Chlamydia & Gonorrhea Test

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are bacteria-caused sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium causes Chlamydia; it is a common STD in the United States, with over 3 million new infections contracted each year. The bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes gonorrhea and 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 develop in the mouth, throat, anus, or eyes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 700,000 gonorrhea infections occur in the United States each year. Both infections are frequently referred to as “silent” or “asymptomatic,” which means they do not always cause symptoms. The only way to know for certain if you have either of these sexually transmitted infections is to take an STD test. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are both treatable with antibiotics.

The FDA-cleared Nucleic Acid Amplification (NAA) test, the medical gold standard in chlamydia and gonorrhea testing, is available at our lab. In a small urine sample, our NAA test looks for traces of the infection.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea infections, which are transmitted through oral, vaginal, and anal sex, can affect both men and women. Both infections are possible whether or not ejaculation occurs. If you have sex with an infected partner or if the bacteria was not completely cleared from your system before having sex again, you may become re-infected with chlamydia or gonorrhea after being treated for these STDs. While the infections do not always cause symptoms, the most common ones are burning during urination, abnormal discharge, and/or unusual sores or rashes in the genital area. All sexually active women under the age of 25 should be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia, according to the CDC.

Gonorrhea and chlamydia are common sexually transmitted diseases that can infect both men and women. If you engage in sexual activity, you should get tested for both diseases on a regular basis. Having multiple sexual partners is an especially dangerous behavior. Because both of these infections are asymptomatic, it is possible to contract and spread them unknowingly. The only sure way to know if you are positive is to get tested.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are known as co-existing infections because people are frequently infected with both at the same time, which is why testing for both STDs is important. Both diseases are caused by bacteria and are diagnosed through the use of small urine samples. Untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea infections, though relatively easy to treat and cure with antibiotics, can cause serious damage, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women, which can lead to infertility and ectopic pregnancy, and epididymitis, a painful condition in the tubes attached to the testicles in men.

Our clinicians recommend waiting 1-5 days after potential chlamydia exposure and 2-6 days after potential gonorrhea exposure to get tested for accurate results. It is also advised to be retested 21 to 28 days after treatment to ensure that the infection has been completely eradicated and will not be transmitted to your partners.

You should not urinate for at least one hour before arriving at our testing center in order to provide an accurate sample. There is no need for any additional preparation or fasting.