Chlamydia Smear In Women And Men, Accuracy And Alternative

2023 Author: Riley Dean | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 09:15

Features of the selection of a smear for chlamydia in women and men

Content

1 When a smear for chlamydia is required
2 Features of taking a smear for chlamydia
3 Accuracy of results
4 Other diagnostic methods
5 How often to have a smear for chlamydia
6 Smear for chlamydia in men

Chlamydia smear is a modern, safe, painless and accurate method for diagnosing sexually transmitted diseases. Such tests are recommended to be taken annually, because the danger of chlamydia is that it is often asymptomatic for several years. The person does not even know that he is the carrier of the infection, then the bacterium activates, numerous unpleasant symptoms appear.

Chlamydia in a smear can be detected in both men and women; the collection of biomaterial for research is carried out in different ways. This procedure is painless, the results are known already 2-3 days after taking the test.

When a smear for chlamydia is required

What is chlamydia

Chlamydia is a disease that is triggered by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. They have the properties of viruses, so it can be problematic to determine the root cause of the disease. The bacterium enters the body sexually, but there are exceptions. Pathogenic microflora can penetrate inside through blood, saliva.

Few know that owners of parrots, canaries, and other representatives of birds are at risk. Birds are prone to chlamydia or psittacosis, and can infect the host. The bacterium is not transmitted through the air, but if a bird flies around the room, sits on the owner's hand or shoulder, it can scratch it with its claws, beak, and infect the human body. Parrot owners are advised to undergo a mandatory examination once a year in order to exclude infection or identify it at an early stage.

Chlamydia is not a sexually transmitted disease, because it can be transmitted not only sexually, but if one of the spouses is infected from the outside, it is highly likely that he infects the other half during intimacy.

A smear for chlamydia is taken:

In women - from the cervical canal, urethra, conjunctival sac, saliva, blood, urine;
In men - from the urethra, prostate secretions, sperm, conjunctival sac, saliva, blood, urine;
In children, a smear is rarely taken; blood is used to detect chlamydia.

Timely diagnosis gives more chances for a successful recovery and return to a fulfilling life. The patient needs long-term full-fledged treatment, but getting rid of chlamydia is real.

Features of taking a smear for chlamydia

Taking a smear for chlamydia in women

To take a smear for chlamydia in women, you need to visit a gynecologist or venereologist. He will examine the vagina on a chair, take biomaterial from the cervical canal. For this, a standard gynecological kit is used. The procedure takes a few seconds and is painless. It is important to relax, not to strain the vaginal muscles. The scraping is transferred to a special glass and transferred to the laboratory. There, the study is carried out in several stages:

Study of biomaterial under a powerful microscope;
Identification and description of all types of microflora;
Application of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for detecting chlamydial DNA in the structure of biomaterial.

This method gives a 100% guarantee of efficiency and effectiveness. Experts recommend retaking the test after 2-3 weeks if it is initially negative, but the patient is already showing pronounced symptoms of chlamydia. If the result is positive, additional examinations are immediately assigned.

Accuracy of results

High accuracy of results is the main advantage of the PCR method over other diagnostic measures. There are other technologies for laboratory research. Some of them are inexpensive but unreliable. Others give a 100% guarantee of the result, detailed decoding, but they are not cheap. The PRC is optimal for these purposes, because at a comparatively low cost of the study, its effectiveness is high. Specialists can draw conclusions regarding the presence of chlamydia in the body, the degree of tissue and organ damage, in order to prescribe adequate therapy.

In many cases, in order to get a clearer picture, to understand whether only the genitourinary system or other internal organs is affected, additional studies are prescribed.

Other diagnostic methods

Among other diagnostic methods, a blood test for chlamydia is popular. It allows you to detect antibodies to chlamydia. At the first encounter with a new infection, the immune system begins to actively produce immunoglobulins. They remain in the body forever, preserve intracellular memory. The presence of such antibodies indicates infection. They are studied by structure. There are several varieties of such substances, each of which indicates the stage of development of the disease.

Only comprehensive diagnostics allows making correct conclusions about the patient's health. If the doctor offers to undergo additional research, clearly argues his opinion, do not resist. This is necessary for further treatment.

How often to get a smear for chlamydia

If chlamydia is found in the smear, the doctor prescribes long-term treatment according to a certain scheme. After the completion of the next stage of therapy, the analyzes are repeated to assess the dynamics and the results obtained.

In cases where the analysis is negative, no chlamydia DNA was detected in the biomaterial, it is advisable to retake the smear in a month. Then it is necessary to conduct research annually, especially with frequent changes in sexual partners. This deliberate, balanced approach to your own health gives positive results. The danger of chlamydia is that after entering the human body, they multiply here for several years, affect the internal organs, but these processes are asymptomatic.

It is possible to identify an ailment only with a preventive examination by a gynecologist or urologist. Do not think that if nothing hurts you, then there are no diseases in the body. The latent period of chlamydia lasts for several years, only after that numerous unpleasant symptoms arise, which is problematic to get rid of in such a neglected state.

Smear for chlamydia in men

A smear for chlamydia in men is a common type of diagnosis. Biomaterial is taken from the urethra. Many patients are afraid of this process, they are sure that it is painful, unpleasant. A special ultra-thin disposable probe is used to take a smear. A good doctor has an impressive track record of doing research like this. You won't even feel anything. The contents of the probe are transferred to laboratory glass, passed on to narrow specialists, who conduct complex versatile studies, and issue their verdict.

In the same way, material is taken for bacteriological inoculation and determination of sensitivity to antibiotics. Chlamydiae are treated with antibacterial drugs. Such studies allow you to determine which drugs will be most effective against a particular strain of microorganisms.

To undergo annual preventive medical examinations, to be tested for various infections and their pathogens is the direct responsibility of every person who feels responsible for their own health. It is advisable to use the services of reliable laboratories for this purpose, where they give highly accurate results.