FAQs About Chlamydia Treatment

Health & Medical Blog

Learning that you have chlamydia can be a little scary at first. You're probably not excited to have to tell your partners you've been diagnosed. But at the same time, it's nice to know chlamydia is very treatable. The more you learn about the treatment, the more confident you'll feel. So, take a look at these FAQs about chlamydia treatment.

1. What medications will you need to take?

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection, so like most bacterial infections, it can be treated with antibiotics. Two different antibiotics are most often given for chlamydia. The first is a broad-spectrum antibiotic called doxycycline. The other is an antibiotic called azithromycin. Both work about the same way. They destroy bacteria directly, allowing your immune system to finally clear the infection.

2. How long will you need to take the antibiotics?

Surprisingly, not that long. Patients who are prescribed doxycycline often need to take it for between 7 and 10 days. Those who are prescribed azithromycin may only need one large dose, followed by two or three more smaller doses taken daily. 

3. How do doctors decide which antibiotic to prescribe?

There are a few different factors to consider. Doxycycline is effective, but it can cause some side effects like digestive upset. So, if you have a sensitive digestive tract, your doctor may choose to prescribe azithromycin instead. It can cause the same side effects, but since you only have to take the azithromycin for a couple of days, the side effects will be shorter-lived. Your doctor will also consider your antibiotic history. If you've taken either antibiotic in the past, they may prescribe a different one to help ward off resistance.

4. How do you know the infection is cleared? 

As long as you take your antibiotics as prescribed, there's little risk of the infection persisting. Your symptoms should start clearing up after your first dose, and they should be completely gone within a week. If your symptoms do return, or if they do not wane at all with treatment, make another appointment with your doctor. There is a chance that a condition other than chlamydia is causing some of your symptoms.

Now that you know a little more about treating chlamydia, you can proceed with confidence. It's not a very difficult condition to treat. The good news is that you caught it and are getting the care you need. Begin the process by contacting STD treatment services. 

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19 October 2021

Seniors Deserve the Best

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