Here’s How to Stay Safe from Chlamydia Infection
Although the healthcare industry invests considerable effort in creating awareness about STDs, its risks, prevention and treatment, it is a fact that STDs still continue to spread among youngsters. This is usually due to careless sexual intercourse and the hesitation to go in for screening even if they believe they could be infected.
The stigma attached to a sexual infection is obviously still strong among young men and women. Nobody wants to be held responsible for possibly passing on a sexual infection. However, it is crucial to change this attitude and begin viewing STD screening just like any other routine medical test. It is high time to normalize testing for STDs.
Chlamydia – risks and testing
Chlamydia is one of the most common STDs found in teenagers and young women who are sexually active. It is usually prevalent in women who are aged 25 or less who are sexually active; yet do not pay attention to regular STD screening or chlamydia treatment. Since almost 80 percent of infected women and 50 percent of infected men generally do not exhibit any symptoms, they can inadvertently pass on the infection to the others. This is exactly why chlamydia is termed ‘the silent epidemic’.
Regular STD screening is the only reliable method to know for sure if you are infected. Urgent care clinics provide same day chlamydia test that involves quick testing and results on the same day. Walk in and request for a chlamydia testing and you will be ushered in for a test in no time.
The testing process is very simple. A swab sample or urine sample will suffice for the testing procedure. For men, a swab sample from the end of the penis is used for testing purposes. Women may have to provide a swab of their vagina to be tested. Women have the option of doing this on their own if they feel uncomfortable about it.
Treatment and prevention of chlamydia
If you have tested positive for chlamydia, there is absolutely no need to panic. The infection is easily treatable and can be completely cured with antibiotics. Simply follow the course of medication prescribed by the doctor for chlamydia treatment and you will be back to your usual self in a couple of weeks.
If you are sexually active and at the risk of catching or transmitting a chlamydia infection, never skip using condoms during sexual intercourse. Make sure you or your partners use condoms correctly and that there is no lapse in protection. You must also go in for regular STD screening to confirm that you are clear of STDs and do not pose a risk of infecting your partners.
Walk into your nearest urgent care clinic for all kinds of STD testing. The process is fast, easy, and completely confidential. The test will be complete within minutes and you usually receive test results on the same day, enabling you to get started with chlamydia treatment at the earliest. Stay safe from chlamydia with regular STD screening and responsible sexual habits.
