Chlamydia (STI): Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Chlamydia – Many people are living their lives normally without even knowing they might face severe health problems. There are many people infected with chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease (STI) that acts as an invader in the human body and spreads its roots further. Let’s us understand chlamydia in detail.

What is Chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is caused by a bacterium named chlamydia trachomatis. It remains one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that are passed on throughout the world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated in 2018 that around 1.8 million people suffered from chlamydia in the U.S., 40% – 96% people suffering from chlamydia show no symptoms, a higher percentage than any other bacterial STIs. Oral, anal, or vaginal sex can transmit the disease as genital fluids i.e., semen or vaginal fluid contact is the main cause of it. Also, it can affect anyone, but it is most common among young women.

How can one be affected by it?

A person can get affected by chlamydia by having unprotected sex, even contact of genitals of the person with his/her partner can be a reason, contact of infected genital fluids to the sensitive parts like eyes, using sex toys that are unwashed and non-covered with a fresh condom, transmission from pregnant women to the child are also some other reasons. According to WHO, about 128.5 million fresh cases of chlamydia were reported in the population (15–49 years old) globally. However, it can never be passed onto someone else by normal hugs or kisses and sharing the same towel, toilet (or bathroom), that’s why people with infections need to be treated respectfully.

What are the symptoms of chlamydia among women?

Most of the time, people do not exhibit any chlamydia symptoms even when they are infected with it. Potential symptoms can be unusual vaginal secretion (white/ yellowish color like pus) that may indicates foul smell at the time of urination. Other symptoms include pain in the lower abdomen and spotting or bleeding between periods. If PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) develops, a condition which can occur when this infection spreads to your fallopian tubes, be sure that you have medical help from an experienced doctor who can questioning about it. Chlamydia infections can also lead to rectal infections.

Read Also: How long should sex really last?

What are the symptoms of chlamydia among men?

Some common chlamydia symptoms in men are burning during urination, milky or thick discharge from penis, testicular tenderness. Similarly, the anal area may become infected causing pain or bleeding at times when there is direct contact with anus during anal intercourse or common cases after masturbation as well. On the other hand, oral sex may also be responsible for throat infection, which may be characterized by sore throat, cough, and fever. A person who notices these signs should go straight to the hospital for a check-up, since WHO states that globally, about 4% of females aged between 15 and 49 years had chlamydia, while 2.5% of males were infected, as per data collected in 2020.

What are the complications that chlamydia causes?

Even though Chlamydia does not show any notable symptoms and is curable using antibiotics, if it goes untreated this can cause some serious long-term health problems as it grows its roots into various other parts of our body, It can lead to complications such as ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and infertility among women. This STD can also move up to the testicles and tubes (epididymis) that help with erectile movements, but cause pain and swelling. This condition is known as epididymitis or epididymal orchitis (inflammation of the testicles). The other complication of Chlamydia is reactive arthritis, which includes inflammation and swelling in your joints, including knees, feet, ankles, etc.

Read Also: What is the right age to have sex?

How to prevent chlamydia?

Anyone sexually active can get it, but the chances increase if you have a new sexual partner or do not practice safe sex, like using condoms during intercourse. One of the best ways to protect against chlamydia is by using a condom for vaginal or anal sex, covering up the penis during oral sex with a stand and it’s importantly that you must have a woman’s genitals covered with dam, a thin plastic wrap, or while rubbing two female genitals together. Also, don’t share sex toys, but if you do use them on someone else, be sure to wash the toy in between or cover it with a new condom every time.

How to get diagnosed?

Chlamydia can be tracked by taking a urine test or a swab test. It’s not always necessary to go to the hospital just for diagnosis, but it’s recommended to visit a medical expert if any symptoms or fluctuations in the test report arise. Additionally, one can also make use of chlamydia home test kits to identify the same. But nothing should be used without the prescription of a doctor.

How to get treated?

Chlamydia can be healed with the help of antibiotics. A patient can be prescribed doxycycline, which needs to be taken for seven days straight, or azithromycin, just one time each day for three days continuously. Since Doxycycline will not protect against syphilis or HIV, it is crucial to avoid all sexual contact, including oral sex, until both the person and his/her partner finish their treatment.

One should wait for 7 days after completing a course of azithromycin before engaging in intercourse. To avoid any sort of re-infection, all recent sexual partners should go for testing as well. It is usually cured by the treatment, but a retest is required afterwards (within three months) as 16–24-year-olds and those with repeat chlamydia are at higher risk of reinfection.

A note from kamarth

We have unraveled the enigma of chlamydia. It is not such a big threat; it can be conquered with the correct information, along with some grit. Regular testing, staying informed, and talking to your partners become essential. Also, keep in mind that It is a curable infection, so do not be afraid and take medical expert advice for the treatment and visit them for regular follow-ups after the treatment.

Some Additional Doubts

Question: Can a man get affected by chlamydia?
Answer: It can infect both men and women who are sexually active, so yes. Also CDC says that during 2021 to 2022, the infection rate of men affected by chlamydia increased by 1.8%, and the rate for females decreased by 1.2%.

Question: When can the signs of chlamydial infection be noticed?
Answer: If a person has symptoms, as most people don’t have, then it will show up between 1-3 weeks after getting infected.

Question: How long does it take to fully recover after chlamydia treatment?
Answer: The symptoms usually disappear after a few days, but one must complete the full course of antibiotics. So that all the bacteria get fully destroyed and hence get rid of the infection completely.

Question: Is there any impact of chlamydia on pregnancy?
Answer: Chlamydia patients might face complications during pregnancy, like preterm labor, and even infection can spread to the baby during childbirth.

References:-