Chlamydia & Gonorrhea Testing - Should A Urinalysis Be Done Too?

Chlamydia, Gonorrhea Test - Why Add a Urinalysis?

Chlamydia is the most prevalent STD in the U.S. It is most common among people in their late teens and early twenties and can coexist with gonorrhea and other STDs. It is estimated that one in five college students are infected with Chlamydia. The infection is most commonly transmitted through sexual intercourse. If Chlamydia is left untreated, women can develop Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). There is also an increased danger of having an ectopic pregnancy if Chlamydia is left untreated.

People with Chlamydia do not necessarily know that they are infected. Sixty to eighty percent of women and ten percent of men who have Chlamydia exhibit no symptoms. In women, symptoms include: genital itching and burning, vaginal discharge, dull pelvic pain, bleeding between periods, and cervical inflammation. In men, symptoms include: mucus discharge from the penis (gradual onset five to twenty-one days after exposure) and painful urination. Again, these symptoms may be so mild that a man may not notice them. Some times urinary tract infections may be missed due to similar symptoms.

Bacteria that may cause urinary tract infections include E. coli and species of: Proteus, Klebsiella, Enterococcus and Staphylococcus. Occasionally, a urinary tract infection may be due to yeast, such as Candida albicans; urethritis is often due to a sexually transmitted disease such as herpes, chlamydia, or gonorrhea. Infection with more than one microorganism can and often does occur.

Urine does not normally contain microorganisms, but if it is obstructed from leaving the body or retained in the bladder it provides a good environment for bacteria to grow. Most urinary tract infections are due to bacteria that are introduced into the opening of the urethra. They stick to the walls of the urethra, multiplying and moving up the urethra to the bladder. Most urinary tract infections remain in the lower urinary tract (urethra or bladder) where they cause annoying symptoms, such as a burning sensation during urination, but are more easily treated. A routine Urinalysis preformed with your Chlamydia/Gonorrhea test can detect these microorganisms. While these infections are easily treated in most cases, if inadequately treated, the infection may spread up through the ureters, and into the kidneys. A kidney infection is more dangerous, and can lead to permanent kidney damage in those with diabetes and those with other underlying kidney diseases. In some cases a urinary tract infection may lead to an infection in the bloodstream (sepsis, septicemia) that can be life-threatening. Treatment with an antibiotic is usually successful. Some people choose to be retested after the course of treatment has been completed.

A Chlamydia and Gonorrhea urine test only checks for the presence of these two bacteria. An inexpensive urinalysis, performed with the Chlamydia/Gonorrhea test can detect other microorganisms. Sometimes a person can have a negative Chlamydia & Gonorrhea test yet symptoms persist and they can't figure out why. In these cases, the person is often infected with a simple urinary tract infection, such as E. coli which could have been detected with an inexpensive urinalysis.

To purchase a Chlamydia & Gonorrhea test simply order online at LabSafe at http://www.labsafe.com/lab-tests/test/120/ or visit our website at www.labsafe.com

To purchase a Urinalysis test, visit our website at http://www.labsafe.com/lab-tests/test/286/


For more information, or to speak with a member of our professional Medical Staff, call LabSafe toll free at 1-888-333-LABS.