Time frame for contracting Chlamydia

[ginnysue]

I recently found out after quite a few years of marriage (over 20) that my husband had a short affair a few months ago.  We have been through quite a few life changes lately and so much stress.  He said he was sorry and I have no reason to disbelieve him.  We acknowledged we still loved each other and wanted to work it out and I forgave him.  About 6 weeks after his being intimate with her, I had my annual Pap where they automatically did a test for Chlamydia.  It came back negative.  About 2 weeks ago (five months after the "most recent" intimate act with her), he has tested positive for Chlamydia and now I have it too.  We have been intimate with one another very frequently from the time I found out about this affair.  We really just wanted to put this behind us.  However, now I am wondering why I tested negative 6 weeks after his being intimate with her (which is where he says he got it).  I am really at a loss here.  Is is possible that he contracted it from her, but didn't pass it to me 6 weeks after being with her?  

[auntiejessi]

I hate these kinds of questions, because I never have a really good answer.

It could have been that the first chlamydia test you had was a false negative, it could have been too soon for you to test (it can take a week to show on a test), or it could be that he hasn't been completely honest about continuing this affair.

See why I hate them?  There is nothing definitive.  If you had had a different test the first time, I would say absolutely, you didn't have it then, and he had to lie, but the new pap that includes chlamydia testing isn't appearing to be all that accurate - we've had some false positives here, but no false negatives (of course, if they are negative, they aren't going to be posting on the internet about it, right?)  

I'm going to do some research on the new pap test, and will post more if I find anything, but wanted to at least respond so you had something to go on.

Aj

[auntiejessi]

OK with a quick google, I found this - http://www.labcorp.com/datasets/labcorp/html/chapter/mono/cy006700.htm

It says that false positives are more likely, as the specificity (the ability to be able to correctly identify negative specimens) is about 99%.  

But again - nothing is 100%, and I think you are going to have to go with your gut here.

AJ

[ginnysue]

Thanks.  I am going to have a "heart to heart" with my husband.  

[ginnysue]

Something just occurred to me.  I went to my doctor back in late March with an "infection".  He diagnosed it as bacterial vaginosis.  At that time, I didn't suspect an STD, so he didn't check for that.  He gave my a 7 or 10-day course of Flagyl for it and it cleared.  Is is possible that the Flagyl cleared the Chlamydia and I tested negative at my Pap and then my husband reinfected me?  He didn't know he had it, so obviously he wouldn't have been treated for it.  Could the Flagyl have cleared it?

[auntiejessi]

Flagyl might clear it, but its not likely.  If you had been on the flagyl within the few weeks prior to the pap, then the flagyl might have inhibited the growth of the bacteria enough to test negative.

Are you sure you were tested for stds with your pap?  Have you already asked about this?  Newer paps will have it included, but not every doctor uses those.  

Aj

[ginnysue]

I went to the doctor yesterday for a followup culture to see if I am cleared now (don't know the results yet).  I specifically asked them to check to see if I was tested for Chlamydia and the results.  She said I was tested and it was negative.  My appointment where I was diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis was done on March 10th.  I took 7 or 10 days of Flagyl (can't remember how many) and it cleared.  My Pap was done on April 1st.  I just hadn't considered that it may have cleared and then I was possibly reinfected.  I don't want to throw away a 23-year marriage without definitive answers.  We have a much better marriage than ever before and I really want to put this behind me.  Will be difficult to do until we are both cleared.  He was told this morning that his retest was positive, so the Zithromax didn't quite do the job.  He has to take 10 more days of antibiotics. Hope this works.

[auntiejessi]

If your test comes back positive, don't be alarmed.  The general recommendations are to wait for at least a month after treatment to re-test because there might be some dead chlamydia DNA still present, and that might cause a false positive.  This might be what happened to your husband.

If its positive, you should retest in a few weeks.

And I agree - making decisions based on maybes isn't smart, and that has to be between the 2 of you.

Good luck!

Aj

[auntiejessi]

What medication are you being treated with?

Aj

[ginnysue]

We were both given a one-time dose of Zithromax and after testing positive a second time, they have him on ten days of doxycycline.  

[auntiejessi]

That's the appropriate treatment.  :)

Aj