Many sexually transmitted infections can be asymptomatic, and can remain so for years. Someone can have an STI, have no symptoms and still be contagious. The pap test is a screening test for cervical cancer. It is not a test for STI’s and is not a good indicator of whether or not infection is present. That is why regular STD screening, which includes cultures for chlamydia & gonorrhea, as well as testing for HIV & syphilis, is important.
Practicing safe sex can decrease your risk of infections, although, it is not foolproof. Condoms only cover so much, and some infections, like herpes and genital warts are spread by skin to skin contact.
With chlamydia and gonorrhea infections, many people have no symptoms. Chlamydia symptoms usually appear about one to three weeks after exposure. Gonorrhea may show up as soon as two days or may take as long as one month.
Trichomoniasis infections usually appear in women about 5 to 28 days after exposure. Women are more likely to have symptoms than men; men usually have no symptoms. Trich infections must be diagnosed by examining the vaginal discharge under a microscope.
If you were diagnosed with positive chlamydia infection on a Monday, it is unlikely that it would show up from that most recent weekend. However, you may want to discuss the results with your doctor.
15. May 2012
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