Can I still use a sex toy while on Chlamydia treatment?
27-year-old woman
I was diagnosed with chlamydia yesterday. I will make sure to wash it properly between uses. Is there a risk of transmission even if I wash it properly? Can I continue to use the same lip balms?
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Alexandre Chagnon · 3 years ago
Hello ma'am,
First of all, I hope you are doing well despite this STD, that the symptoms (if you have any) are not too bothersome, and that your treatment is going well. 😌
It is very important to wash your sex toys after every use, even before every change of "use area". This is because a sex toy that goes from anal to vaginal without being washed can bring bad bacteria to your urinary meatus and greatly increases the risk of suffering from a urinary tract infection... which I would not wish on you in any way!
However, even with careful washing of sex toys with a special product or just regular soap and water, some sex toy materials are porous and bacteria and viruses can lodge in them (e.g. jelly, latex, rubber). Although materials like plastic, silicone, and glass are less porous (or even non-porous), the risk is never zero, especially if there are small cracks or "hard to reach" places on your sex toys.
So, the watchword is use a condom on your sex toys for the entire treatment and even for all uses after your treatment, regardless of the materials of your toys. This way, you ensure that you don't "re-infect" yourself or your partners (and you can use them safely)! However, be sure to use a condom and/or lubricant that is compatible with your sex toys.
As for your lip balms, the risk is relatively low, but there doesn't seem to be a clear answer on what to do (unlike a toothbrush or razor, where the risk is more established). Personally, to be clear headed, I would throw away the ones I think are at risk of being contaminated and get new ones, but this is my humble opinion.
I hope this information is helpful to you, and will lead to safer use of your sex toys. If you want more info on sex toy care, this website is particularly interesting. Feel free to get back to us if you have any other questions (about the same topic, your chlamydia treatment, or a totally different topic)! 😋
Marc-Antoine Dufresne, pharmacy intern (Pharm.D), supervised by Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist.
27-year-old woman · 3 years ago
Thanks for your response, advice and time.
I didn't know about the razors and toothbrushes... If I started my treatment yesterday, when should I throw them away? Now or at the end of the treatment? If I throw them away now, I still have a chance to reinfect them, right? I'm sorry, I feel a bit lost in all this and I don't want it to happen again. Is it the same for the water bottles?
So from what I understand, no matter how I wash it or how long I don't use it, chances are the bacteria is still alive?
The doctor told me that there was no follow-up to be done following the end of the treatment, but when the pharmacy called me, I was told that it was possible to do a control test 3 weeks / 1 month later...
As far as treatment goes, I was prescribed doxycycline. I take it in the morning and in the evening. I have not been able to see the pharmacist due to COVID.... Is this correct?
😔 The doctor had also prescribed me a medication for bacterial vaginosis which I thought I would take at the end of the treatment following. I guess it's better if I don't take it at the same time to avoid a mix up ...
I saw on the Quebec government website that these medications are supposed to be free when presenting the health insurance card, but I was charged ... Is this normal?
Thanks in advance...
Alexandre Chagnon · 3 years ago
Don't apologize for asking questions: these are appropriate and relevant! ☺️
As for the razor and toothbrush:
- Actually, the risk is not to you but rather to others. I may have misspoken. Generally speaking, one should not share such personal items precisely so as not to catch and/or give away an SSTI that would be symptomless, for example (although the risk of transmission this way is much lower than unprotected sex). If it makes you feel better, you can change your toothbrush and razor at the end of your 7-day antibiotic treatment (that's when you're considered cured of your STI).
As for hygiene of your sex toys:
- You got it right: given the porous materials, even washing them cannot guarantee that they will be free of bacteria/viruses/STIs --> a condom is the best ally for using it, on you or the other partner.
As for post-treatment follow-up for chlamydia:
- Usually, there is no need to re-test or follow up in any way with your doctor. However, if your symptoms persist (or develop) after your treatment ends, it is important to reconsult your doctor. Again, if it makes you feel safer, you can make an appointment for a re-screening at say 1 month post-treatment (to make sure there are no more antibiotics in your blood and the re-screening test isn't skewed by that).
As for your treatment for your chlamydia:
- Doxycycline 2 times a day for 7 days is the first line of treatment in Quebec. Taking it morning and night, with eating, is the ideal way (and you obviously have to take the entire treatment for it to work). Also, because doxycycline can be quite irritating to the esophagus, people are advised to not lie down within 30 minutes of taking it. Doxycycline can interact with multivitamins and iron and calcium supplements among others (its effectiveness may be decreased if they are taken at the same time) --> if you are taking these types of medications, it is necessary to space the intake of these and doxycycline by at least 2 hours (or, to be safe, it may be acceptable to cess the supplements and vitamins during the 7 days of treatment).
As for treatment of bacterial vaginosis:
- It is reasonable to wait until your chlamydia treatment is complete before starting treatment for bacterial vaginosis (which most likely should be metronidazole). This is because you may have even more side effects (stomachache, diarrhea, nausea) if you combine the two.
As for free medication:
- You're partially right. Your chlamydia treatment (doxycycline) should have been free, indeed, since doctors put a special code on prescriptions for this kind of STI and the government covers this drug 100%, even if you have private insurance for example. So I invite you to contact your community pharmacy for details for this medication. However, the treatment for your bacterial vaginosis (likely metronidazole) does not benefit from this type of program and the "usual" drug charges apply, depending on your type of insurance.
I hope this answers all of these new questions and puts your mind at ease! 😊
Marc-Antoine Dufresne, pharmacy intern (Pharm.D), supervised by Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist.
27-year-old woman · 3 years ago
Hello Marc-Antoine,
I just wanted to thank you for all the answers that knew to reassure me. Thank you so much for your help, it is much appreciated.
Happy day 😌
Alexandre Chagnon · 3 years ago
I am pleased to read this from you. I can say: mission accomplished! Thank you for using Question For A Pharmacist! ☺️
Marc-Antoine Dufresne, pharmacy intern (Pharm.D), supervised by Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist.
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