The bacterial infection of chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotic medication. Chlamydia is one of the most prevalent STDs, and the majority of those who have it don't exhibit any symptoms.
What Is Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a typical sexually transmitted infection (STI) brought on by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria (C. trachomatis). Once infected, a person can pass chlamydia to their partners through oral, anal, or intercourse sex. Additionally, chlamydia infection can happen when lovers share sex objects that have been tainted with the chlamydia-causing bacteria. Chlamydia frequently has no symptoms, yet it can affect fertility. But there are treatments that work.
What Causes Chlamydia?
Through sexual intercourse, the bacterium that causes chlamydia can be transferred from one person to another via vaginal fluid or semen. The main Chlamydia causes are:
Intercourse: Bacteria can spread from a partner's vagina to their former partner's penis or vice versa.
Anal sex: One person's penis can spread bacteria to their partner's anus, or the other way around.
Oral sex: One person's mouth can transmit bacteria to their partner's penis, vagina, or anus, or the other way around.
Sex that involves toys: Bacteria enter a person's mouth, penis, vagina, or anus from a toy carrying the bacteria.
Manual genital or anus stimulation: Less frequently, conjunctivitis can develop when contaminated vaginal fluid or semen come into contact with someone's eyes. This might occur, for instance, if you touch the infected person's genitalia before rubbing your eyes without first washing your hands.
What Are the Symptoms of Chlamydia?
The majority of chlamydia patients experience no symptoms. The data shows that only 10% of men and 5-30% of women actually have symptoms.
Chlamydia symptoms in females might include:
- A simple bleed with a discharge from the cervix
- Uncomfortable or frequent urination
- Chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease if it spreads to the uterus and fallopian tubes (PID). This may not show any signs. But it might have an impact on fertility.
Chlamydia in men
Men may have symptoms like discomfort, soreness, and swelling in their testicles or in the tube that transports pee, called the urethra.
In males and females
Men and women can also experience symptoms in the rectum and anus. The virus may travel from the reproductive organs or during anal intercourse to these locations. These signs include:
- Back pain
- Rectal haemorrhage or discharge
- Chlamydial conjunctivitis can also develop from coming into contact with infected fluids (pink eye).
According to data, people who have had oral sex with an infected person can have Chlamydia in the throat. But typically, there are no symptoms from this.
What Is the Diagnosis Procedure for Chlamydia?
The Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) is the most widely used chlamydia test. Your healthcare professional collects a fluid sample by performing a vaginal or cervical swab or by taking a urine sample. The sample is then sent to a lab to be examined for the chlamydia-causing bacteria. Your healthcare professional may do the test in their clinic or may request that you perform a chlamydia test at home. To ensure you receive accurate test results, carefully follow the directions provided by your physician. A chlamydia test for men is typically done through a urine test.
How Is Chlamydia Treated?
Chlamydia can have long-term health effects, such as infertility and ectopic pregnancy; therefore, anyone who has it or fears they have it has to get treated.
Antibiotics are frequently recommended by doctors for chlamydia treatment. Antibiotics are typically swallowed as pills.
Examples of chlamydia antibiotics include:
- A single dose of azithromycin (1 g).
- Doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 7 days.
- Ofloxacin 300–400 mg once or twice a day for 7 days.
Avoiding sexual practises that can lead to re-infection and making sure any sexual partners who may be affected also receive treatment are other important components of your treatment. You should:
Wait till your infection has cleared up before engaging in sex: Just because you've begun treatment doesn't mean everything is over. As directed by your doctor, take all of your medications, and throughout this time, refrain from any sexual activity.
Reach out to each sexual partner: Inform your recent sexual partners about your infection so they can get tested as well.
Get tested for other STIs: Gonorrhoea, herpes, HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and other, multiple STIs are common. Hence, it is crucial to get therapy that is specific to each infection.
Chlamydia poses a risk to your health if left untreated. If you experience any chlamydia symptoms, schedule a visit with your doctor right away. You should also undergo routine STI testing to prevent difficulties in the future.
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
