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Screening for Chlamydia

by Ricker Polsdorfer, MD

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Screening

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The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are given to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.

Screening Guidelines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual screening for:

Sexually active women age 25 or younger
Sexually active women over age 25 with new or multiple sex partners
Men who have sex with men

Pregnant women should be screened:

At the first prenatal visit
Again during the third trimester if they are under 25 years old and/or are at high risk for getting chlamydia

Sexually active young men should consider screening for sexually transmitted infections, although there is no specific guideline.

References:

Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/default.htm. Accessed January 29, 2021.

Chlamydia—CDC fact sheet (detailed). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/STDFact-chlamydia-detailed.htm. Accessed January 29, 2021.

Chlamydia genital infection. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dyname... . Accessed January 29, 2021.

Mishori R, McClaskey EL, WinklerPrins VJ. Chlamydia trachomatis infections: Screening, diagnosis, and management. Am Fam Physician. 2012;86(12):1127-1132.

Last reviewed March 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board David L. Horn, MD, FACP
Last Updated: 1/29/2021

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