Chlamydia is the most common of the sexually transmitted infections (STI) that are required to be reported to governmental authorities in the United States. While anyone can get the infection, it predominantly affects young women under the age of 25.
It spreads through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Regular STI testing is important if you’re sexually active. Depending on your age and risk factors, a chlamydia screening might be part of your routine well-woman exams, or you may request testing if you’ve had unprotected sex.
At Solace Women’s Care in Conroe, Texas, Farly Sejour, MD, and our team offer comprehensive reproductive care and STI testing. Receiving positive test results can leave you wondering what your next steps are, but we’re here to help.
Here’s what to do next if your chlamydia test results came back positive.
When you get your test results, talk to our team about your next steps. Receiving an STI diagnosis can be scary, but don’t be embarrassed to seek treatment. We specialize in treating STIs and reducing your risk of complications.
If you have chlamydia and you don’t get treated for the infection, it can spread to your reproductive organs and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Untreated PID may lead to pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy, or infertility.
Treatment for chlamydia is generally simple and effective. Completing your treatment cures the infection and keeps you from spreading it to your sexual partners.
Chlamydia infections can be cured with antibiotics. Dr. Sejour may prescribe a single dose of antibiotics taken in one day, or a round of antibiotics that you need to take for about a week.
Be sure to take all of your medication as prescribed, and don’t share it with anyone. Completing treatment as prescribed stops the infection from spreading and could reduce your risk of related complications.
It’s important to tell your sexual partner(s) when you’ve tested positive for an STI. If you have one, it means they could have it. Any recent sexual partners should be tested for STIs. If they test positive, they’ll need to get treated as well.
It’s important to abstain from sexual intercourse, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex, until your treatment is complete and your doctor says it’s safe to resume sexual activity. In general, expect to abstain from sex for about seven days after starting treatment.
Treatment is effective for chlamydia, but it doesn’t prevent you from getting it again. Repeat infections are common, even if your partners tested negative or received treatment.
We may recommend getting a chlamydia test again in about three months, but the timeline varies depending on your age, health, and other risk factors. For personalized guidance about STI testing, talk to Dr. Sejour and our team.
Whether you’ve tested positive for chlamydia or you need to schedule an STI screening, we’re here for you. Call 936-441-7100 to book an appointment or send us a message for more information.
