Chlamydia & Gonorrhea Test

What are Chlamydia and Gonorrhea?

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) caused by bacteria. Chlamydia is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium; it is a common STD in the United States with more than 3 million new infections contracted annually. Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which thrives in the moist areas of the reproductive tract including the cervix, uterus and Fallopian tubes in women, and the urethra in both men and women. Gonorrhea can also grow in the mouth, throat, anus and eyes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports over 700,000 gonorrhea infections in the U.S. annually. Both infections are often considered "silent" or asymptomatic infections, meaning they do not always show symptoms. The only way to know for sure if you are positive for either of these sexually transmitted infections is to take an STD test for them. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are curable and can be treated with antibiotics.

How do you test for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea?

STDcheck.com offers the FDA-cleared Nucleic Acid Amplification (NAA) test, the medical gold standard in chlamydia and gonorrhea testing. Our NAA test looks for traces of the infection in a small urine sample.

How are Chlamydia and Gonorrhea transmitted?

Men and women are susceptible to chlamydia and gonorrhea infections, which are transmitted through oral, vaginal and anal sex. Both infections can occur regardless of whether or not ejaculation occurs. It is possible to be re-infected with chlamydia or gonorrhea after being treated for these STDs if you have sex with an infected partner or if the bacteria was not fully cleared from your system prior to having sex again. While the infections often show no symptoms, when symptoms do occur they are most commonly burning during urination, abnormal discharge, and/or unusual sores or rashes in the genital area. The CDC recommends gonorrhea and chlamydia testing for all sexually active women under the age of 25.

Who needs Chlamydia and Gonorrhea testing?

Gonorrhea and chlamydia are common STDs that are spread easily among both men and women. If you are sexually active, you should get tested for both diseases regularly. Having multiple sexual partners is a particularly high-risk behavior. It is possible to unknowingly contract and spread these infections because both can be symptomless. The only way to know for sure if you are positive is to get tested.

Why do I need to test for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea together?

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are known as co-existing infections because individuals are frequently infected with both at the same time, which is why it is important to test for both of these STDs together. Both diseases are caused by bacteria and are tested for using small urine samples. Though relatively easy to treat and cure with antibiotics, untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea infections can cause serious damage including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women leading to infertility and ectopic pregnancy, and epididymitis, a painful condition in the tubes attached to the testicles in men.

How soon can I get tested for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea after exposure?

For accurate results, our clinicians recommend waiting 1-5 days after potential chlamydia exposure, and 2-6 days after potential gonorrhea exposure to get tested. It is also recommended to get retested 21 days after treatment to ensure that the infection has been fully cured and will not be spread to your partners.

What do I need to do to prepare for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea test?

In order to provide an accurate sample, you should not urinate for at least one hour prior to arriving at our testing center. No other special preparation or fasting is needed.