Chlamydia

It is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by Chlamydia Trachomatis which can affect men and women. It can be found in the genitals, anus, throat or eyes. It is spread through unprotected sex. Using a condom can reduce the risk of catching it.

Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted disease in the UK, with over 200,000 patients testing positive every year. Young people in the 15 - 24 age group are particularly at risk, which is why annual screening is recommended for anyone who is sexually active and under 25.

However, chlamydia affects people of all ages and a recent report by the Health Protection Agency showed that the number of people over 50 who are diagnosed with an STI like chlamydia has doubled in the past ten years.

If you have had unprotected sex with a partner who could have chlamydia you should get tested for chlamydia.

Chlamydia is treated with the antibiotic doxycycline. Chlamydia treatment kills the chlamydia bacteria and it is highly effective.

It takes 1 full week of treatment to be effective. You should avoid any sexual contact both with or without a condom during your treatment time, as you could still be contagious.

If you are under the age of 25 a chlamydia test is recommended 3 months after you finish your treatment.

No, although it is commonly thought that Chlamydia is 'The Clap', it is actually Gonorrhoea that 'The Clap' refers to. Gonorrhoea tests are also available from Online Mens Clinic.

Untreated Chlamydia won’t go away by itself and can do more harm to your body. If Chlamydia is left untreated in women, it can spread to the womb and causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is a major cause of infertility, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.

If Chlamydia is left untreated in men they are at risk of complications of Chlamydia such as orchitis (swollen testicles), reactive arthritis, and infertility. Chlamydia treatment is easy and the infection is curable.

Cloud Pharmacy offers a discreet home test that includes the lab costs, the urine container and the pre-paid envelope. You will receive your results by text message, normally within 72 hours of sending off your sample.

Up to 50% of men and 70% of women do not show symptoms of the infection. It can take one to three weeks for the symptoms to develop, however they can occur months later. You can have no symptoms but still carry the infection and have the ability to infect others.

It can take up to 2 weeks for a positive Chlamydia test to show, therefore we recommend people wait at least 10 days from their unprotected sexual encounter before testing. This will help to prevent false readings in the test results and ensure you get an accurate diagnosis.

There are many reasons why you maybe experiencing persistent symptoms. These could include:

• You have another underlying sexually transmitted infection (STI) at the same time. This will need further investigations or tests. Gonorrhoea commonly occurs in conjunction with Chlamydia.
• You have an unrelated infection e.g. a lower urinary tract infection or endometriosis.
• On rare occasions the strain of bacteria can be resistant to the antibiotics and further treatment is required.

Another chlamydia test may be required but this will have to be performed after 6 weeks. Any earlier and the test will present a positive result from the initial infection.

In the case of failed treatment or unresolved symptoms you should see your GP or visit your local GUM clinic.

It is important you tell your current partner and other sexual partners within the last 6 months if you have been tested positive for chlamydia because:

• They may not know they have an infection and can spread it to others.
• If it is left untreated it can lead to serious complications such as infertility.
• Chlamydia treatment is easy, simple and the infection is curable.

We understand that this may be a difficult conversation, however it is very important you tell your previous sexual partners if you have been diagnosed with Chlamydia to allow them to be tested and treated.

Chlamydia antibiotics, Azithromycin or Doxycycline, usually clear symptoms quickly. Pain on passing urine and discharge normally clear within a week, however pelvic or testicular pain can take two weeks to pass. Menstrual irregularities should improve by the next cycle. Any symptoms that persist may be an indicator of failed treatment, if this occurs you should see your doctor or local sexual health clinic for further treatment.

Yes, it is important to treat both sexual partners for Chlamydia if they have had sex because one partner untreated or partially treated can re-infect the other. After treatment you need to abstain from sexual activity for one week. This includes genital, oral and anal sex even with a condom.

Take one Doxycycline capsule in the morning and one capsule in the evening, roughly 12 hours apart. A full course to treat Chlamydia is seven days treatment, 14 capsules in total.

Doxycycline should be taken on an empty stomach whilst sitting upright or standing. We do not recommend you take the medication directly before going to bed as it may cause irritation of the oesophagus. Ensure you drink plenty of water with each dose. Unlike other antibiotics in the tetracycline family, taking it with food does not significantly affect the absorption. If you feel nauseous or experience an upset tummy then swallow the capsules with food.

You may wish to go ahead and get Chlamydia treatment without being tested if you have had unprotected sex with someone who has Chlamydia. You can also get a Chlamydia test to see if you have a positive result. If you do get a positive result, you will need to take antibiotic treatment to cure your Chlamydia infection, this is normally very straightforward.

If you have had sex with other partners since you were infected, you need to contact them to let them know that they should take a Chlamydia test and may require treatment.

Yes, as long as you are buying from a website that is a legally operating and regulated pharmacy it is perfectly safe to buy Chlamydia antibiotic treatment online.

Online Mens Clinic is a registered pharmacy based in Scotland and has all the necessary regulation to be able to safely provide convenient access to genuine prescription antibiotics through our Online Pharmacy.

All you will need to fill in a simple health questionnaire so we can ensure that Chlamydia treatment will be safe and effective for you. It all takes less than 5 minutes and they can be delivered to your door.