What is chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that is found in the semen and vaginal fluids of men and women who have contracted the infection. It’s estimated that around 1 in 10 people under the age of 25 is infected. The National Chlamydia Screening Programme in the UK advises that if you are 24 or under and sexually active, you should have a test every year and each time you have a new sexual partner.
What are the symptoms of chlamydia?
Around three-quarters of people who have the infection don’t have any symptoms, or don’t notice them. Of those who do notice the symptoms, they usually become apparent some weeks or months after the infection was passed on. The symptoms of a chlamydia infection can include:
- Pain when urinating
- Pain and/or bleeding when you have sex (women)
- Unusual vaginal discharge
- Bleeding between periods, or heavier bleeding on your period
- Painful swelling of the testicles
What is the treatment for chlamydia?
If you or your sexual partner has tested positive for chlamydia, the Pharmacy2U Online Doctor Service can provide the necessary antibiotics to treat the infection.
The usual treatment provided for chlamydia is azithromycin 1g, taken as a single dose. The treatment is very effective and you would be expected to be clear of chlamydia within seven days. There is no need for a retest to confirm that the chlamydia has gone.
What is a chlamydia test?
Our chlamydia test is a urine test which can be conducted from the convenience of your own home. We will send you a urine collection kit so that you can collect a small sample of urine and send it off for testing.
We provide a fully confidential laboratory test of your urine to test for genital Chlamydia trachomatis. The test is conducted by the largest independent accredited provider of clinical laboratory diagnostic services in the UK and is exactly the same test as your doctor would order for you if you provided a urine sample there. The test is fully diagnostic, in other words, no other information is needed to be certain that you have or have not got Chlamydia.
You should consider taking a chlamydia test if you are sexually active and have had unprotected sex with anyone other than a regular partner who you know is unlikely to have chlamydia. Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs in the UK and almost 200,000 people were tested positive in 2010. Over 75% of those who tested positive were under 24 years of age. Many people who have Chlamydia do not have any symptoms, but symptoms can include pain when you urinate, an unusual discharge from the penis, vagina or rectum, or for women bleeding. after sex or between periods.
- Select your test and proceed through the checkout. We'll deliver the test to you.
- Collect your sample from the convenience of your own home. Please provide at least 20mls, it is best to collect your sample first thing in the morning. If this is not possible the sample should be provided at least 2 hours after you last urinated.
- Send your sample for testing in the freepost envelope provided, to our partner accredited pathology lab. Enclose the test order form provided.
- Receive your results within your Pharmacy2U Online Doctor account.
Test results
The test results will be emailed to you as soon as we receive them. They will clearly identify whether or not the sample tested positive for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis. If you test positive you will be able to obtain the appropriate prescription for treatment from our Online Doctor Service.
Test results will normally be available within seven days of receipt of your sample at the laboratory.
Please note: These can not be sent overseas, only to UK residential addresses.
Prescription