Consumers often get alarmed after receiving a positive Chlamydia test result, which indicates the presence of the Chlamydia bacterium. While Chlamydia is generally treatable with antibiotics if detected early, unnoticed or ignored symptoms can lead to permanent damage.
In men, the consequences of Chlamydia are usually less severe, although the infection can ascend to the epididymis or prostate, causing epididymitis with severe pain in the scrotum, sometimes radiating to the groin. This painful infection is treatable, and infertility due to Chlamydia in men is rare.
In women, there is often concern about what a positive test means for fertility. The longer the infection goes untreated, the greater the risk of serious consequences such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can spread to the abdominal cavity and may result in fever, severe lower abdominal pain, and potentially infertility or an ectopic pregnancy.
The risk of infertility due to Chlamydia varies, with studies showing a risk ranging from 0.1 to 35 percent. Theoretically, the chance of infertility after a single asymptomatic Chlamydia infection is small: about 1 percent. However, each new infection that leads to PID can double the chance of infertility.
If you’ve had unprotected sex and are at risk, it’s wise to get tested for STDs as soon as possible. At The Tester, you can test for Chlamydia 10 days after the last unprotected contact. Since a Chlamydia infection does not always cause symptoms, it’s always advisable to test if in doubt.
