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| Chlamydia Medication |
In
the United Kingdom, Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted
infections (STIs). It is spread through unprotected sex (sex without the use of
a condom) and is especially common in sexually active teenagers and young
adults.
If
you're a woman in England who is sexually active and under the age of 25, it's
recommended that you get a chlamydia test once a year and whenever you have sex
with new or casual partners.
If
you are a man in England who is sexually active and under the age of 25, it is
recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year if you do not use
condoms with new or casual partners.
Chlamydia
symptoms
Most
people with chlamydia have no symptoms and are unaware that they have it. If
you do develop symptoms, you may experience the following: when peeing causes
pain, unusual discharge from the cervix, penis, or groin, Pain in the tummy,
bleeding after sex, and bleeding between periods in women, Pain and swelling in
the testicles in men.
Getting
a Chlamydia test
A
urine or swab test is used to diagnose chlamydia. A physical examination by a
nurse or doctor is not always required. A free and confidential NHS chlamydia
test is available to anyone at a sexual health clinic, a genitourinary
medicine (GUM) clinic, or a GP surgery. In England, if you are a woman under
the age of 25, you may be offered a chlamydia test when visiting a health
service, such as a pharmacy or GP. This promotion is a component of the
National Chlamydia Screening Program (NCSP).
If
you're a woman in England who is sexually active and under the age of 25, it's
recommended that you get a chlamydia test once a year and whenever you have sex
with new or casual partners.
If
you are a man in England who is sexually active and under the age of 25, it is
recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year if you do not use
condoms with new or casual partners.
How
is Chlamydia treated?
Antibiotics
are usually effective in treating Chlamydia. You may be prescribed doxycycline
for a week or azithromycin once a day for three days. If you are taking
doxycycline, you should refrain from having sex (including oral sex) until both
you and your current sexual partner have completed treatment. If you are taking
azithromycin, you should wait 7 days before having sex (including oral sex). It
is critical that your current sexual partner, as well as any previous sexual
partners, be tested and treated to help stop the spread of the infection. Chlamydia
patients under the age of 25 should be tested again 3 to 6 months after
treatment. This is because young adults who test positive for chlamydia are
more likely to contract it again.
