Chlamydia
At a Glance
Why Get Tested?
To screen for or diagnose chlamydia infection
When to Get Tested?
If you are sexually active, pregnant, have one or more risk factors for developing chlamydia, or have a symptoms, such as vaginal discharge and abdominal pain (for women) or unusual discharge from the penis or pain on urination (for men)
Sample Required?
A swab or brush of cells or secretion from the infected area; urine (male or female) for the molecular test
Test Preparation Needed?
None
The Test Sample
What is being tested?
The test is looking for evidence of infection by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STD) in Australia. Diagnosing and treating chlamydia is very important to prevent long-term complications and spread of the infection to others.
Chlamydia is generally transmitted through sexual contact (oral, vaginal or anal) with an infected partner. Risk factors include having multiple sex partners, coinfection or previous infection with another STD, and not using barrier contraception consistently. An infected mother can spread the disease to her baby during childbirth. These babies are in danger of developing pneumonia and conjunctivitis, an inflammation that can threaten eyesight.
About 75% of infected women and 50% of infected men have no symptoms; some may experience only mild symptoms. For women, symptoms, if they occur, include bleeding between menstrual periods and after sexual intercourse, abdominal pain, painful intercourse and an abnormal vaginal discharge. For men, symptoms include pus or milky discharge from the penis and inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis) or of the rectal area (proctitis). Both sexes can experience painful or frequent urination.
Chlamydia is easily treated with a course of antibiotics, but if left untreated, it can cause severe reproductive and other health problems. If left untreated, 40% of women may develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) from infections that start on the cervix but that can spread to the fallopian tubes and ovaries. This can cause infertility and increase the risk of potentially life-threatening tubal (ectopic) pregnancy. Women who are infected and pregnant may experience heavy bleeding before delivery and premature rupture of the membranes. Men, too, may become sterile. Both sexes may develop rectal itching and red, swollen, itchy eyes.
How is the sample collected for testing?
Generally, your doctor will use a swab to take a cell sample or secretion from the infected area, such as the cervix, urethra, penis, anus or throat. Alternately your doctor may advise you to collect the very first portion of urine for testing.
Is any test preparation needed to ensure the quality of the sample?
No test preparation is needed.
The Test
Common Questions
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Article Sources
NOTE: This article is based on research that utilizes the sources cited here as well as the collective experience of the Lab Tests Online Editorial Review Board. This article is periodically reviewed by the Editorial Board and may be updated as a result of the review. Any new sources cited will be added to the list and distinguished from the original sources used.
