How do you get Chlamydia?

Chlamydia may be transmitted through unprotected sex or any genital contact with an infected sexual partner or sex toy.
Anyone who is sexually active is at risk of infection. If you do not use protection i.e. have safe sex, you are at greater risk. The more partners you have, the more you are at risk of getting the infection.

What are the symptoms of Chlamydia?

Chlamydia often has no symptoms, and people can have the infection without knowing about it yet still be passing it on to their sexual partners. In fact, around 70% of people do not experience any symptoms of infection, so it can stay hidden for months or years. Even without symptoms, it's still important to treat the infection - left untreated, it can lead to long term problems such as infertility.

Without symptoms, the only way of knowing for sure if you have a chlamydia infection is to take a test.

If you do have symptoms, they are likely to be:

• In women: unusual vaginal discharge, pain when passing urine or during sexual intercourse, pain below the belly button or bleeding between periods or after sex.
• In men: pain and/or burning when passing urine, discharge from the penis, or swelling and pain in the testicles.
• In men and women: if the infection is in the rectum, there are rarely any symptoms but it may cause discomfort and discharge. Sometimes inflammation of the joints and eyes, this is known as Reiter's syndrome and is more common in men than women.

If you have any of these symptoms, speak to your pharmacist or GP or visit a clinic that specialises in treating sexually transmitted infections.

Why should chlamydia be treated?

People with chlamydia infection, who remain undiagnosed and untreated are at risk of developing serious long term problems which can affect fertility and can be more difficult to treat. In women, these include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which can lead to infertility, can seriously affect the womb and the fallopian tubes and can cause ectopic pregnancy (when pregnancy develops outside the womb). In men, the infection may spread to the epididymis causing pain and swelling to the testicles and can cause infertility.

Where can I get tested?

You can purchase a test kit online at Rowlands pharmacy or in selected Rowlands participating pharmacies click below for details

You can return to any Rowlands participating pharmacy (click here for details) for your test result.

If you prefer to get a test free on the NHS, you will need to visit a Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) clinic, community sexual health clinic or your GP. If you are under 25 years old you can visit a National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) venue (details www.chlamydiascreening.nhs.uk).

How long do I wait for the test results?

You will  be sent the result in the post, within 7 days. Alternatively, you can return to the pharmacy from which you purchased your Clamelle Test Kit or another participating pharmacy offering the Clamelle chlamydia service  for your test result. The Clamelle Tablet is not available to purchase online as you will be required to speak in person to a pharmacist in a Rowlands pharmacy this consultation will be in private in our sound proof consultation rooms.(click here for details)

Are the test results confidential?

Yes, the results of the Clamelle Chlamydia Test are completely confidential and will not be passed onto your GP unless you request them to do so. You are given a Unique Reference Number (URN) to maintain this confidentiality.

What should you do if the test results are positive?

If you have bought a test and the result is positive, don't worry. You can be treated quickly with antibiotics. Just visit a participating  pharmacy where  they are offering the Clamelle chlamydia service. The pharmacist will provide you with appropriate sexual health advice and following consultation you can purchase Clamelle Tablets if the pharmacist confirms the treatment is suitable for you.

The Clamelle Tablet is not available to purchase online.

Clamelle Tablets are a new treatment for chlamydia available to buy from pharmacies. They contain Azithromycin, an effective antibiotic, now available without a prescription.

Clamelle Tablets only treat chlamydia. If you want to be tested for other STIs, speak to your pharmacist for advice on where to go.

What should you do if the test results are negative?

If your test is negative, it means you don't have chlamydia. However, you may be at risk of other sexually transmitted infections and so it's vital that you go and get yourself tested at a clinic, just in case.

If the result of your test is unclear and is recorded as neither positive or negative, the test should be repeated. Go back to the pharmacy from which you purchased your test kit, or another pharmacy  participating in the Clamelle chlamydia service, taking with you your inconclusive result letter or your verification slip. The pharmacy will give you a replacement test kit free of charge.

Should your partner be tested as well?

If you have tested positive for chlamydia, it is likely that your sexual partner may have it too. It is important that the people you have recently had sex with are also treated, to stop them re-infecting you, passing on the infection or having problems in the future.

If you have tested positive for chlamydia, the pharmacist will provide you with partner notification slip(s) for you to give or send to your partner(s) to help with notifying them and encouraging them to seek treatment. Partners can then use this notification slip to purchase Clamelle Tablets from the pharmacy (if suitable) without needing to buy a test. Some partners may also choose to be tested.

What should you do if you receive a Clamelle Partner Notification Slip?

If you have received one you can take it to your local participating  pharmacy and purchase Clamelle Tablets, if you are eligible. Alternatively, you can take it to your local a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic where treatment is free or to your GP where you may need to pay a prescription charge.

Where can you buy Clamelle Tablets?

You can get Clamelle Tablets from your pharmacy once you have had a positive test results for chlamydia. The pharmacist will need to ask you some questions first before supplying you with the medication. Please take your positive test confirmation (test result letter) with you, or your verification slip with your Unique Reference Number (URN), from your test kit (this is the number you will be given when you take the test to help identify you).

Can you take Clamelle Tablets with any medicines?

Clamelle Tablets do not work as well if taken at the same time as antacids (indigestion treatments). Please tell your pharmacist if you are taking anything for this. If you do take antacids you should take Clamelle Tablets at least one hour before, or two hours after.

Can you take Clamelle Tablets with the oral contraceptive pill?

Yes, but if you are taking the oral contraceptive pill and you experience vomiting or diarrhoea, you will need to take extra precautions after taking Clamelle Tablets. Ask your pharmacist about this and read the 'pil' patient information leaflet carefully.