Chlamydia – What should I do if I suspect I am Infected

Chlamydia: what to do if infected

If you have unprotected sex with multiple partners, then you are at real risk of becoming infected with this disease and other sexually transmitted diseases, and these can have some serious implications for your future health and well being.

The infection is easily treated, but it is important to seek testing and get treatment right away. By actively looking for testing and getting yourself treated for any sexually transmitted disease, you are taking good care of your overall health.

If you have chlamydia:

 Get it treated right away. Visit a clinic or your doctor. Research suggests having a sexually transmitted disease increases your risk for getting infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

 It is imperative you take your medication as prescribed and finish all the medicine you are given. Even if the symptoms depart, you still need to finish all of the medicine. If you don't, you run the risk of becoming immune to it.

 Avoid any type of sexual activity while you are being treated. This is very important!

 You must inform all your sexual partners, so they can be tested and treated too. It's too late to be embarrassed, they need to know.

 Get a follow-up test three to four months after treatment to ensure your infection has been cured. You also need to check you haven't been reinfected by any subsequent partners

 See your health care advisor again if your symptoms do not vanish within one to two weeks after finishing the medicine. You may need another course of antibiotics.

 Visit your health care advisor within 3 to 4 months for another chlamydia test, especially if you have a new sex partner or your old one was not treated with you.

 Get into the habit of practicing safe sex.

Doctors, local health departments, and STD and family planning clinics have information about sexually transmitted diseases, and can give you a very simple test to find out if you are suffering from the disease.

You should never assume your doctor has automatically tested you for chlamydia; he probably won't unless you ask for the test specifically.