Chlamydia is a common STI that can affect both men and women. This STI is caused by an infection from Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium, and is spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

Most people who have chlamydia don’t know it since the infection often has no symptoms (as often as 70% of the time or more).

• Chlamydia is the most commonly reported STI in the United States.
• Sexually active women under 25 years of age should test at least once every year. It is recommended to get tested with each new partner, especially if engaging in any type of unprotected sex.
• Easy to cure, chlamydia can cause life-long complications if left untreated.

For more information about chlamydia, visit the CDC website.

Between 70 to 80% of all chlamydia cases are asymptomatic, which means you may have chlamydia even if you are not exhibiting any symptoms. For those individuals that are symptomatic, some of the most common symptoms include:

• Discharge from the penis or vagina
• A burning feeling during urination
• Frequent urination
• In women, abdominal and/or pelvic pain, pain during sexual intercourse
• In men, testicular pain, tenderness and swelling
• Rectal pain, discharge and/or bleeding
• Painful periods or bleeding between periods
• Fever
• Itching or burning around the vagina

Chlamydia can affect the genitals, rectum, mouth, or eyes. If you notice symptoms affecting any of these areas, it’s in your best interest to get tested.

Gonorrhea is the 4th most common STI in the United States, and can infect both men and women, causing  infections in the genital area, rectum, and throat. As with chlamydia, gonorrhea is particularly common in teens and young adults. It’s also important to note that many men, and more than half of women, have no symptoms whatsoever when they are infected. Gonorrhea may be contracted by having oral, anal, or vaginal sex with someone who is infected. In addition, women with gonorrhea who are pregnant may pass the infection to their baby during childbirth.

Gonorrhea may also get into the bloodstream and cause disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI). This can cause scar tissue to settle into joints and into the heart, causing arthritis, gonococcal endocarditis, and meningitis which may be fatal.

For more information about gonorrhea, visit the CDC website.

Gonorrhea is for the most part asymptomatic, but some of the common symptoms include:

• Itching
• Swelling or redness of the genitals
• Frequent urination
• Abnormal discharge
• Abdominal/pelvic pain
• Pain during intercourse
• Heavier periods or discharge between periods
• Epididymitis (Swelling of the testicles)

Many women who contract gonorrhea often mistake their symptoms for what appears to be a urinary tract infection. If you happen to be exhibiting any of these symptoms, be sure to get tested right away as a test is the only way to truly determine what ailment you may have.

HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a virus that attacks your body’s immune system. If HIV is left untreated, it may lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, for which there is currently no cure. The human body cannot rid itself of HIV, but with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. Antiretroviral therapy, or ART, is known to prolong the lives of people infected with HIV, and in some cases lower their chance of infecting others. Before the introduction of ART in the mid-1990s, people with HIV could progress to AIDS in just a few years. But with ART, someone diagnosed with HIV and treated before the disease has advanced to AIDS can have an arguably normal life expectancy.

A number of symptoms associated with the flu may be early signs of HIV. These include:

• Headache
• Fever
• Tiredness
• Swollen lymph nodes (generally in the neck)
• Rash

Other possible symptoms are muscle and joint pain, sore throat, and ulcers in the mouth or on the genitals. Some people also experience night sweats and diarrhea.

For more information about HIV visit the CDC website.

It’s never been easier to test for chlamydia and gonorrhea at home. Here’s how it works:

1. Start the process by ordering your at-home test from the myLAB Box website. The shipping of your test kit is free of charge, and will be sent to you in discreet packaging.
2. Inside your at-home kit is everything you need to perform the test. Simply follow the included instructions to collect your samples.
3. Next, use the included pre-addressed, postage paid envelope to ship your samples to the lab for testing.
4. Wait for your secure electronic results. These will be sent to you within 2 to 5 days via email. Simply click on the link in your email to access your test results, which will be available to view in a secure online portal.
5. Should you test positive for chlamydia and/or gonorrhea, you will have the option to schedule a free phone consultation with a healthcare provider. During this call, your results will be reviewed, and you will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss next steps to manage your health, including how to obtain treatment

Although both chlamydia and gonorrhea are curable if detected early, they can lead to conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, chronic pain, vaginal, rectal and/or oral infections, and complications during pregnancy.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are two of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the U.S. (chlamydia being the 2nd and gonorrhea being the 4th). You may still be at risk if you are not experiencing symptoms. Our at-home test gives you the answers you need to maintain your health and prevent a wide range of potential problems.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are so widespread that the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise every sexually active adult to get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea at least once a year, if not more. Your chances of contracting chlamydia and gonorrhea are even greater if you participate in high-risk sexual activities, such as unprotected sex. If in doubt, you should get tested for chlamydia and/or gonorrhea if you are exhibiting any symptoms or believe you may have been exposed to either sexually transmitted infection (STI).

Chlamydia and gonorrhea will not be detectable immediately after exposure. In fact, it can take up to two weeks for gonorrhea to be detectable and up to three weeks for chlamydia to be detectable. Experts commonly recommend waiting at least three weeks after your initial exposure to get tested. If you test negative within the first three weeks, it’s in your best interest to get retested after three weeks have passed to confirm your results.

You may want to get tested for HIV if:

• If you have had vaginal, anal or oral sex
• If you have shared drug injection equipment used by another person

Our HIV home test uses a self-collected finger stick and blood spot card that is mailed to a qualified lab because it yields more accurate and reliable results.

According to the CDC, blood based testing finds infection earlier than oral fluid testing.  Up to 1 in 12 people may receive a false-negative result with tests that use oral fluid.

If chlamydia or gonorrhea are left untreated, they may cause complications such as:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Infertility
• Chronic pain
• Life-threatening pregnancy
• Vaginal, rectal and/or oral infections

A case of gonorrhea may also put you at a greater risk of contracting HIV.