Although chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), many people have no idea that they’re infected. Show
Like gonorrhea and HPV, chlamydia can occur without any symptoms, and even if you have symptoms, they may not happen for some time. This makes it hard to figure out what’s going on and when to see a doctor. To help you stay healthy, in this article, I’ll explain how long chlamydia can take to show up, the symptoms to look for, how to get tested, common treatments, and when to see a healthcare provider. How Long for Chlamydia to Show Up?Most people who have chlamydia have no symptoms—at least not at first. Some never develop symptoms, while others only develop them 1-3 weeks after having unprotected sex with an infected partner. Below is a breakdown of how long it takes for chlamydia to show up in different sexes and parts of the body. People with penisesAlthough the symptoms of genital chlamydia differ slightly between people who have penises and those who have vulvas, the time it takes for the infection to show up is the same: Symptoms typically develop 7-21 days after contact with an infected partner. People with vulvasThe time it takes for people with vulvas and people with penises to experience chlamydia symptoms does not differ: Both usually notice symptoms about 1-3 weeks after exposure. However, people with vulvas are more likely than those with penises to be asymptomatic: About 90% of women have no symptoms compared with 70% of men. ThroatSimilar to other areas of the body, chlamydia symptoms may take about 7-21 days to show up in the throat. Chlamydia in the throat is typically caused by having oral sex with someone who has contracted the infection. Although throat chlamydia is less common, it’s important to ask your doctor for a throat swab if you may have been exposed to chlamydia through oral sex, as this screening is not always part of routine STI testing. EyesAlthough rare, you can develop chlamydia in your eyes if they come in contact with infected semen or vaginal fluid. However, you may not realize what’s causing those red, itchy eyes because symptoms can take weeks to develop. AnusReceiving anal sex from an infected partner can lead to chlamydia of the anus in men and women. It’s also believed that if a person with a vulva has chlamydia, during sex, the infection may spread from their cervix to their anus and infect their rectum. Either way, these infections are often asymptomatic, but symptoms could show up within a few weeks. Symptoms of ChlamydiaDue to its often asymptomatic nature, chlamydia is known as a “silent” infection. If symptoms do occur, it can often be weeks after the initial exposure. Symptoms vary based on where the infection is located: Cervix (chlamydial cervicitis)
Penis (male chlamydial urethritis)
Throat (pharyngeal chlamydia)
Eyes (chlamydial conjunctivitis)
Rectum
TestingLab tests such as nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and cell cultures can diagnose chlamydia. Your doctor or healthcare provider may perform one of the following tests:
Many different providers—including family planning centers, private doctors’ offices, STI clinics, hospital clinics, and health departments—typically provide testing for chlamydia and other STDs, so explore your options and pick what is most comfortable and convenient for you. Whether or not you were exposed to chlamydia or think you may have been, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual screenings for:
How long does it take to show up on a test?Test result times vary depending on what type of test you get and where the test is performed. The average result times for each type of test are:
Retesting for chlamydiaChlamydia can resist treatment and it’s also possible to be infected, cure the infection, and then be infected again. For these reasons, it’s best to retest for chlamydia three months after treatment. ComplicationsChlamydial infections can lead to serious health problems with both short- and long-term consequences when unnoticed and untreated:
TreatmentChlamydia is a bacterial infection and can be effectively treated with antibiotics. Your doctor may prescribe one of the following medications:
Follow the dosage instructions closely and take the full course of antibiotics, even if your symptoms go away sooner. If you stop taking antibiotics early, the infection may come back. To prevent the spread of chlamydia, wait to have any sexual contact until seven days after taking the single dose of antibiotics or after completion of all seven days of the multi-dose medication. Because it is somewhat common to get a repeat infection of chlamydia, it’s a good idea to be tested for it again about three months after treatment. When to See a DoctorIf you are sexually active and displaying symptoms of chlamydia, or you believe you were exposed to the bacterial infection through a sexual partner, see a doctor for evaluation and treatment as soon as possible. The CDC advises sexually active women under 25 years old get screened for chlamydia every year. It’s also a good idea to be tested when beginning a sexual relationship with a new partner. Frequently Asked QuestionsCan chlamydia be detected right away? Chlamydia is often asymptomatic, meaning you may not experience symptoms. Regular testing is important to detect the infection. Most test results are delivered within 2-5 days. Can chlamydia lay dormant? Yes, chlamydia can lie dormant in the body, causing a low-grade infection without symptoms. K Health articles are all written and reviewed by MDs, PhDs, NPs, or PharmDs and are for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute and should not be relied on for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Can you still transmit chlamydia A week after taking medication?It takes 7 days for the medicine to work in your body and cure Chlamydia infection. If you have sex without a condom during the 7 days after taking the medicine, you could still pass the infection to your sex partners, even if you have no symptoms.
How long is chlamydia contagious after doxycycline?To minimize disease transmission to sex partners, persons treated for chlamydia should be instructed to abstain from sexual intercourse for 7 days after single-dose therapy or until completion of a 7-day regimen and resolution of symptoms if present.
How long after antibiotics is std not contagious?You're usually no longer infectious 24 hours after starting a course of antibiotics, but this time period can sometimes vary. For example, the antibiotics may take longer to work if your body takes longer to absorb them, or if you're taking other medicine that interacts with the antibiotics.
How do I know if chlamydia is gone?Chlamydia is a bacterial infection (like strep throat or an ear infection), which means that once you've been treated and tested negative for it (to make sure the antibiotics worked), it's gone.
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