Chlamydia trachomatis is a sexually transmitted disease (STI) that many people don't realise they have, though there are some key symptoms that can indicate the presence of this dangerous bacteria. It's simple to get rid of chlamydia, and we'll explore how in this article.
Chlamydia is passed on through sexual activity and is most prevalent in people under the age of 25. It is also common in people who have unprotected sex with multiple partners. If you fit these categories, you and your sexual partner should get tested for the infection regularly. In addition, you can test for chlamydia health problems with home testing kits.
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that's passed from one sexual partner to another during unprotected sex. Bacteria are single-celled microbes that inhabit your body; some of them are beneficial, such as probiotics that help with digestion; other infections pose a threat to your body, such as chlamydia.
The disease affects both males and females. Although sexually transmitted infections like this are do not always have overt symptoms, they can lead to fertility issues. In females, the disease can cause damage to the fallopian tubes. This damage is permanent and can lead to infertility - but the disease is often difficult to detect.
Chlamydia also affects the fertility of men. It attacks sperm causing permanent damage - DNA fragmentation - that also leads to infertility. The disease is a very common sexually transmitted infection in the UK. It mostly affects those under 25 who are sexually active.
If you're a man and you test positive, the first thing you need to do is stop having sex and contact your sexual partners. You will then have to explain that they need to get tested as well. Your treatment to cure chlamydia will commence immediately in the form of antibiotics.
Antibiotics are an effective way to treat chlamydia; the antibiotics most commonly used are azithromycin and doxycycline. These antibiotics can be issued as a single dose or prescribed in smaller doses over 7 days. While on them, you should refrain from having sex until the treatment is complete.
Always follow the directions of the treatment explained by your NHS doctor. It's important to take antibiotics to avoid side effects and the resistance to antibiotics in the general population. Treatment for chlamydia is mostly the same for both males and females.
The treatment for chlamydia in women is much the same as that for men, but the symptoms and outcomes are different. If you're a woman and you get chlamydia, you should also contact all of your recent sex partners - and anyone you've had sex with within the last 60 days.
Women will also be treated for chlamydia with antibiotics called azithromycin and doxycycline. While treatment is ongoing, it is still possible to spread chlamydia, so you must avoid all sexual activity until the course is complete. You may need to be re-tested again in 3 months.
There is also a chance the disease can be passed on to a newborn infant during pregnancy. As the child moves through the birth canal, it can contract the disease and develop eye infections and pneumonia symptoms. Therefore, it's important to get a chlamydia test when pregnant.
Chlamydia is transferred from one partner to another through fluids during sex. It is only sexual activity that spreads the disease; you can't catch it through kissing.
Chlamydia is an infection that lives in the fluids you transfer during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. It can also be spread by sharing sex toys.
If you have unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex, you will be at risk of contracting chlamydia if your sexual partner has the disease. Even if your sexual partner doesn't ejaculate, the disease can still be transferred.
If you have fluid on your hand or sex toys and touch your eyes, you can also get chlamydia.
Chlamydia is not spread in non-sexual ways. For example, it is not spread through touching, kissing, coughing, or sitting on a toilet seat. However, if you are pregnant and have chlamydia, the disease can be passed onto your baby during birth.
Therefore, it is important to take a repeat test if you have unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
If you have chlamydia, your medical professional will put you on a course of antibiotics for 7 days. However, you will still be infectious during this time, and you should avoid sexual activity completely.
You will also be infectious for up to two weeks after the treatment and should avoid sex.
You can start having sex again following the 7 days or 21-day treatment using doxycycline. Depending on your condition, your medical professional might ask you to return in 3 months for a check-up in case of any complications.
The antibiotics azithromycin and doxycycline are very effective against chlamydia. Following a 7-day course or a 21-day course, you will not have to test for the infection again - it will be gone.
But, if you are under 25 and sexually active, you might be invited back after 3 months to re-test.
If you've been cured of chlamydia, you can still be reinfected at a later date if you continue to have unprotected sex. Once again, you may notice symptoms and require a chlamydia infection test.
The best way to avoid picking up this sexually transmitted infection is to avoid having sex completely.
For most people, this is unrealistic. The second best way to avoid infection is to check that your sexual partners have tested negative and undo frequent testing.
If you have sex with more than one partner and wear suitable protection such as a latex condom or dental dams, you significantly reduce your chances of catching chlamydia.
However, you will not eliminate the risks; even with protection, there is a chance you will catch chlamydia.
If you decide to have sex with a different partner, always wear a condom and ensure that it's used in the right way. Check the expiration date of the condom and make sure there is no excess air in it when putting it on. After sex, hold the end of the condom before pulling it out and dispose of it safely.
If you have symptoms that you think might be chlamydia, you can contact your doctor for advice, diagnosis or treatment. Chances are your doctor will refer you to a sexual health clinic, but they might offer you a test in the surgery. Testing for chlamydia is straightforward and completely non-invasive.
Typical testing for chlamydia is carried out with a swab or a urine sample. This can be done in your doctor's surgery or a sexual health clinic - a physical examination isn't always necessary. Chlamydia testing is also free in many places and for people under 25 years old.
Your doctor can advise you of the best place to get tested for the disease. In the UK, the largest demographic affected are sexually active people under the age of 25. If you're in this category, you should get tested at your health services every year or when you change your sexual partners.
For the most part, yes! Chlamydia is an infection passed on through sexual fluids; this tends to be vaginal fluid and penis semen shared during unprotected sex. Chlamydia is not transferred by kissing or holding hands, but by sharing unwashed sex toys, you can catch it.
You might also contract the disease if your genitals contact the genitals of an infected person, even if there is no penetration. Infected fluid can also get into the eyes and cause infection.
Apart from the obvious pain symptoms, chlamydia infections can cause infertility in both men and women.
In women, the infection eventually spreads to the reproductive system causing complications. In addition, it damages sperm in sexually active men.
Chlamydia symptoms present differently in females and males. Most people experience little or no symptoms, but there are some signs that you might have the disease and might want to get tested for chlamydia.
Even if you don't have symptoms, it's still a good idea to get a regular chlamydia test if you have unprotected sex since 70% of women don't know they have it.
The symptoms take several weeks to show after contracting the disease. That's if they show up at all; unfortunately, the disease can be difficult to detect, especially if it's mild.
Symptoms include:
However mild, if you notice any of these symptoms, you should go to your doctor or a sexual health information clinic for advice or a chlamydia test.
When left untreated, chlamydia moves into the cervix and causes a condition known as a pelvic inflammatory disease. This condition can ultimately lead to infertility.
Chlamydia is often seen as a more dangerous STIS for females than for males. However, chlamydia can also lead to male infertility. As with females, the symptoms of chlamydia are mostly invisible, but there are some signs for men that they might have the disease. These include:
If you discover some of these symptoms, you shouldn't ignore them or dismiss them; they might not be symptoms of chlamydia, but if they are, it puts you and your sex partner at risk of infertility.
Contact your medical professional or take a home chlamydia test, then contact your sexual partners.
