Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection induced by bacteria known as Chlamydia Trachomatis.
You can pass chlamydia by transferring bodily fluids from one infected person to another through sexual activities.
It is one of the prevalent sexually transmitted infections in the United States of America.
This is mainly because it has no visible symptoms most time. Thus, people can have Chlamydia and be unaware, infecting others unknowingly through sex. Can Chlamydia be dormant? Chlamydia can remain inactive in the body, causing a low-grade infection without symptoms.
The Center for Disease Control estimates that 50% of men and 75% of women have Chlamydia. In addition, 40% to 96% of people with Chlamydia show no symptoms of this disease. When discovered, however, Chlamydia can be treated.
However, untreated Chlamydia can cause irreparable health complications like damaging a woman’s reproductive system, causing ectopic pregnancy, and causing infertility in men.
This is why healthcare providers recommend regular screening for sexually active people at higher risk of getting infected.
Can Chlamydia be dormant?
Yes, Chlamydia can be dormant in the body for several years without any flare-up to trigger a symptomatic infection. This means a person could live with Chlamydia for many years without knowing because the typical symptoms don’t appear.
However, Chlamydia can cause a flare-up after laying dormant for several years if the strength of a person’s immune system has been diminished by severe conditions like HIV, cold or flu, and cancer, among others.
Although in some cases, symptoms of the infection appear within a few weeks of contact, there have been instances where Chlamydia remained dormant for over 20 years.
This is why it is vital to get screened regularly if you have suspicions after recent sexual contact.
Painful menstruation or bleeding between menstrual cycles can be symptoms of Chlamydial infection
Does dormant Chlamydia test positive?
Chlamydia trachomatis can be present and dormant in the body for several years. However, it takes 1-3 weeks to show up in the vulva.
There are different ways to test for Chlamydia. The waiting period for the results depends on the mode of the Chlamydia test.
Urine test
Your doctor would require you to pee in a cup that will be tested in a laboratory to see if Chlamydia bacteria are in your urine.
This test takes about 2-5 days to show a positive if you are infected with the disease.
Blood test
Your doctor will take out some of your blood to be sent into the lab for testing to see if antibodies to Chlamydia are in your bloodstream.
Blood test results can come back in a few minutes when the blood is analyzed.
Swab test
Your doctor will use a stick or cotton round to acquire a small sample of suspected fluid that has the infection.
This sample is then cultured to see what bacteria grow from it. It can take up to 2-3 days to show results.
How long can Chlamydia be dormant?
Chlamydia can stay dormant in a person’s body for years without apparent symptoms. In some cases, symptoms appear within 2-14 days after infection. However, some people, especially men, may have Chlamydia for years without knowing it.
Most men usually don’t show symptoms of Chlamydia when they’re infected but are still capable of transmitting it to others.
If an infected person conducts a test, however, even if Chlamydia is dormant, they will test positive for the infection. Chlamydia can still be detected even in a dormant stage.
When should I consult my doctor?
It’s advised that you contact your healthcare provider as soon as you suspect you have come in contact with infected bodily fluids.
This is important as your doctor would offer timely recommendations that would benefit your sexual health.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you follow the prescribed Chlamydia treatment, your symptoms should clear in about a week or two.
However, even if your symptoms disappear, you must finish your doctor’s prescribed dosage.
In addition, stay away from sex during the treatment to reduce the risk of reinfection.
You should complete your recommended dosage even if your symptoms improve
Your doctor can test you for Chlamydia by taking your blood sample, urine sample, or swabbing your vagina, anus, throat, or cervix.
If you are infected with the bacteria, it typically presents within 7-21 days of exposure.
Chlamydia will appear on a sexually transmitted diseases test within 1-2 weeks of exposure.
In most cases of infection, chlamydia doesn’t show symptoms. It can remain in a person undetected and untreated for several years. In addition, even when symptoms don’t occur, people with chlamydia can still infect others through sexual contact or the transfer of body fluids to the anus, mouth, or eyes. This means it is possible to have chlamydia without cheating on your partner.
If left untreated, chlamydia can cause adverse health complications, including genital itching or damage to the reproductive system. Chlamydia can be treated when diagnosed. Suppose you are sexually active; it is vital that you get screened for chlamydia and other STDs regularly. Chlamydia can affect people of all gender and ages but is more prevalent among young women
A chlamydial infection doesn’t always cause symptoms of infection to occur.
A person can have chlamydia for years without experiencing any symptoms of the disease. In some cases, however, some symptoms might occur.
These symptoms vary based on the gender of the infected person. Women and men may experience symptoms of this infection in different ways.
For instance, men may experience mucus-like discharge from the penis, pain or burning sensation when peeing, or pain and swelling in the scrotum.
