Home remedies are not effective in treatingchlamydia, the most common bacterialsexually transmitted infection(STI) in the United States. It affects about one in 14 people.
Prescription antibiotics are the only approved treatment. Appropriate care is important because chlamydia can cause permanent damage to the reproductive system.Using other home remedies or drugs may relieve some of your symptoms, but that won’t mean the infection is gone.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
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Home Remedies for Chlamydia
If you’re wondering how to get rid of chlamydia at home, you may be disappointed to learn that there are no effective home remedies for chlamydia. Since it is a bacterial infection, the only way totreat chlamydiais withantibioticsthat take about a week to work.
It’s important to start treatment quickly and not try douching or other home remedies since these can worsen the infection.
Some home remedies might help withchlamydia symptomsor make you feel better overall, which keeps people returning to these remedies. It’s important to only use them in conjunction with antibiotics. These are some home remedies for chlamydia that people try:
At-Home Chlamydia TestsWhile it’s not possible to treat chlamydia yourself, at-home testing is an option following Food and Drug Administration approval for the Simple 2 test in 2023.The test is meant to improve access to the appropriate diagnosis and treatment for a chlamydia infection.
At-Home Chlamydia Tests
While it’s not possible to treat chlamydia yourself, at-home testing is an option following Food and Drug Administration approval for the Simple 2 test in 2023.The test is meant to improve access to the appropriate diagnosis and treatment for a chlamydia infection.
Potential Complications
Untreated chlamydia can increase your risk of contracting or passing on a life-threatening human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Chlamydia can also lead toinfertilityregardless of sex.
If you have a uterus, chlamydia can develop intopelvic inflammatory disease(PID), which occurs when an infection spreads throughout the reproductive tract. PID can lead to additional complications, including:
A pregnant person with chlamydia is at increased risk for preterm labor. They can also pass chlamydia on to their infant. In babies, chlamydia can lead to eye infections and pneumonia.If you’re pregnant, you should get tested for chlamydia at your first appointment.
Chlamydia can lead toepididymitisin males, with classic symptoms of pain and inflammation at the scrotum.It also can affect sperm quality.
Summary
Chlamydia is a bacterial STI. In most people it is asymptomatic, but it can also lead to genital pain and discharge. Untreated chlamydia can cause long-term complications, including infertility.
There is no effective way to use home remedies to treat chlamydia. Keep in mind that chlamydia is easily treated with a weeklong course of antibiotics. Seeing a healthcare provider for a prescription will allow you to take charge of your health and avoid serious complications.
12 Sources
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