Chlamydia screening: Since most women have no symptoms, annual testing is important
Each year in the United States, about 3 million women get chlamydia. But many do not get the health care they need – until it's too late.
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacteria called chlamydia trachomatis. Since most women with chlamydia have no symptoms, they do not seek health care for the disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all sexually active women who are between16 and 25 years old be tested every year for chlamydia.
At Allina Medical Clinic, we've made chlamydia screening a regular part of a women's annual exam.
What to expect at your next annual exam
If you are a woman between the ages of 16 and 25 and come to an Allina Medical Clinic location for gynecological exam, you can expect more than the usual Pap test. Your health care provider will take a small sample of cells from your cervix and have them tested for chlamydia, in addition to the conditions normally tracked by a Pap test.
You should receive your screening results within two weeks.
If you have chlamydia, your health care provider will give you a prescription for an antibiotic. Taking the medicine as directed will kill the chlamydia bacteria. You should not have sex until after you've taken all of the antibiotic and your infection has gone away.
If you do not have chlamydia, you can continue to prevent the sexually transmitted disease by having sex with only one partner in a committed relationship and using a condom.
How is Allina doing?
Percent of sexually active women, ages 16 to 25, who were tested for chlamydia as part of their annual exam
Allina Medical Clinic - all clinics
At Allina Medical Clinic, we've made chlamydia screening a part of a woman's annual exam. The graph above shows how many sexually active women, ages 16 to 25, were tested for chlamydia when they had a Pap test.
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