Chlamydia

The STD, chlamydia, is transmitted through oral, vaginal, and anal sex. It can also be transmitted to a newborn during a vaginal birth. Transmittal is prevented with the following ways: 

·        Use of a condom during sexual contact

·        Limit sexual contact with a mutually monogamous tested partner

·        Abstaining from sex

   ·        Caesarean delivery (to protect newborn)
 

About half the men and three quarters of women who are infected with chlamydia have no symptoms. Of those that do have symptoms, they are so mild that they go unnoticed or the symptoms of chlamydia are not recognized and testing for chlamydia is not requested. Symptoms usually occur within 1-3 weeks of infection. 

In women the bacterium will usually infect the cervix and urethra (urine canal) first. It can spread to the fallopian tubes and to the rectum. Symptoms in women include the following:

·        Abnormal vaginal discharge or a burning sensation when urinating

·        Lower abdominal pain

·        Low back pain

·        Nausea

·        Fever

·        Pain during intercourse

·        Bleeding between menstrual periods.

Symptoms in men:

·        Discharge from penis

·        Burning sensation when urinating

·        Burning and itching around the opening of the penis

·        Pain and swelling in the testicles (uncommon symptom)

Symptoms in both men and women:

·        Rectal pain

·        Rectal discharge

·        Bleeding from rectum

·        Throat infection

The serious complication of chlamydia is that it leads to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women, which can permanently damage fallopian tubes, uterus, and surrounding tissue. This can cause a woman to be unable to become pregnant. It also increases a woman’s risk of contracting HIV. Men rarely have complications from chlamydia. It can spread to a man’s epididymis (the tube that carries sperm from the testis) and cause sterility, but it is rare. In newborns, chlamydia infection is the leading cause of early pneumonia and conjunctivitis (pink eye). 

Antibiotics are used to treat chlamydia. A person who is diagnosed (urine test or specimen collection at site) with chlamydia should inform all partners from the previous 6 months. Any current partners should be treated to avoid re-infection. Regular testing can prevent undiagnosed chlamydia from being spread and it can also prevent the infection from causing permanent damage to reproductive organs due to lack of treatment. 

It is suggested that all sexually active women be tested. This is especially true if women have trouble getting pregnant, became sexually active in their teens, and have had multiple partners.

Sexual Health