Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a common STI, which is transmitted during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

How Does Intercourse Lead to Chlamydia?

 Though it is common, it is usually those who are sexually active who are more likely to be infected. However, if the mother has Chlamydia, it can also be passed to her baby through childbirth.

In terms of common transition of Chlamydia, the greater the number of sex partners, the greater the risk of infection. This is because the opening to the uterus in teenage girls and young women is not fully matured and is probably more subject to infection. They are especially at particularly high risk for infection if sexually active. Since Chlamydia can be transmitted by oral or anal sex, males who have sex with other males are also at risk for Chlamydia infection.

Does Chlamydia Spread Easily?

Chlamydia may be a common STI; however, this doesn’t mean everyone can get it. Most of the time, you only receive this kind of STI through the rapid change of sexual partners. Therefore, the greater the number of sex partners, the greater the risk of infection.

What are Chlamydia’s Symptoms?

Chlamydia is known as a “silent” killer because over 75% of infected men and women have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they usually appear within one to three weeks after exposure.

In women, the bacterium begins with the infection of the cervix and the urethra. Women who have symptoms might have an abnormal vaginal discharge or a burning sensation when urinating. When the infection grows from the cervix to the fallopian tubes, they may still have no signs or symptoms; however, others have lower abdominal pain, low back pain, nausea, fever, pain during intercourse, or bleeding between periods. These types of symptoms can even spread to the buttocks.

Men with symptoms will have similar types of signs including discharges from their penis or a burning sensation when urinating. Men might also have burning and itching around the opening of the penis. However, pain and swelling in the testicles are uncommon. Men’s symptoms tend to spread to the throat.

What are the Long-Term Effects of Chlamydia?

If untreated, Chlamydia infections can progress to serious reproductive and other health problems especially long-term consequences. Like the disease itself, the damage that Chlamydia causes is often “silent.”

In women, untreated infection can spread into the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause many problems which can go unnoticed. This happens in up to 40% of women with untreated Chlamydia. This disease will also make “silent” permanent damage to surrounding tissues, pelvic, and other organs. The damage can lead to chronic pelvic pain, infertility after a period of time. Women infected with Chlamydia are up to five times more likely to become infected with HIV/AIDS, if exposed.

Complications among men are rare. Infection sometimes spreads to the tubes that carry sperm, which causes pain, fever, and sterility.

How do you Treat Chlamydia?

To help prevent the serious consequences of Chlamydia, screening at least annually for Chlamydia is recommended for all sexually active women of ages 25 years and younger. An annual screening test also is recommended for older women with risk factors for Chlamydia. Therefore, all pregnant women should also have a screening test for Chlamydia or other possible STIs.

Chlamydia can also be easily treated and cured with antibiotics. A single dose of Azithromycin or a week of Doxycycline is the most commonly used treatments. HIV-positive persons with Chlamydia should receive the same treatment as those who are HIV-negative.

What are Some Ways to Prevent Chlamydia?

The surest way to avoid Chlamydia is to become abstinence, or to be in a long-term relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.

Latex male condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of transmission of Chlamydia.

Other ways to prevent Chlamydia from spreading, is to check with your doctor regularly especially during periods of time when you are sexually active.