How do you know the difference between Chlamydia and Gonorhea?

[L-13]

I know that the treatment for both is the same but how do doctors know the difference between these STD's as they are so similar?

[Hidden]

Dear L-13,

The treatment for chlamydia and gonorrhoea are different. They usually require different types of antibiotics. Chlamydia is usually treated with Azithromycin or Doxycycline. Gonorrhoea may be resistant to those antibiotics and so is usually treated with an injection of Ceftriaxone. It is recommend that people who are treated for gonorrhoea are also treated for chlamydia as the two infections commonly go together.

Finding out whether it's chlamydia or gonorrhoea is done by testing for both infections. It is not good practice to treat without testing for the infections, although treatment may be started before the results are available.

Some sexual health clinics can do microscopy at the time. Gonorrhoea is usually visible down the microscopy whilst chlamydia is not. This also may guide treatment.

Kind regards.

[L-13]

Thank you!