Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a well-known sexually transmitted infection commonly contracted through vaginal, oral or anal sex. Due to the asymptomatic nature of Chlamydia, a vast majority of people who have Chlamydia might show mild to no symptoms and infect other people unknowingly. It is advised by medical professionals to undergo frequent screenings in order to maintain good sexual health and avoid the spread of STIs like Chlamydia.
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that can be treated and cured. People who are infected with Chlamydia may show little to no symptoms and, if left untreated, can lead to health complications and, in some situations, it can damage your reproductory organs permanently. If you feel you might have come in contact with potential exposure, get screened and treated.
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If you have this infection, you can transfer it to other people through sexual intercourse, either anal, oral or vaginal. Apart from direct sexual contact, people who share sex toys with their sexual partners might also be able to transfer the infection.
Sex is a means of contracting Chlamydia but not the only way. People who share sex toys with their partners are at high risk of getting infected if their partner has the infection. Practising safe sex and the use of protection can help against the spread of this infection.
Sexually active people can have chlamydia infection. The bacteria responsible for this infection is being spread through the semen or vaginal fluid. If you engage in any form of sex, you can be infected with this bacteria and also transmit it to other people. Chlamydia can cause complications in pregnant people, and they can pass on the infection to their newborn if they go untreated.
Chlamydia is one of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infections. The number of reported infections each year is over 1.5 million cases. So many cases of this infection are asymptomatic and, in some cases, show mild signs and symptoms. So many cases without symptoms go without documentation.
Certain demographic attributes like race, gender, and age might make certain people more likely to be diagnosed with this bacterial infection.
Here are some people more likely to have Chlamydia:
Men who have sex with men: Chlamydia affects people who are assigned male at birth (AMAB) or men who have sex with other men as compared to those who have sex with people assigned female at birth or women.
Teenagers and young adults: Over half of the chlamydia cases are between people aged 15 – 24. It is also higher in people assigned female at birth or women. Healthcare practitioners advise females within this age range to get tested for Chlamydia.
Non-Hispanic and Black people: People from this race are more commonly affected by this bacterial infection.
Certain groups of people have a higher rate of transmission, and this owes to their reduced access to STI prevention methods and not as a result of their sexual behaviours. For example, communities or places with little to no sex education are at a higher risk of getting infected with this infection. Sex education and things like condoms and dental dams can go a long way in reducing this bacterial infection among certain groups.
Also, communities with high infection incidence are at a higher risk of passing it from one person to another within the community. To maintain good sexual health, kindly get tested frequently for Chlamydia.
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This bacterial infection spreads through sexual contact when an infected semen or vaginal fluid comes in contact with another individual. If you have had any form of sexual contact without ejaculation or penetration and feel that exempts you from Chlamydia, you are wrong. There are so many ways by which genital fluid can be transmitted from one person to the other. Some of them include:
Bacteria can be transmitted from the vagina, penis or anus to the partner’s mouth or the other way around.
Just as it is with oral sex, the bacteria can be transmitted from the anus to the penis or vice versa
Bacteria can pass from the sex toys to the anus, vagina or mouth or penis.
Transmission through sex involves the bacteria going from one partner’s penis to another’s vagina or anus or vice versa
This is not as common, but semen and vaginal fluid can get into the eyes hence leading to conjunctivitis. You are advised always to wash your hands after any sexual activity, as touching your eyes after coming in contact with infected semen or fluid can lead to conjunctivitis.
There are so many misconceptions about ways by which people can contract this infection. You can’ get this infection by:
Chlamydia can be asymptomatic in a majority of people, hence a silent infection. If you do not show any sign or symptom of this infection and do not get tested, you might never know that you are infected. This is why regular testing is highly recommended. People who notice signs may not know it is Chlamydia until weeks after their infection. It is very common to spread Chlamydia to others without realising you have it yourself. This makes Chlamydia quite dangerous due to its asymptomatic nature in the majority of people, as untreated Chlamydia can lead to complications.
The majority of people don’t see symptoms until a week to 3 months after infection from an infected partner. It can take longer than this time duration. Your healthcare professional will provide more details about the infection period after diagnosis. Your healthcare professional may be able to inform you that the infection has spread to your testicles or fallopian tubes. The safest sexual practice for sexually active individuals is getting tested regularly, as you may be infected and not show any symptoms. Also, make use of condoms.
This infection is commonly referred to as a silent infection because 50% - 70% of infected people may show mild to no symptoms. Signs of this bacterial infection might differ between the male and female gender.
You may notice some similarities that are common to urinary tract infections or cervicitis. Here are symptoms you may notice:
You may notice some common similarities to NGU (non-gonococcal urethritis). Here are symptoms you may notice:
Your reproductive organs are not the only affected part by this infection. You may notice any of the following.
For any of the above symptoms, make sure you visit a healthcare professional as soon as you can to prevent complications resulting from untreated Chlamydia.
The majority of people who have this infection may not show any symptoms, but you may notice an irregular discharge from your penis or vagina, which might indicate a chlamydia infection. Pain, unusual discharge or bleeding from your anus can also be another sign you may notice.
Whatever sign or symptom you notice, visit your healthcare practitioner right away and preferably get tested.
Chlamydia is primarily diagnosed using a NAAT (nucleic acid amplification test). The test is done by taking a cervical or vaginal swab or urine sample and then sent to the laboratory to screen for the bacteria responsible for Chlamydia. This test may be done in the clinic, or If requested, your healthcare provider might send a home test kit and ask that you follow the instructions provided so you can get an accurate result.
Due to the asymptomatic nature of this infection, it is essential to get screened regularly for this infection if you are sexually active. Women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) are at a greater risk of contracting this infection and have more severe complications as compared to men, which is why they are encouraged to engage in frequent testing.
You are at a high risk of contracting Chlamydia if you
Men of people assigned male at birth should undergo a test if:
No matter your reproductive anatomy, gender, age or other risk factors, discussing your sexual health and prior sexual history with your provider is important. Your healthcare practitioner is the best person to confide in and seek professional guidance from. You can also get tested for other STIs alongside Chlamydia if you think you might be at risk.
Yes, treating Chlamydia is possible and can be cleared up in a matter of a week or 2. A common mistake people make is stopping their medications as soon as the symptoms clear up and not following the provider’s instructions. Make sure you speak to your provider about a follow-up once you are done with your medications, as chlamydia recurrence is possible. While you are taking this medication, you should avoid sexual activities until you are confirmed clear without an infection to avoid spreading the infection to your partner.
During your treatment, you should do the following:
Antibiotics are an effective treatment for Chlamydia, but they can’t reverse any damage done by the infection before treatment. This is why we advise early diagnosis through regular testing for sexually active people to seek help at the first symptom they notice and get treated if infected.
Waiting for this infection to disappear is a very terrible approach. Always seek the help of a healthcare provider once you notice any unusual symptoms around your genitals or something indicating an infection. Sexually active individuals can put others at risk if they keep on engaging in sex without getting treated and hoping for the infection to self-resolve.
Antibiotics are generally used to treat Chlamydia, but the most common ones are:
Do not self-prescribe, and always seek the help of your medical practitioner to prescribe what is more suitable for you.
The simple answer is yes, It can be treated and cured. Some STIs are beginning to gain antibiotic resistance, making treatment more difficult. Notwithstanding, your healthcare provider will advise you on the most suitable course of treatment. You can avoid this by practising safe sex and prevent the spread of this infection.
Just like so many other STIs, if left untreated, it can put your health at risk. Book an appointment with us if you have any symptoms indicating Chlamydia to get tested and prevent health complications.
This infection can spread to your bloodstream, and this increases your susceptibility to HIV. Also, your risk of having reactive arthritis is increased, which might cause swelling of your joints and pain.
You should start feeling better after taking antibiotics in as little as a week, and the symptoms will begin to clear off. Even after notable improvements, do not stop your medications until you have completed the prescribed treatment dosage.
Avoid having any form of sex for at least 7 days from when you start taking medications. This timeframe gives the antibiotics ample time to work so you don’t infect your sexual partner. Even after treatment, you should continue practising safe sex and routinely engage in getting STI tests to ensure good sexual health.
The best way to prevent this is by refraining from sex with anyone who has a chlamydia infection, be it anal, vaginal or oral. Avoid sharing sex toys as they can also spread the infection.
You may not be able to tell if your current partner has Chlamydia due to the asymptomatic nature of this infection, so try your best to prevent it by practising safe sex. You can:
Proper treatment might clear the infection within 1-2 weeks. You might also keep getting positive results 4 weeks post-treatment. Avoid having sex during your treatment period, and make sure you strictly follow the given prescription.
Getting tested frequently is very important for every sexually active individual. If you notice symptoms of an infection, speaking freely to your healthcare practitioner is very important to get the best advice. Also, if your partner has an infection or tests positive for Chlamydia, you should also get tested as you might be infected.
It does not have a certain smell, but a symptom of this infection is unusual discharge from the vagina, mostly with a displeasing odour.
Chlamydia shows mild to no symptoms in a lot of people. You might not notice symptoms within months or years, so a past sexual encounter with an infected partner can get you infected. This is why you should routinely get tested before you get into a new relationship or if you have had multiple sexual partners.
You can be infected with Chlamydia if your partner had sex with you after a sexual encounter with an infected individual. A lot of people have different ideologies about cheating, so they may not categorise having sex with another person as cheating. Have honest communication with your partner about any external sexual partners or if they are also getting involved in any of such. Practising safe sex and getting tested reduces your risk of having Chlamydia.
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