infections
Chlamydia and Other Nongonococcal Infections
Diagnosis of Chlamydia
Usually, testing of a sample of discharge from the cervix, vagina, penis, throat, or rectum or a sample of urine Doctors suspect chlamydial, ureaplasmal, and mycoplasmal infections based on symptoms, such as a discharge from the penis or cervix, or risk factors, such as age or high-risk sexual activity. In most cases, doctors diagnose chlamydia by doing tests that detect the bacteria’s unique genetic material (DNA). Usually, a sample of the discharge from the penis or cervix is used. Sometimes women are asked to use a swab to obtain a sample from their vagina. For some types of these tests, a urine sample can be used. If a urine sample can be used, people can avoid the discomfort of having a swab inserted into the penis or having a pelvic examination to obtain a sample. If doctors suspect infection of the throat or rectum, samples from those sites may be tested. Gonorrhea , which is often also present, can be diagnosed using the same sample. Blood tests to check for 