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Home |  Pregnancy overview |  Reproductive Health | Complications | Labor & Birth

 

 

 

The Pelvic Inflammatory disease (PID) aftermath might be widespread adhesions (scarring) in the pelvic cavity resulting in chronic pelvic pain and/or pain with sexual intercourse.

 

Both of these are likely to be long-term problems regardless of whether the infection has been cleared or not. This is why it is crucial to have the infection treated early and to avoid repeat infections.

 

Acquiring Chlamydia infection

The infection is acquired through having unprotected (without a condom) sexual intercourse. Sexual behaviour involving unprotected sexual intercourse with multiple partners increases the risk of acquiring the infection significantly.

 

 

Chlamydia Test

There are several ways that a test for Chlamydia infection can be carried out. The established test involves taking a swab from the neck of the womb (cervix). This is done by a nurse or doctor at the local health centre, Genital Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic or other Sexual Health Clinic. Results are usually available in a couple of days.

 

A urine sample can also be used to test for Chlamydia but this is less preferred because it is not as reliable

 

Chlamydia Self-Test

Since 2006 there is a self-administered test where a woman takes her own vaginal sample, performs the test and gets the results in less than half an hour.

 

Another variant of the self-test involves the postal service whereby the collected sample is sent back to the laboratory and results sent back to the individual a few days later. In the UK, these tests are available to buy from High Street Chemists and on the internet.

 

 

 

Treatment for Chlamydia infection

Chlamydia is a bacterial (not viral) infection. It is easily and successfully treated using antibiotics. It is crucial that the full course of the antibiotics is completed to ensure that the infection has been cleared from the system.

 

Antibiotics commonly used for Chlamydia include Doxycycline (Vibramycin®), Azithromycin (Zithromax®) and Erythromycin. Many physicians currently prefer Azithromycin because it is given as a single dose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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