Chlamydia: Facts for Men and Women
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections that can infect both sexes. The bad news is that chlamydia can cause serious problems for women, causing permanent damage to their reproductive system if left untreated, and can make it harder if not impossible for them to have children later.
Chlamydia can also be responsible for ectopic pregnancies – those which actually take place outside of the womb – with potentially fatal consequences. The good news however is that chlamydia is in fact actually very easy to cure, making it important to have regular checkups with a doctor if you are sexually active.
Causes
Chlamydia can be spread by having anal, oral or vaginal sex with somebody who already has the infection. Women can still be infected by a male partner during sexual activity even if ejaculation does not take place. People successfully treated for the infection can still catch the infection again, if they have unprotected sexual contact with someone currently infected. Pregnant women who become infected can pass the infection onto their child while they are giving birth, potentially resulting in pneumonia or eye infections. Premature births can also result from an infection. The best way to avoid health problems is to go for treatment and testing as soon as possible.
Risk factors
Chlamydia can be caught by anyone who has unprotected anal, oral or vaginal sex. However, the group at most risk is sexually active younger people due to both biological factors and behaviours that are more common to the young. Bisexual and gay sex also pose a higher risk of infection due to the fact that the infection can be spread via both oral and anal sex. Sexually active women below the age of 25, older women with a new, or many different sex partners, or who have a sexual partner with a sexually transmitted disease, should have an annual test performed for chlamydia.
Have an open and honest discussion with your doctor as to whether you need to be tested for chlamydia or any other sexually transmitted infections, or visit an online medical service (such as this website) for advice. The only method to completely eliminate the risk of being infected with chlamydia is to avoid engaging in anal, oral or vaginal sex altogether, but those who are sexually active can still lower some of the risks by making use of latex condoms in the correct manner every time they engage in sex, and being in a long-term monogamous relationship with a partner who is not infected.
Symptoms
The great majority of people who are infected with chlamydia do not suffer from any obvious symptoms. Any symptoms that do appear will not do so until several weeks after the infection took place. However, women who have no obvious symptoms can still have their reproductive system damaged by the infection.
Male symptoms include:
- Swelling and pain in testicles (rare)
- Urination causing burning sensation
Female symptoms include:
- Urination causing burning sensation
- Abnormal discharge from vagina
A rectal infection can also take place in both men and women, either through anal sex or infection from another site on the body like the vagina. Symptoms that can result from this infection include:
What to do
Anyone experiencing any of these symptoms needs to go undergo a medical examination by their GP or at an STI Clinic. An examination is also required if your partner is infected or has any symptoms of such an infection, such as a smelly discharge, bleeding unrelated to periods, an unusual sore or a burning sensation during urination.
Chlamydia can be diagnosed with laboratory tests, and a urine sample may be required. Alternatively a cotton swab may be provided in order to get a vaginal sample. With the right treatment chlamydia is entirely curable. It is vital that all of the prescribed medication given to you by your doctor is taken. Medication should never be shared, and when taken in the proper manner will not only stop the infection but also lower the chances of future complications. However, repeat infection is common so the test will need to be repeated after another three months. Sexual activity should not be undertaken again until after treatment has been completed.