Test for Chlamydia Exposure 4+ months ago?

[mindfulandkind]

Is there a test for chlamydia that could indicate previous exposure? recent exposure?  is there a test that can determine some kind of signature that tells me something other than whether I am positive or negative?  Like how recent the exposure?
I am accused of infecting my partner with chlamydia.
My potential exposure was as the recipient of oral sex from a female sex worker.  I am a male.  This exposure would've been 4-5 months ago.
I had no symptoms, and got no treatment.  I was not tested.
The person I infected is my partner; she said she tested positive and got treated 3.5 months ago.  We had sex weekly the whole time, before and after (and perhaps during) her infection.  Again, i was not tested or treated and do not recall any symptoms.

This is an important question, as the stakes are quite high, and I want to get to the bottom of this if I can.

I'm certain I would test negative right now - i have had no other exposure, and have been sexually active with my partner several times since this incident.  Can I get a test to figure anything else out about whether or not I had chlamydia 4-5 months ago, or before?  or could I have had it for a while but only infect my partner 3-4 months ago? or perhaps she had it a while too?  I'm very confused, this is beyond positive or negative, but a matter of whether I had it then.  
I see that you give comfort and advice to a lot of people in their time of need, and I thank you for your help.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Final answer to your repetitive questions.  Yes it is possible, as I said twice before.

You are clearly worked up over this, perhaps because of issues related to preservation of your relationship.  If so, I suggest you seek counseling, either as a couple or as an individual.  The fact is, whether or not on the part of your partner, there was a breech of trust on your part.   You need to deal with that.

If, on the other hand, this is the "blame game" in which you are trying who gave what to whom, give it up.

There will be no further replies.  EWH

[mindfulandkind]

Yes, Dr. Hook I am reading your answers and am very appreciative of your thoughtful responses.  I suppose my question was a dumb one.  you said "this scenario is possible" and I believe you.  I am just a little crazy about it - as you see often on these forums, and the last question I tried to pose was - is it indeed possible for chlamydia to go from someone's mouth to my penis(urethra), to my partner's vagina.  I take it from your first answer is that "yes, it's possible."

Thank you.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Have you been reading my answers?  This question was answering my intial response.  "While chlamydia is rarely acquired as a result of oral sex, this does happen on occasion."  The precise frequency that this occurs is unknown but it is uncommon. EWH

[mindfulandkind]

Thanks much. Final question.  Is it possible that I could've contracted chlamydia from brief oral exposure via receiving fellatio from another, then infected my partners vagina with it?  This is a possible thing?  Is it "likely" "unlikely" or "highly unlikely?"
Thank you, over and out.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I repeat, the IgG test in NOT RELIABLE.  In any direction.  It has false positve results and false negative results (i.e. Insntaces when it does not detect chalmdial antibodies).  EWH

[mindfulandkind]

Thanks again, and last question.  If the IgG test comes back in the "negative" range, might that indicate that I have had no exposure to chlamydia?  Though I guess my partner exposed me.  I believe you doc, I can't figure out what I'm trying to figure out, but is the "you have no antibodies" result from IgG one possible way to determine it's not me?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

There is  acommercially available IgG antibody test which is bot insensitive and non-specific.  The manufacturers have a higher opinion of their test that is warranted by scientific studies.  That is the reason I did not recommend it.  Even if you had chamydial antibodies  and the test were accurate, it would provide no useful information regarding how long ago you were infected.  

The IgM test is even less useful than the IgG test.  

There are no STI experts who would use this test to help sort out our problems.  EWH

[mindfulandkind]

Thank you. Yes, it is a puzzle and unfortunately one I cannot solve.  What about Chlamydia IgG Antibody test?  Described by quest diagnostics as follows:
"The presence of Chlamydia IgG Antibody suggests a current or past infection with one or more of three Chlamydia species: C. trachomatis, C. pneumoniae or C. psittaci. Sera collected early in the course of the infection may not have detectable levels of IgG antibody.
If a current or recent infection is suspected, performing a Chlamydia IgM test on a single serum may yield clinically useful information."

Does this test have any efficacy for my purposes?  Thank you.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I'll try to help.  I find myself wondering why your partner was treated 3.5 months ago,  said nothing about it until now, and has continued to have sex with you despite the fact that you were not treated.  

Trying to sort out who gave chlamydia to whom is a difficult situation and typically cannot be answered with confidence.  While chlamydia is rarely acquired as a result of oral sex, this does happen on occasion.  
Chlamydia is typically asymptomatic in both men and women and can persist for long periods of time in this state.  Over time the infection gradually clears in most people but it is clear that in a proportion of persons, the bacteria can still be present in asymptomatic form after as long as a year.

There are no reliable commercial tests to help determine if a person has had chlamydia in the past or how long ago they have had it.  

Sorry I don't have a better explanation and can't be more help in sorting this out.  Depending on how long you and your partner have been sexually active, there is a possibility that either of you could have brought the infection into the relationship and passed the infection back and forth.  At this time my advice is that you should be tested.  This will not tell you where your partner's infection came from but it may reassure her that you are not infected a present.  Alternatively, it could how that you are currentl infected.

I hope these comments are helpful.  EWH