Chlamydia: Symptoms, causes, prevention and treatment

Chlamydia is probably the most frequently reported sexually transmitted an infection (STI) within the United States. In 2022, greater than 1.6 million infections have been reported, based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, in lots of instances, these with chlamydia could expertise few or no signs, so it’s very probably that complete infections are increased than reported every year.

The excellent news is that chlamydia is well handled. But when left untreated, chlamydia can result in different extra critical reproductive health points for each males and women.

So, how do you get chlamydia? How are you aware you might have it with out signs? Or if you’re experiencing unusual signs, what indicators of chlamydia do you have to search for? And how is chlamydia handled? Below, we reply all these questions and extra.

What chlamydia is and how one can get it

Chlamydia is brought on by a micro organism known as Chlamydia trachomatis, and is carried in genital fluids. It might be unfold by way of intercourse with somebody who has it and contact with contaminated genital fluids. You’re extra prone to get chlamydia in case you don’t use safety (like a condom) or have a number of sexual companions.

Anyone can get chlamydia, however based on the CDC, it’s commonest in younger individuals, particularly younger women aged 15-24. That’s why it’s necessary to start the STI and STD dialog with children early, to allow them to be properly knowledgeable about sexual health at a younger age.

Chlamydia can’t be unfold by way of informal contact

Chlamydia can’t be handed by way of kissing or hugging, or from sharing baths, towels, swimming pools or bathroom seats. However, it may be unfold by way of sexual contact, even when there isn’t penetration. For occasion, in case you or your accomplice have chlamydia and your genitals come into contact with one another, there’s a danger of an infection.

Common signs of chlamydia in males and women

Since chlamydia causes few to no signs in most individuals, you might move it to another person with out understanding. And if it goes on untreated, it may possibly result in extra critical health issues, particularly in women. If you do start having signs, they might not present up for a number of weeks and even months.

Chlamydia mostly happens within the urethra in each males and women, or the cervix in females, however it may possibly additionally happen within the rectum, eyes and the throat.

Chlamydia signs in women

When signs of chlamydia in women are present, they will look and really feel just like different circumstances, like a urinary tract an infection (UTI), and could embody:

• Unusual vaginal discharge that’s white, yellow or grey
• Vaginal discharge that could be robust smelling
• Itching or burning in or across the vagina
• Pus-like discharge in urine
• Pain, stinging or burning when peeing
• Pain throughout intercourse as a result of an infection making the cervix extra delicate
• Bleeding after intercourse
• Unusual bleeding between intervals that may be purple, brown or pinkish
• Cramping, uninteresting or sharp stomach ache

Chlamydia signs in males

Chlamydia signs males could expertise embody:

• Pain, burning or stinging whereas peeing
• Burning or itching within the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder and out of the body)
• Discharge from the penis that’s separate from urine that may be thick and cloudy, and brown or yellow in shade
• Testicle ache (that is unusual)

Symptoms of chlamydia in different areas of the body

Both males and women can get chlamydia of their rectum, from receptive anal sexual activity. It can even unfold from one other contaminated web site just like the vagina. Symptoms embody:

• Discharge
• Rectal ache
• Bleeding

Chlamydia can happen within the eyes by way of contact with contaminated genital fluid, and lead to chlamydial conjunctivitis and trachoma, a watch illness that may trigger blindness. Symptoms embody:

• Irritation
• Swollen eyelids
• Redness within the eyes
• Discharge
• Teary eyes
• Swollen lymph nodes across the eyes
• Photophobia (increased sensitivity to gentle)

Chlamydia can happen within the throat from oral intercourse. In most instances, individuals who get chlamydia of their throat don’t expertise signs, and in the event that they do, it’s often a sore throat. Other signs can embody:

• Swollen tonsils
• Mouth ache
• Redness within the mouth
• Bumps on the tongue
• White spots on the tonsils or again of the throat
• Mild fever
• Fatigue
• Swollen lymph nodes within the neck
• Sores across the lips

When you get an an infection, there’s an incubation interval. This is the variety of days between once you’re contaminated with one thing (like chlamydia) and once you may start to have signs of the an infection.

It’s not identified precisely how lengthy the incubation interval for chlamydia is, and because you may not develop signs in any respect, consultants advocate that you simply wait to check till 7-21 days after you assume you will have been uncovered. This reduces the prospect of a false unfavorable even in case you do have it.

If you start to have signs, or in case you’ve had unprotected vaginal, anal or oral intercourse with somebody has chlamydia, you need to take a look at as quickly as you may after the incubation interval.

In addition, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends yearly chlamydia screenings for:

• Sexually lively females, together with pregnant females, ages 24 and youthful
• Sexually lively women ages 25 and older, together with pregnant women, who’re at elevated danger for an infection, which incorporates having a earlier or coexisting STI, a brand new or a couple of intercourse accomplice, or a intercourse accomplice with an STI

The USPSTF doesn’t presently advocate testing for chlamydia in case you’re not at elevated danger. Keep in thoughts that these are simply suggestions, so speak to your health care supplier to debate your choices and work out what’s finest for you and your sexual health.

What occurs throughout a take a look at for chlamydia?

There are a number of methods that you may get examined for chlamydia. For each males and women, the most typical is a urine take a look at, the place a pattern of urine is analyzed in a lab to see if the an infection is present.

Another method to take a look at is with a swab. A pattern from the vagina, cervix, anus or mouth is collected on a swab, and then examined in a lab. For women, this may be finished throughout a routine Pap take a look at.

There are additionally at-home tests authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). With these assessments, you accumulate a swab or urine pattern at residence and ship it to a lab to be analyzed. These assessments are correct, fast and non-public, however they’re not meant to switch a go to to your physician. They’re primarily meant for individuals who don’t have signs. If you’re experiencing signs, it’s necessary to speak together with your supplier immediately and get examined in a lab.

Getting handled for chlamydia

Chlamydia is extremely treatable with the proper antibiotic prescribed by your physician. This may very well be both a single-dose injection or a 7-day course of antibiotics.

If you might have a single-dose treatment, it’s suggested you not have intercourse for seven days after. And if you’re prescribed a course of antibiotics, it’s really useful you not have intercourse till your treatment is accomplished and your signs are gone – if you’re experiencing any.

It’s additionally really useful that you simply retest about three months after you full treatment to verify the an infection is gone. If you’re nonetheless experiencing signs a number of days after you obtain treatment, you need to make an appointment to speak to your physician.

Potential health dangers when chlamydia goes untreated

If you’re experiencing signs or assume you will have been involved with somebody who has chlamydia, it’s necessary to get examined, recognized and handled as quickly as you may. Untreated chlamydia can result in extreme health issues, particularly in women.

Untreated chlamydia in women could cause these circumstances

• Pelvic inflammatory illness (PID) – This can happen when an untreated STI damages reproductive organs, and can result in infertility and power pelvic ache. It can even block fallopian tubes, which may trigger an ectopic pregnancy, the place the embryo implants outdoors of the uterus.
• Pregnancy problems – When left untreated, chlamydia can result in untimely beginning. It may also be handed on from a pregnant lady to her baby throughout supply, inflicting neonatal conjunctivitis, pneumonia or infections within the baby’s genitals.
• Infertility – Untreated chlamydia could cause everlasting injury to the vagina, uterus and fallopian tubes, making it troublesome to change into pregnant.

Untreated chlamydia in males could cause these circumstances

• Reduced fertility – Untreated chlamydia can hurt sperm, which may make it troublesome to conceive.
• Epididymitis – This is when an untreated an infection causes a tube behind the testicles to change into swollen and painful.

Untreated chlamydia can even enhance the possibilities of reactive arthritis – the place joint ache and swelling are triggered by an untreated STI or one other an infection – and enhance the possibilities of HIV, particularly if one in all your signs is the presence of sores.

Protect your self from chlamydia

If you’re sexually lively, being in a long-term, monogamous relationship and utilizing safety each time you have interaction in sexual exercise will cut back your danger of chlamydia. If you assume you’ve been uncovered, testing for chlamydia and different STIs is simple – screening might be finished with a easy take a look at at any of our main care clinics.

Women may also be screened at HealthCompanions Health Center for Women, Park Nicollet Women’s Center or with any of our HealthCompanions and Park Nicollet OB-GYN medical doctors.

Virtual care is feasible, too. With Virtuwell, our 24/7 on-line clinic, you might be recognized and prescribed treatment for over 60 circumstances, together with chlamydia.