CHLAMYDIA INFECTION

Q: I went to the doctor to check for an STD, was screened and prescribed doxycycline for one week. When I came back for a checkup, the doctor told me that I had chlamydia and instead of checking to see if the STD was cured, prescribed me for another week of doxycycline. Is this necessary without even checking to see if the initial treatment worked?
A: No, you usually cant tell if chlamydia has been cured for atleast two weeks after initiating therapy. Depending on the test, you may get a false positive result if it was checked after only one week. So it is really most useful if you wait awhile before checking for resolution. Also, a two week course of antibiotics is often indicated.