicing safe sex is crucial to reduce the risk of contracting or spreading chlamydia and gonorrhea. This includes using condoms consistently and correctly and getting vaccinated against other STIs like human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B. Remember, even if you practice safe sex, there is still a possibility of contracting or transmitting these infections.
This test is not available for pregnant women.
Instructions
- Register your kit online. Then fill out the label on the back of the registration card. Place label lengthwise on the specimen tube.
- Open and expand urine collection cup. Hold cup from the bottom and collect urine specimen.
- Once urine sample is collected, swirl urine in cup with a gentle circular motion.
- Open transfer pipette and remove the tube camp. Fill pipette and transfer urine into the specimen tube until it fills to the dotted line.
- Close tube and flip 4 times to thoroughly mix the urine with reagents.
- Place specimen tube into the specimen bag, then place the specimen bag into the INDICAID health empty box.
- Put the INDICAID health box with the specimen into the pre-labeled return envelope. Locate a nearby UPS store or call for them to pick-up. Please make sure you ship your sample only Mondays-Thursdays.
- You’re all done! We will reach out as soon as we have gotten your sample at the lab.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is chlamydia and gonorrhea?
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis and causes genital, anal and oral infections. It is also the most commonly reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the U.S.
Gonorrhea is a very common sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The CDC estimates that there are 820,000 new gonorrheal infections every year and it is the second most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection after chlamydia in the U.S.
What are the most common signs and symptoms of chlamydia and gonorrhea?
While 70-80% of chlamydia infections are asymptomatic, some symptoms of a genital chlamydia infection may include:
Burning sensation during urination, frequent urination, white, cloudy or watery discharge from the penis, testicular pain, tenderness and swelling, abnormal vaginal discharge (may have an odor), pain during sexual intercourse, painful periods or bleeding between periods, fever, abdominal or pelvic pain, itching or burning around the vagina.
Gonorrhea is usually asymptomatic in men and women but possible genital gonorrhea symptoms include:
Itching, swelling or redness of the genitals, abnormal discharge, tenderness, frequent urination, general discomfort in the affected area. Women infected with gonorrhea rarely notice symptoms at all or commonly mistake them for a urinary tract infection.
In addition to the symptoms above, women may also experience:
A yellowish vaginal discharge, abdominal and/or pelvic pain, increased vaginal bleeding or discharge between periods, and/or pain during sexual intercourse. Additioanally, an oral infection may resemble a sore throat.
How is chlamydia and gonorrhea transmitted?
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea is transmitted through sexual contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus of an infected partner. Semen does not have to be present for gonorrhea to be transmitted or acquired. Gonorrhea can also be spread from an untreated mother to her baby during childbirth.
It is possible for people who have had chlamydia or gonorrhea and have been treated to get infected again if they have sexual contact with a person infected with chlamydia or gonorrhea.
How is chlamydia and gonorrhea treated?
Chlamydia is most commonly treated with a seven-day course of prescription antibiotics. You should abstain from all types of sex until you completed the full antibiotics course.
Gonorrhea is managed through an initial antibiotic injection (ceftriaxone), accompanied by a series of oral antibiotics (azithromycin). Azithromycin plays a crucial role in preventing the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of gonorrhea. If symptoms persist for several days following the completion of treatment, it is advisable to seek a follow-up consultation with the prescribing physician.
Taking a “wait and see” approach is discouraged because it carries the risk of transmission and the potential for long-term complications.
