Cervical screening tests do not include a test for chlamydia.
Cervical screening tests are designed to help to prevent cervical cancer by checking the health of the entrance to the womb and looking for mutated cells.
As such these tests do not include tests for chlamydia or any other sexually transmitted diseases or infections.
If you want to get a chlamydia test then you should ask your doctor or nurse whilst at your smear test.
Who should have a chlamydia test?
If you are sexually active and under 25 then you should get tested for chlamydia each year, or even when you change sexual partners.
Where can you get a chlamydia test?
You can get chlamydia tests from numerous different places including your GP surgery, a sexual health clinic, or a young peoples clinic. In some areas around the UK you could even order a chlamydia test online for free. If this is not available in your region, then you can buy the tests from a pharmacy that you can do yourself at home.
Testing for chlamydia
There are two main ways in which you can take chlamydia tests. It can be detected in men and women through a urine sample.
Symptoms of chlamydia
Chlamydia can be symptom-less, so you may not know if you do have it. This is why getting a test each time you change sexual partners is very important.
Some symptoms for chlamydia include cystitis, change in colour of discharge, and pain or bleeding during and after sex.
If you experience any discomfort during sexual intercourse then it is very important that you go to a sexual health clinic to get tested for any STIs.
Treating chlamydia
If you or your partner think they may have chlamydia then it is very important to get tested and seek medical advice immediately. If chlamydia isn’t treated it can spread around the body and cause long term health problems like infertility.
Fortunately, chlamydia is very easy to treat and can be treated with single dose antibiotics.
