Chlamydia Test

Chlamydia is a common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI), especially in sexually active people younger than age 25. You can get a chlamydia infection through sexual contact. This includes having vaginal, oral, or anal sex without a condom with a partner who has chlamydia.

A chlamydia test checks a sample of fluid from your body to look for the bacteria that causes chlamydia. The type of fluid depends on the part of your body that may be infected. Your sample may be: Urine (pee); Fluid that's swabbed from your: Urethra (the tube that carries urine out of your body); Rectum (the last part of your intestine that connects to the anus); Vagina; ; Chlamydia often has no symptoms, so you may spread the disease to others without even knowing you have it.

If you are pregnant and have chlamydia, you can give the infection to your baby during childbirth. Chlamydia can cause pneumonia and eye problems in babies. Chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics.

But if it's not treated, it can cause serious, lasting health problems, even if you don't have symptoms: In women, untreated chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can permanently damage the female reproductive system and may cause infertility (problems getting pregnant).; In men, untreated chlamydia can lead to swelling and pain in the tubes that carry sperm out of the testicles (male sex glands that produce sperm, also called testes). It can also cause infertility (problems getting someone pregnant), but this rarely happens.; A chlamydia test helps find the disease early so you can get treatment before you develop lasting health problems or spread the disease to others.

Why this test is done

If your sex partner has been diagnosed with chlamydia or if you have symptoms that could mean you have a chlamydia infection, you will need to be tested. But chlamydia usually doesn't cause symptoms. So, getting tested is the only way to know for sure if you have an infection.

That's why medical experts recommend routine screening tests if you have a high risk of getting chlamydia:

• If you are a sexually active woman, you should get tested for chlamydia at least every year if you:
• Are younger than age 25
• Are age 25 or older and have a high risk of infection because you have:
• A new sex partner
• More than one sex partner
• A sex partner who has sex with other people
• A sex partner who has an STI
• Have HIV (You should be tested for chlamydia the first time you see your provider for HIV care. After that you should be tested at least once a year. But you may need to get tested more often if your sexual activity increases your risk of getting chlamydia.)
• If you are pregnant, ask your health care provider about chlamydia testing at your first prenatal visit. The test is often included with routine prenatal tests. You should be tested if you are younger than age 25. If you are older than age 25, you should be tested if you have a high risk of getting chlamydia.
• If you are a sexually active gay or bisexual man, you should get tested for chlamydia at least every year. But you will need to get tested more frequently (every 3 to 6 months) if you have:
• More than one sex partner
• A sex partner who has sex with other people
• Anonymous sex (having sex with people you don't know)
• HIV or take PrEP medicine to prevent HIV
• If you are a heterosexual (straight) man:
• Medical experts don't suggest routine testing for chlamydia if you have no symptoms and a low risk of infection.
• If you have HIV, you should be tested for chlamydia the first time you see your provider for HIV care. After that you should be tested at least once a year. But you may need to be tested more often if your sexual activity increases your risk of getting chlamydia.

The best testing schedule for you may be different than the recommendations. So have an honest talk with your provider about your sexual activity to help them figure out how often you should get tested.

How to prepare

Preparations for a chlamydia test depend on the type of sample you will be providing. You may need to avoid antibiotic medicines and vaginal douches and creams for 24 hours before your test. But don't stop taking any medicines without talking with your provider first.

Ask your provider if there are any special instructions for your test.

Sample type

Urine Swab

Other names for this test

Chlamydia NAAT or NAT, Chlamydia/GC STD Panel, Chlamydia Culture