Window for Testing

[granolabar]

I am a female who recently had one incident of unprotected vaginal sex.  I saw my doctor exactly 4 days afterward to be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea.  I was tested by swab/culture, not urine.  Both came back negative.  

Was I tested too soon, or would that be adequate time for bacteria to be detectable for both chlamydia and gonorrhea?  I am concerned because when I went in for testing, I was experiencing some burning/itching of the vulva and some urinary discomfort, abdominal and back pain.  These symptoms continue.  My doctor also checked for yeast and other bacteria, and I had none of either of those.  Wondering if maybe I have a UTI, if I can be confident that chlaymida and gonorrhea truly are negative.

[granolabar]

Thanks, Grace.  I did go back to the doctor.  She felt pretty confident that the chlamydia and gonorrhea tests we already did were accurate, but we decided to test again (at 12 days post-encounter).  I will get results on Monday.  No symptoms of herpes.

The diagnosis is that my symptoms are due to a bladder infection, for which I'm now taking antibiotics.

Thanks for your help.

[gracefromHHP]

4 days post encounter is fine. we recommend waiting a little longer but it's still pretty accurate.

since it's been over a week and you still have symptoms, time to go  back and be seen again. make sure they test you for yeast and bacterial infections vaginally too while you are there. if they see anything that looks like herpes, they can do a lesion culture and typing on it too.

grace

[granolabar]

When I went in for testing, I informed my doctor that it had been 4 days since any potential exposure and asked if that would be long enough.  She said that it should be, as in women it those infections go straight to the cervix and can then be swabbed/detected.

The only reason that I'm concerned is that I'm still experiencing the symptoms I mentioned above, which could be the result of an STD or the result of some other infection.  I think I will call in the morning and ask what they think I should do.

Thanks for your help.  

[RainLover71]

The Doctor uses the words "probably" but he,s an expert so if your confident with that response then go with it.What did your doctor say about the results and if they were conclusive?

[granolabar]

I just found this post from one of the doctors that is quoting a much shorter window period for both chlamydia and gonorrhea, of only 1-2 days.  Is this not the case?  

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Chlamydia-test-window/show/248785?controller=posts&action=show&id=#

[RainLover71]

chlamydia has a window period of 2 to 6 weeks in some cases and gonorrhea has a window period of 2 to 7 days.As far as Hiv is concerned you can test at 4 weeks with a DUO/COMBO test for a very reliable result because this is when the p24 antigen is at it's peak.You must follow up at 12 weeks for a 100% conclusive result.All the best.

[granolabar]

Thanks for your reply.  I know I still need to be tested for HIV as well but of course it is still too soon.

Was my testing too early for chlamydia/gonorrhea?

[RainLover71]

You require a full STD screen which includes Hiv testing aswell.All the best.

[granolabar]

Just FYI the incident of unprotected sex occurred 11 days ago.  Thanks for your help.