Urine Tests for Chlamydia & Gonorrhea Explained

What are Chlamydia and Gonorrhea?

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). In 2020, the CDC reported 16 million cases of chlamydia and 677,769 cases of gonorrhea. While often mentioned together, they are distinctly different infections caused by separate bacteria strains.

Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are the bacteria causing chlamydia and gonorrhea, respectively. Both infections can affect various parts of your body in both men and women, such as the rectum, cervix, or genitals.

Contrary to common belief, these STDs are not limited to sexual contact alone. They can also spread through other means. For example, an infected mother can transfer the disease to her newborn during childbirth.

Though easily curable with a straightforward round of antibiotics, both diseases can cause severe long-term health issues if left untreated. Therefore, leading health organizations like the World Health Organization and the National Institute of Health emphasize the importance of regular screening for sexually active individuals.

This article will review how to get tested for both of these STDs.

How do you test for chlamydia and gonorrhea?

There are various ways to detect sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like chlamydia and gonorrhea. However, this section will mainly focus on a specific approach: the urine test.

Urine Test for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea

A urine test, called nucleic acid amplification (NAA), is the gold standard test for chlamydia and gonorrhea.This test seeks out traces of an STD infection by analyzing a small urine sample. The FDA-cleared NAA test focuses on Chlamydia trachomatis – the bacteria that causes chlamydia infections, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae – the bacteria behind gonorrhea infections.

This method requires nothing more than a small urine sample. Boasting a sensitivity rate of 99.8% and a specificity of 99.3%, it provides highly accurate results. From submission to results, you're looking at a turnaround time of just 1-3 days.

If there's a chance you may have chlamydia or gonorrhea, it’s important to abstain from sexual intercourse until your test results are ready.

Urine testing vs. bacterial culture

There's another method to test for these STDS. It uses a bacterial culture. Bacterial culture, although reliable, has a long processing time. It also requires a more invasive sample collection, often requiring a swab to collect body fluid from places like the cervix, vagina, urethra, rectum, throat, or eyes.

In contrast, urine testing is less invasive, easier, and much faster—with results usually being ready within 1 to 2 days.

Can I take the test at home?

Absolutely! The fear that often accompanies STD testing stems from the notion of physical exams.

Testing for these sexually transmitted infections can be done right from the comfort of your home. Using at-home STI tests, you're directly involved in the collection of your own sample, which is then sent to a lab.

And results are typically available online within a few days.

Before you test though, it's important to talk to your healthcare provider about what STIs you'll be testing for. Understand why certain tests have been chosen for you, and importantly, request additional testing if you feel that you might be at risk for other sexually transmitted infections.

It's highly recommended to wait 15 days after potential chlamydia exposure and 26 days after potential gonorrhea exposure before testing. These are medically advised to provide accurate results.

To get the most from your at-home testing, follow some basic guidelines. For one, don't urinate at least an hour before sample collection.

Who needs chlamydia and gonorrhea testing?

If you're sexually active, it's wise to discuss your sexual habits and history with a healthcare professional. These open discussions can help determine which sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests, such as for chlamydia and gonorrhea, you might need.

What are the signs of chlamydia or gonorrhea?

Chlamydia and gonorrhea infections often don't have noticeable signs or symptoms. However, if symptoms do occur, they might include the following;

For women:

• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Pain or burning sensation during urination
• Bleeding between periods

For men:

• Abnormal discharge from the penis
• Burning sensation during urination
• Painful or swollen testicles (though less common).

In instances where these STD symptoms are present, contact a health professional immediately.

How soon after exposure can I get tested?

You actually need to wait a bit to get tested after sexual contact with potential exposure to gonorrhea or chlamydia. The bacteria take some time to multiply in the body to levels detectable by tests. Generally, testing is most effective 1-2 weeks post-exposure. However, should symptoms arise, testing should be done immediately.

Do note, even with a negative result, don't assume you're free of infection. If the test is taken too soon after potential exposure—before the bacteria levels have increased enough—you might get a false negative. That means that you still might have the STD even though the test came back negative. The World Health Organization recommends retesting after 3 months to ensure no STDs went undetected the first time.

What do I need to do to prepare for chlamydia and gonorrhea test?

If you’re having a urine test, hold off from urinating for an hour before your visit. This rule applies to both males and females. Also, to keep your body functioning at its best, stay well-hydrated and have something to eat within an hour before your appointment.

What do the results mean?

Interpreting test results for sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea involves understanding what a positive or negative result means. A negative result for chlamydia indicates that no infection was present at the time of sample collection. For gonorrhea, though, a negative result doesn't necessarily mean the absolute absence of infection because the bacteria could take a couple of weeks to show up as a positive test result following exposure.

On the other hand, a positive test result for either chlamydia or gonorrhea means you have an active infection. Make sure to contact your healthcare provider. They will typically prescribe a course of antibiotics to treat the infection.

What to do next

It’s important to maintain transparency with sexual partners. If your test result is positive, it's essential to notify your partners about your STI status so that they can also get tested and treated if necessary. Plus, given the high chance of recurring infections, retesting three months after completing the antibiotics treatment is strongly advised. Stay in contact with your healthcare provider to know when to get retested.

Awaiting results can sometimes feel nerve-wracking, so finding out when you can expect the results can be helpful. Also ask if they will reach out if your results are negative—some offices only reach out when test results are positive.

Is there a cure for chlamydia and gonorrhea?

Yes, there's a cure. Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics. Different antibiotics treat chlamydia and gonorrhea. Gonorrhea may be more challenging to treat because some strains of this bacteria are becoming resistant to certain antibiotics. It’s important to follow your healthcare provider's instructions and complete all prescribed medication to make sure it’s fully treated and to avoid antibiotic resistance.

Conclusion

You've learned that urine tests can efficiently detect chlamydia and gonorrhea. If you test positive, it's important to start antibiotic treatment right away. Remember, some gonorrhea strains resist antibiotics, so completing your medication course is vital. It's also essential to be open with your sexual partners about your results, encouraging them to get tested and treated if necessary. Finally, don't forget to get retested after your treatment to ensure the infection is completely cleared. Your sexual health is a priority, so stay informed, stay safe, and take action when needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does a negative chlamydia test result mean?

A negative chlamydia test result means that you do not have an active infection at the time of testing. This can, however, vary depending on when the exposure occurred.

2. Is a negative gonorrhea test conclusive?

A negative gonorrhea test is not always conclusive. A negative result may not rule out infection if testing is done immediately after exposure.

3. What do positive test results mean?

Positive results for either chlamydia or gonorrhea mean you have an active infection. Positive results require antibiotic treatment, communication with any sexual partners for testing, and a retest after completing antibiotics to ensure the infection is gone.

4. Can gonorrhea strains resist antibiotics?

Yes, some strains of gonorrhea have shown resistance to antibiotics, emphasizing the importance of completing prescribed medication, even when symptoms subside.