“I’m being treated for Chlamydia. When can I start having sex again?”

It’s great that you took the first step, and got tested for chlamydia. While chlamydia can be very dangerous, it’s also very treatable. The important thing now, is to not get re-infected.

Preventing Chlamydia Re-infection

Wait to resume sexual activity until both partners have completed treatment. This means taking all medications, as directed by your doctor before resuming any kind of sexual activity.

Re-infection from chlamydia is common since many people with chlamydia do not know they are infected and continue to have sex.  If you have a positive chlamydia test, talk to your partner, and make sure they get tested too. In some places, your partner may not even HAVE to be tested, and your doctor can write a prescription for your partner at the same time they write yours. (It’s called expedited partner therapy.)

Because the symptoms of chlamydia are similar to the symptom of gonorrhea, and because a person can be infected with both, doctors will sometimes go ahead and treat people with chlamydia for both infections (chlamydia and gonorrhea). The IDENTIGENE STD test kit tests for both chlamydia and gonorrhea at the same time.

Staying Healthy

Once you and your partner are free from infection, use a condom. A condom worn during intercourse provides good protection against chlamydia infection.

You should be tested again for chlamydia and gonorrhea if:

• You have sex with a new or casual partner
• Develop symptoms of chlamydia, like unusual discharge, or pain when urinating
• Have sex with a partner with chlamydia or with symptoms of chlamydia

Remember, practicing safe sex and being checked regularly for chlamydia and gonorrhea, especially if you change partners, are the most effective ways of protecting yourself.

Men in Sweden have been known to brag about having an STD.  Really?  Having an STD proves you’ve been successful with women.  Are you serious?

Research from Sweden in 2009 said these beliefs were a growing trend among Swedish men. (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2120555/swedish_study_reveals_that_men_who.html)

I’m hopeful this is one European trend that does not migrate to the U.S.  Let’s put aside moral arguments and talk cold, hard cash.  The CDC estimates the cost of STDs to the U.S. health care system is as much as $15.9 billion annually. (source:  CDC website 1/27/10)  The incidence of STDs in the U.S. is growing and so are the associated costs.  Left untreated, STDs can cause serious health problems that result in expensive treatments.

The Identigene STD Test kit is a cost-effective tool in the fight against STDs.  Early diagnosis makes it possible to seek treatment right away.  Early treatment is often as simple as a dose of inexpensive antibiotics.

The web has been a buzz with the new that a a mobile phone STD test is in the works. The project, dubbed “eSTI2″ is managed by Tariq Sadiq of St. George’s University of London, England.

The test, consisting of a chip that you pee on, which connects to your phone via USB, could give you your results in 5-15 min. The app could even be configured to prompt users to seek treatment at a near by clinic.

“It’s brining the diagnostics to the population rather than having the population come into clinics,” he said. “We’ve really wanted to do this process because there’s been this huge burden of sexually transmitted infections.”

Despite other efforts, STDs generally are on the rise, and the stigma associated with testing — as well as the inconvenience of waiting for an appointment at a clinic — dissuades many people from getting tested.

via: http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/innovation/11/09/diseases.mobile.phone/index.html

IDENTIGENE agrees and that is why we launched our STD Test kit. It’s available from your local drug store for about $20. You test in private, when ever it’s convenient for you, and you can have your results in 2-3 business days.

The eSTI2 project has produced chip prototypes but the organization says they are about 7-10 years away from marketing the chip. In the mean time, it’s important to be tested. Weather that means an appointment with your doctor, at a clinic, or picking up the IDENTIGENE STD test kit from the drug store.

Kudos to the Virtual Granny for addressing the serious subject of STDs in a lighthearted way that drew  my attention.  The granny says a rising divorce rate and modern technology have combined to help keep baby boomers active into their older years.  http://www.virtualgranny.com/news/no-sex-please-were-over-sixty-659.html .

She goes on to quote statistics that say the rate of chlamydia has risen 51% in the 35-64 year old age group and HIV infections have gone up 60% in people over 50 years old in England and Wales since 2003.

I want to introduce these ladies to a new acronym:  PID.  It stands for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.  It’s an infection that causes chronic abdominal pain.   For more information, see the CDC website.

The more sex partners a woman has, the greater her risk of contracting PID.   Also, if your partner has been with other people, you are at a higher risk for PID because of the potential for more exposure to infectious agents.

Early treatment of an STD helps prevent PID.  Get tested.

iVillage recently reported a study published in the British Medical Journal showing that obese people, both men and women, are more likely to have sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancy than people with average body weight. (http://www.ivillage.com/obesity-increases-unplanned-pregnancies-and-stds/4-a-211886)

When I saw the headline, my immediate reaction was that it had to be related to poor self-esteem.   It follows a logical flow that if a person does not think highly of his or herself, they will fail to take proper precautions to safeguard against illness.  Sure enough, the article went on to cite research showing that obesity is related to poor body image, which in turn is related to unprotected sexual activity.

There are two major statements I’d like to make on the subject of obesity and STDs.  First, the person you are is not related to weight.  The number on the scale does not reflect the talents and skills, nor the kindness and goodness you have to offer the world.   Second, weight is a fleeting measure that can vary widely throughout life—but STD damage can be permanent.

Take care of yourself.  Get tested.