Private Chlamydia test

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the UK. It’s caused by a type of bacteria and is spread through unprotected sex.

Chlamydia is curable, but many people are unaware that they have the infection. For this reason, the NHS recommends that young (under 25), sexually-active people are tested for Chlamydia every year or whenever they change sexual partners.

Many people with Chlamydia don't notice any symptoms. However, some people may notice symptoms within 1-3 weeks of infection; these include:

• Pain passing urine.
• Unusual discharge from the vagina, penis or anus.
• Women may experience pelvic pain and abnormal vaginal bleeding, including bleeding after sex and bleeding in-between periods.
• Men may experience swelling and pain in the testicles.
• If the eye is infected, the eye can become red, sticky and sore.

If Chlamydia is left untreated, the infection can cause long term problems. Chlamydia can cause chronic pelvic pain, pelvic inflammatory disease, inflammation in the testicles, pregnancy complications, arthritis and fertility problems in men and women.

Regular Chlamydia tests and treatment of any infection can prevent the long-term complications of the disease.

If you are sexually active, especially if you have unprotected sex, there is a chance of catching infections like Chlamydia. Regular check-ups are a good idea to maintain your sexual health. It’s important to have a Chlamydia test if:

• You have had unprotected sexual intercourse.
• You are under 25 and sexually active- you should get a Chlamydia test every year or when you change sexual partners.
• You are in a new relationship and want to stop using condoms.
• You notice symptoms of Chlamydia.

Chlamydia tests are quick, painless and straightforward. Harley Street Sexual Health offers testing using urine or swab samples, which you can often collect yourself. However, the specialist sexual health consultants can also take the swabs during a check-up.

The samples are analysed by a professional laboratory, providing fast and reliable results.

Swab sample: Gently wipe a small, sterile cotton bud over the potentially infected area. This could be inside the vagina or anus.

Urine sample: Collect a sample of urine in the sterile container. It is better if you collect this one or two hours after you last passed water for more reliable results.

Harley Street Sexual Health provides both standard and fast-track sexual health screening. One of the clinic’s experienced consultants will email you the results as soon as they are received and reviewed. This takes around 48 hours for the standard screening and just 6 hours for the expedited service.

If your result shows Chlamydia infection, a consultant will contact you to discuss treatment and arrange follow-up, if necessary.

Chlamydia is curable. It is treated with antibiotics, either a single dose or a one week course. Your consultant will prescribe medication on a private prescription that can be obtained from the Harley Street Sexual Health pharmacy, or any other pharmacy of your choice.

Until the course of treatment is completed, you are still infectious. You should avoid vaginal, anal and oral sex altogether, even with a condom. Wait one week after you and your partner have completed treatment before having sex, to prevent reinfection.

The sexual health specialists do not usually recommend a retest following treatment for simple chlamydia infection. However, if you are pregnant or experience ongoing symptoms, they will arrange for a follow-up to check that the infection has cleared.

You can get Chlamydia again if you have unprotected sex, or sexual contact, with an infected individual. Hence, it's crucial to ensure that your partners are tested and treated before restarting a sexual relationship.

You can safeguard against Chlamydia infection by using a condom during any oral, anal or vaginal sex. Cleaning any shared sex toys or using a condom can also help. Having sexual health screening every year, when you change partners, or before unprotected sex can help prevent the spread of Chlamydia and other STIs.