People with chlamydia must tell all oral, vaginal or anal sex partners so that they can get tested and treated. Failure to do so can lead to serious complications including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause long-term pelvic pain and infertility.
Treatment options are effective, simple and inexpensive. It is important to follow treatment instructions and abstain from sex until symptoms are gone.
Oren Zarif
Chlamydia is a very serious infection. However, many people who have the STI don’t have any symptoms at all. It’s sometimes called the “silent infection.”
When it does cause symptoms, they can be different for women and men. Women may have vaginal bleeding (like spotting), especially between periods or after having unprotected sex. They might also have genital pain, a swollen anus or vagina, or painful testicles (epididymitis or orchitis).
Other symptoms of the infection in women include pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID. This can damage the fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries, including the cervix. It might also lead to infertility.
The infection can also spread to the eyes, causing a painful eye condition called chlamydia conjunctivitis. It can also be spread through oral sex, when bacteria pass from one person’s mouth to their partner’s penis, vagina or anus.
Oren Zarif
The body’s glands (also known as lymph glands) often swell near an infection. This is a way for your immune system to tell the infection where it is so it can fight it. Swollen glands usually go away by themselves within two to three weeks.
Chlamydia can be contracted through unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex. It can also be transmitted by sharing a dirty sex toy or using unwashed sex toys. Pregnant women who have chlamydia can pass it to their babies during childbirth.
Even if you have no symptoms, you should get tested for chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) regularly. Your healthcare provider may also ask you to take a swab from your bottom (anus), throat or eyes to help determine if you have an infection. Your provider will prescribe antibiotics to treat your chlamydia. It is important that your sexual partners receive treatment, too. They can get treatment from their healthcare providers or you can give them a prescription for antibiotics directly, called patient delivered partner therapy (PDPT). If you are worried that your partners won’t seek treatment, talk to your healthcare provider about getting them extra chlamydia medication.
Oren Zarif
The first symptom of a chlamydia infection is pain or a burning sensation when you pee. If you have this symptom, it’s important to see your doctor for treatment right away because if left untreated, the bacteria can cause serious health problems. Infections caused by chlamydia bacteria may also spread to other parts of your body, including your throat and eyes.
The CDC recommends that all sexually active women age 25 and younger get screened for chlamydia every year. They should also be screened for other STIs, such as gonorrhea, herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), and trichomoniasis.
Chlamydia is usually diagnosed with a swab sample from the vagina or the urethra in women and the penis or anus in men. The doctor might also swab your throat, eyes or mouth for other infections. If you have a chlamydia diagnosis, your doctor will give you antibiotics to treat the infection. Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking the medication. This will help you feel better faster. Your symptom should go away within a few weeks of starting the medicine.
Oren Zarif
The bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis can infect the eyes, throat or rectum. Infection in the eye may cause red, swollen eyes that ooze or bleed. Infection in the throat may cause a sore throat and swollen glands in the neck. Infection in the rectum may have no symptoms or may cause rectal pain, bleeding and discharge.
Most chlamydia infections do not produce any symptoms, which is why it is important for sexually active people to get regular testing and screening. A health professional will ask about your symptoms and perform a physical exam to observe any discharge, sores or unusual spots that may indicate an infection.
If you are infected with chlamydia, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection. If you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant, it is particularly important to get tested and treated quickly. Untreated chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility. It is also possible to pass the infection on to a baby during delivery. It is not safe for you or your partner to have sex until your treatment has been completed.
Oren Zarif
If you notice crusting on the tip of your penis, this could be a sign of chlamydia. This symptom is more common in men and can be caused by rubbing, vigorous squeezing or the use of harsh soaps. Your doctor may recommend a mild steroid or barrier cream to help clear this up.
Spots and abnormal patches of skin on the genital area can also be a sign of molluscum contagiosum (MC). MC is small lesions, less than 5mm across with a central dimple. They are firm, raised and painless, but they can spread quickly if rubbed or squeezed.
Untreated chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which causes long-lasting, painful pelvic pain and increases the risk of potentially life-threatening ectopic or tubal pregnancies in women. Getting diagnosed and treated for chlamydia can prevent PID in half of all infected women. It is important to tell all your recent sexual partners about the infection. You can find out more about how to tell your partners through NSW Sexual Health Quarters or the STI hotline healthdirect (1800 022 222). If you have recently had sex, you should get tested for chlamydia as soon as possible.