How Long Does It Take For Chlamydia To Show Up on Test Results?
Can Chlamydia Lay Dormant And Be Passed On?
Because chlamydia can be dormant for years without being symptomatic, infected persons may easily transmit the disease to sexual partners without knowing. The ability to lie dormant may also be a reason why chlamydia is so good at hiding in the digestive system despite being eradicated elsewhere.
Chlamydia Dormancy Facts
Chlamydia can lie dormant in your body for many years and cause a low-grade infection that rarely presents any flare-ups. There is a greater chance of flare-up if your immune system has become weakened due to a cold or flu, cancer, HIV, or other severe illnesses. Although some symptoms can appear within weeks of contact, there have been reports of chlamydia remaining dormant for over twenty years. If you have had recent sexual contact and wonder about chlamydia infections, don’t hesitate to test. Listen to your body. If you’ve had any unprotected sexual encounters and want to be tested, contact myLAB Box.
Chlamydia Can Show On A Test Seven Days After Exposure
Sexually transmitted infections and diseases are spreading in record amounts lately. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently estimated that there are currently 110 million cases of STIs in the United States alone. So we completely understand why people are saying “I don’t know where to get tested for STDs near me.” These stats are scary, and the whole process can seem overwhelming and nerve-wracking. The good news is that the whole process is not nearly as scary as you may think. In fact, you can now test at home and it only takes 5 minutes to complete. Now, isn’t your health and ease of mind worth a measly 5 minutes?
A sexually transmitted infection (STI) doesn’t always strike immediately. Take chlamydia, for example. Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs in the United States. In fact, the CDC estimates that there are 2.86 million chlamydia infections each year. Considering that this STI is so rampant, we often receive questions about the incubation period for chlamydia.
In this article we will explore the common symptoms of chlamydia, learn a bit more about how chlamydia affects the body, and discuss the incubation period for it.
What is Chlamydia?
First things first, let’s take a closer look at the infection itself. After all, leaving a case of chlamydia untreated can lead to health complications. This STI is contracted from unprotected sexual activity with someone who is infected. Sexual activity here means vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
Most people who have been infected don’t often realize that they are carrying chlamydia. Truthfully, this particular infection typically does not show any visible signs or symptoms at all. In situations when symptoms are experienced, we’ve listed the common signs to keep an eye out for.
Chlamydia Symptoms in Men
For men, the most common symptoms of chlamydia can include:
- A burning sensation while urinating
- White, cloudy or watery discharge from the penis
- A pain in and around the testicles
Chlamydia Symptoms in Women:
In certain situations, chlamydia can be even more serious for women. Symptoms are often mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. However, health complications for women who have untreated chlamydia can be quite serious, including infertility.
Here are the most common symptoms:
- Burning sensation while urinating
- Abnormal vaginal discharge that may have an odor
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Painful periods or bleeding between periods
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Itching or burning around the vagina
Know the Incubation Period for Chlamydia
At this point, two things are clear. First, there are different common symptoms of chlamydia for men and women. Second, many people do not experience any symptoms at all. That’s a troubling prospect. While regular testing is always the smartest course of action, it is sometimes helpful to know a bit more about a potential infection first.
This brings us to our main discussion point: the incubation period for chlamydia. But first, what is an incubation period? Incubation period is the time between when a person is first exposed to an infection to the time that person shows the first signs of symptoms. Just as important, you probably want to know how soon you can test for an infection and know for sure it’s an accurate result. This means you will want to know the window period. After an individual is exposed to an STD and becomes infected, there is a period of time before a test will show a positive result is called the window period. Let’s tackle these questions together.
The incubation period for chlamydia is poorly defined. Most experts would say it is often seven to 14 days or longer. The window period, however, we break down in more detail below.
To be more specific, here are the main points to remember:
- When should you take your first chlamydia test after potential exposure? Seven days later.
- How long can it take to receive positive test results? Seven days or longer.
- If a person tests positive for chlamydia, the infection is easily curable with proper treatment. However, once treatment is complete, that’s not necessarily the end of the situation. In most cases, re-testing is highly recommended.
- When should you retest for chlamydia after completing your treatment? Three weeks after end of treatment.
- When should you retest after testing negative? Test once every three months.
Please note: Re-testing is especially important if you have multiple sex partners and had unprotected sex.
All STIs Are Different
Now that you’ve learned the incubation period for chlamydia and its window period, you might be wondering about other common STIs. Well, when it comes to sexually transmitted infections, each STI is different. As such, the timing also differs when it comes to incubation periods, window periods, testing, and re-testing.
When it comes to your sexual health, you can never be too careful. Every sexually active person should be vigilant about tracking down and eradicating these potentially dangerous STIs. After all, testing is the only way for someone to know their status for sure.
Where to Get Tested for STDs Near Me
Back in the day, you only had the local clinic if you wanted to be properly screened for sexually transmitted infections or diseases. It was either that or setting a doctor’s appointment. Both of these traditional in-person testing methods are still the first place many people turn. But for many they are not the best possible solution. Just because it’s the old way to do it doesn’t mean it’s the best way to do it! In fact, these testing solutions come with a fair amount of caveats and hang-ups. And it leaves room for plenty of excuses to get in the way of people following through with their test.
Seven Chlamydia In Home Test Options
Think seven at-home chlamydia test options is too much? We certainly don’t think so! After all, chlamydia is the second most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. At myLAB Box, we recognize that everyone is different and all consumers have special interests and needs. Truthfully, that’s why myLAB Box offers a variety of testing options.
How to Test From Home
Once you decide which test kit it right for you, the process is the same. By that, we mean that it is convenient and easy to use. You never have to step into a doctor’s office for a sexually transmitted infection test ever again!
myLAB Box makes the testing process as simple as possible. You’ll find the following components included in every kit:
- The urine, vaginal swab and/or blood sample collection kit
- Easy to follow instructions
- A postage paid return envelope to send your samples in for testing
- Free 2-way shipping
- Fast and easy access to your results online
- A free telemedicine consultation with a physician in your state (in the event you test positive)
As you can see, the process is simple. If you’re not sure what type of sample is required or which test is right for you, you might want to consider one of myLAB Box’s test combos:
Testing for Gonorrhea Too
When you order a chlamydia test through myLAB Box, you are also getting a gonorrhea test! That means, for the same price as any of myLAB Box’s other single-infection tests, this kit includes the results for a second infection. This is largely due to the fact these two infections are often mistaken for each other. In addition, they can often be found together.
Your 7 Home Chlamydia Test Options
There are seven testing options available for people who want to screen for chlamydia from home.
- Test for chlamydia and gonorrhea. This is the most basic Chlamydia test available. This option is perfect for those have been, and believe to have been, exposed to this specifically one of these two infections.
- Test for oral, rectal and genital chlamydia infections. Contrary to many people’s beliefs, taking a standard chlamydia test does not guarantee a proper diagnosis. In fact, a false diagnosis is actually quite likely. You see, people who practice oral ad anal sex need to use a specialized type of chlamydia test. An extragenital test will screen for the infection in the genitals, mouth and rectum. Luckily, this three-site Extragenital test is one of the seven at-home chlamydia test options available through myLAB Box.
- Test for causes of abnormal vaginal discharge. The V-Box tests for all common causes of abnormal vaginal discharge: yeast, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.
- Test for the basics. myLAB Box’s Safe Box checks for the five STIs that are vital to test for: HIV (I & II), Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Trichomoniasis.
- Test with myLAB Box’s most popular test. The Uber Box, myLAB Box’s most popular test, screens for eight common infections: HIV I & II, Hepatitis C, Herpes Simplex Type II, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Trichomoniasis.
- Test with your partner. The Love Box is the doubled-up Uber Box. It tests for the same eight infections, but comes with two test kits so that you and your partner can test together.
- Test with myLAB Box’s most comprehensive option. The Total Box is not only our most comprehensive test kit. It is the most comprehensive at-home test kit on the market. It is the test kit of all test kits. It screens for HIV I & II, Hepatitis C, Herpes type-II, Syphilis, Chlamydia (genital, throat and rectal), Gonorrhea (genital, throat and rectal), Trichomoniasis and Mycoplasma genitalium. HPV is an optional add-on for women 30 years of age and older.
Choose Your Own Path to Protection
myLAB Box’s home testing kits provide all of the benefits of an in-person screening without your ever needing to set foot outside. The only difference is that now you are in total control of where and when you test. Now there are no more excuses!
For some, going to the clinic may be the right choice. For others, at-home STD testing is the best method. No matter how you choose to get checked for STDs, it is a critical step in protecting your overall health. Regular screenings empower you to take active control over your body and your love life.
To learn more, check out myLAB Box’s Incubation and Testing Timelines Guide.
Test Again
After all is said and done, if you test positive with myLAB Box’s chlamydia test kit, help is readily available. myLAB Box will quickly connect you with a free phone consultation with a physician. Proper treatment is the key to successful recovery, so this consultation is a major boon for myLAB Box customers. In the end, testing should be a regular part of any sexually active person’s healthy routine.
