Chlamydia

[Batman123]

Can you find out how long you had Chlamydia for Or is it just a case of u have or haven’t got it?

[Hidden]

Hi batman,

Interesting question.

If you are a man and developed a penile discharge soon after unprotected sex with someone and you subsequently test positive for chlamydia, then it's reasonable to assume that you caught the infection from that sexual encounter.

Unfortunately some men (maybe 15-20%) and the majority of women (>60%) have few, non-specific or no symptoms following chlamydial infection. If they then test positive during a routine STI screen, it's anyone's guess when the infection may have occurred unless they have a clear recollection of their sexual encounters and they knew they tested negative at an earlier point in time.

Adhari

[Suvs3929]

U can’t find out how long u have had it for . U might start to get symptoms , if u do u have probably had it for a few weeks / months. The longer u have it the more damage it does to you.

[Parz in reply to Suvs3929]

I'd be careful in this assumption. "damage" implies a lot, most people do not have "damage" done to them from Chlamydial transmission, if a woman carries the disease for a long-period of time (usually YEARS), it can damage her. Obviously there are cases where a woman becomes impotent from a shorter chlamydial infection, but this isn't common. Most men do not have long-term damage done to them at all. Don't scare people using that kind of language. I've caught the infection twice, and luckily I'm very sensitive and become symptomatic rather rapidly, which I'm thankful for, both female partners had no idea they had it, and both were fine after treatment with no lasting damage. Thank god for antibiotics! lol

[Suvs3929 in reply to Parz]

I am trying to conceive and I thought that I’ve not been falling pregnant because I had the infection for so long and didn’t know

[selonuk]

As Adhari has said many can go without any symptoms so there is no real way of knowing when someone has caught Chlamydia which is why it is recommended that all those who are sexually active have a sexual screening once a year preferably twice a year if you are having unprotected sex or changing partners.

With regular sexual health screening at least once a year these STI's can be detected and treated before more serious issues arise.

Because of the Covid-19 Pandemic it is now possible to get a sexual health screening kit by post anywhere in the UK and it is expected that this will now remain after the pandemic to and if treatment is required they have different options available depending where you are in the country.

Selonuk