Chlamydia is essentially the most regularly reported sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the US. In 2022, greater than 1.6 million infections were reported, in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nevertheless, in lots of cases, those with chlamydia may experience few or no symptoms, so it’s very likely that total infections are higher than reported every year.
The excellent news is that chlamydia is definitely treated. But when left untreated, chlamydia can result in other more serious reproductive health issues for each men and women.
So, how do you get chlamydia? How do you already know you could have it without symptoms? Or in case you are experiencing strange symptoms, what signs of chlamydia do you have to search for? And the way is chlamydia treated? Below, we answer all these questions and more.
What chlamydia is and how you may get it
Chlamydia is brought on by a bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis, and is carried in genital fluids. It could be spread through sex with someone who has it and contact with infected genital fluids. You’re more prone to get chlamydia in case you don’t use protection (like a condom) or have multiple sexual partners.
Anyone can get chlamydia, but in accordance with the CDC, it’s most typical in young people, especially young women aged 15-24. That’s why it’s vital to begin the STI and STD conversation with kids early, so that they could be well informed about sexual health at a young age.
Chlamydia can’t be spread through casual contact
Chlamydia can’t be passed through kissing or hugging, or from sharing baths, towels, pools or toilet seats. Nevertheless, it could actually be spread through sexual contact, even when there isn’t penetration. For example, in case you or your partner have chlamydia and your genitals come into contact with one another, there’s a risk of infection.
Common symptoms of chlamydia in men and women
Since chlamydia causes few to no symptoms in most individuals, you could pass it to another person without knowing. And if it goes on untreated, it could actually result in more serious health problems, especially in women. If you happen to do start having symptoms, they might not show up for a couple of weeks and even months.
Chlamydia mostly occurs within the urethra in each men and women, or the cervix in females, but it could actually also occur within the rectum, eyes and the throat.
Chlamydia symptoms in women
When symptoms of chlamydia in women are present, they’ll look and feel much like other conditions, like a urinary tract infection (UTI), and may include:
- Unusual vaginal discharge that’s white, yellow or gray
- Vaginal discharge which may be strong smelling
- Itching or burning in or across the vagina
- Pus-like discharge in urine
- Pain, stinging or burning when peeing
- Pain during sex as a result of the infection making the cervix more sensitive
- Bleeding after sex
- Unusual bleeding between periods that could be red, brown or pinkish
- Cramping, dull or sharp abdominal pain
Chlamydia symptoms in men
Chlamydia symptoms men may experience include:
- Pain, burning or stinging while 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 could be thick and cloudy, and brown or yellow in color
- Testicle pain (this is unusual)
Symptoms of chlamydia in other areas of the body
Each men and women can get chlamydia of their rectum, from receptive anal sexual activity. It could also spread from one other infected site just like the vagina. Symptoms include:
- Discharge
- Rectal pain
- Bleeding
Chlamydia can occur within the eyes through contact with infected genital fluid, and lead to chlamydial conjunctivitis and trachoma, a watch disease that may cause blindness. Symptoms include:
- Irritation
- Swollen eyelids
- Redness within the eyes
- Discharge
- Teary eyes
- Swollen lymph nodes across the eyes
- Photophobia (higher sensitivity to light)
Chlamydia can occur within the throat from oral sex. Most often, individuals who get chlamydia of their throat don’t experience symptoms, and in the event that they do, it’s often a sore throat. Other symptoms can include:
- Swollen tonsils
- Mouth pain
- Redness within the mouth
- Bumps on the tongue
- White spots on the tonsils or back of the throat
- Mild fever
- Fatigue
- Swollen lymph nodes within the neck
- Sores across the lips
Whenever you get an infection, there’s an incubation period. That is the variety of days between while you’re infected with something (like chlamydia) and while you might begin to have symptoms of the infection.
It’s not known exactly how long the incubation period for chlamydia is, and since you may not develop symptoms in any respect, experts recommend that you simply wait to check until 7-21 days after you think that you’ll have been exposed. This reduces the prospect of a false negative even in case you do have it.
If you happen to begin to have symptoms, or in case you’ve had unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone you already know has chlamydia, you need to test as soon as you may after the incubation period.
As well as, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends yearly chlamydia screenings for:
- Sexually energetic females, including pregnant females, ages 24 and younger
- Sexually energetic women ages 25 and older, including pregnant women, who’re at increased risk for infection, which incorporates having a previous or coexisting STI, a latest or multiple sex partner, or a sex partner with an STI
The USPSTF doesn’t currently recommend testing for chlamydia in case you’re not at increased risk. Consider that these are only recommendations, so seek advice from your health care provider to debate your options and determine what’s best for you and your sexual health.
What happens during a test for chlamydia?
There are a couple of ways that you would be able to get tested for chlamydia. For each men and women, essentially the most common is a urine test, where a sample of urine is analyzed in a lab to see if the infection is present.
One other method to test is with a swab. A sample from the vagina, cervix, anus or mouth is collected on a swab, and then tested in a lab. For ladies, this could be done during a routine Pap test.
There are also at-home tests approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). With these tests, you collect a swab or urine sample at home and send it to a lab to be analyzed. These tests are accurate, quick and private, but they’re not meant to switch a visit to your doctor. They’re mainly meant for individuals who don’t have symptoms. If you happen to’re experiencing symptoms, it’s vital to speak together with your provider straight away and get tested in a lab.
Getting treated for chlamydia
Chlamydia is very treatable with the appropriate antibiotic prescribed by your doctor. This may very well be either a single-dose injection or a 7-day course of antibiotics.
If you could have a single-dose treatment, it’s advised you not have sex for seven days after. And in case you are prescribed a course of antibiotics, it’s beneficial you not have sex until your treatment is accomplished and your symptoms are gone – in case you are experiencing any.
It is also beneficial that you simply retest about three months after you complete treatment to make certain the infection is gone. If you happen to’re still experiencing symptoms a couple of days after you receive treatment, you need to make an appointment to seek advice from your doctor.
Potential health risks when chlamydia goes untreated
If you happen to are experiencing symptoms or think you’ll have been in touch with someone who has chlamydia, it’s vital to get tested, diagnosed and treated as soon as you may. Untreated chlamydia can result in severe health problems, especially in women.
Untreated chlamydia in women may cause these conditions
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) – This will occur when an untreated STI damages reproductive organs, and can result in infertility and chronic pelvic pain. It could also block fallopian tubes, which may cause an ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo implants outside of the uterus.
- Pregnancy complications – When left untreated, chlamydia can result in premature birth. It could even be passed on from a pregnant woman to her baby during delivery, causing neonatal conjunctivitis, pneumonia or infections in the newborn’s genitals.
- Infertility – Untreated chlamydia may cause everlasting damage to the vagina, uterus and fallopian tubes, making it difficult to turn into pregnant.
Untreated chlamydia in men may cause these conditions
- Reduced fertility – Untreated chlamydia can harm sperm, which may make it difficult to conceive.
- Epididymitis – That is when an untreated infection causes a tube behind the testicles to turn into swollen and painful.
Untreated chlamydia can even increase the possibilities of reactive arthritis – where joint pain and swelling are triggered by an untreated STI or one other infection – and increase the possibilities of HIV, especially if one in all your symptoms is the presence of sores.
Protect yourself from chlamydia
If you happen to’re sexually energetic, being in a long-term, monogamous relationship and using protection each time you engage in sexual intercourse will reduce your risk of chlamydia. If you happen to think you’ve been exposed, testing for chlamydia and other STIs is straightforward – screening could be done with a straightforward test at any of our primary care clinics.
Women will also be screened at HealthPartners Health Center for Women, Park Nicollet Women’s Center or with any of our HealthPartners and Park Nicollet OB-GYN doctors.
Virtual care is feasible, too. With Virtuwell, our 24/7 online clinic, you may be diagnosed and prescribed treatment for over 60 conditions, including chlamydia.