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Does Intake Of Zithromax Help In Treating Chlamydia?

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Posted on Mon, 27 Jun 2016
Question: I took Zithromax for chlamydia May 2nd. Do I need to test again?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Jacqueline Brown (34 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Yes- in three months after treatment

Detailed Answer:
Hello, and I would be happy to answer your question today.

Treating chlamydia with Zithromax is nearly 100 percent effective in treating Chlamydia. Because the test for Chlamydia is a DNA test, it may remain positive for a time even if you have been treated. For that reason it is not recommended to test again before 3 months after diagnosis.

The reason retesting is recommended in general is not to make sure the medicine worked, but because up to 25 percent of people will get reinfected by their partner if he is not treated at the same time. So you do not need a test at all to see if you are "cured" if you took the Zithromax as directed and are not at risk from reinfection.

I hope that I was able to adequately answer your question today and that my advice was reassuring. If you need anything further, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best wishes,

Dr. Brown

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Follow up: Dr. Jacqueline Brown (14 minutes later)
Ok, so you don't think I need to take this doxy that he sent? I do not understand why my gynecologist wanted to test after 2 weeks. If this is false positive, then I have been wasting my life googling chlamydia everyday. Do you think if I got a test next week, it would still show a false positive? Otherwise, should I just wait until August for a new test?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Jacqueline Brown (5 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
If you took Zithromax 1 gram total, then you do not need further treatment.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again,

As I said before, you may still test positive for a while after treatment (no one knows exactly how long) but the antibiotics do work... always- but the DNA of the dead chlamydia in your cervical cells will still make the test show positive. There is no reason for you to take Doxycycline if you already took Zithromax, however many doctors give a second prescription to treat your sexual partner.

So there may have been confusion there, but there is no reason to take the medicine again or retest sooner than August.

I hope this additional information was helpful. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

Regards,

Dr. Brown
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Jacqueline Brown (19 minutes later)
Ok, I am going to cancel my future appointments then or move them to August. I think I was sexually assaulted and I told the guy but he didn't seem interested in treatment. I did ask prior partners about their history but those partners were from before April 14th and they showed me negative results so I think it was this person from April 14th. unfortunately, I have no control over whether he will seek treatment or not. I am glad to hear that I should be fine. I was very disappointed to hear that my doctor thought I still had chlamydia, especially because that test was only 15 days after I took Zithromax. I have had no success finding men who want committed relationships. Most guys I know just have multiple partners and probably don't use condoms. I didn't use condoms most times either so I feel like I'm lucky that i never had an STI until now.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Jacqueline Brown (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
It is true that you do not need to worry further about this STII

Detailed Answer:
Well, you are correct in the fact that you can wait until August to follow up for repeat testing, however I strongly recommend you use condoms until you are sure you are with someone who is disease free and monogamous. You are correct that having unprotected sex puts you at risk, so try to have the self-discipline to insist on condom use in the early stages of a relationship if you choose to have sex. Contracting an STD is not "punishment" for having unprotected sex, but unfortunately almost 20 percent of adults have had at least one STD in their lifetime so you always need to be careful until you know your partner's status.

But at least for now, you can be reassured about the chlamydia.

I wish you the best going forward, and hope this is the last time you need to be concerned about this issue.

Take care,

Dr. Brown

Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Answered by
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Dr. Jacqueline Brown

OBGYN

Practicing since :1996

Answered : 1425 Questions

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Does Intake Of Zithromax Help In Treating Chlamydia?

Brief Answer: Yes- in three months after treatment Detailed Answer: Hello, and I would be happy to answer your question today. Treating chlamydia with Zithromax is nearly 100 percent effective in treating Chlamydia. Because the test for Chlamydia is a DNA test, it may remain positive for a time even if you have been treated. For that reason it is not recommended to test again before 3 months after diagnosis. The reason retesting is recommended in general is not to make sure the medicine worked, but because up to 25 percent of people will get reinfected by their partner if he is not treated at the same time. So you do not need a test at all to see if you are "cured" if you took the Zithromax as directed and are not at risk from reinfection. I hope that I was able to adequately answer your question today and that my advice was reassuring. If you need anything further, please do not hesitate to contact me. Best wishes, Dr. Brown