Chlamydia

Content

Causes

Symptoms

Exams and Tests

Treatment

Outlook (Prognosis)

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Chlamydia is an infection. It is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. It is most often spread through sexual contact.

Causes

Both males and females may have chlamydia. However, they may not have any symptoms. As a result, you may become infected or pass the infection to your partner without knowing it.

You are more likely to become infected with chlamydia if you:

·       Have sex without wearing a male or female condom

·       Have more than one sexual partner

·       Use drugs or alcohol and then have sex

Symptoms

In men, chlamydia may cause symptoms similar to gonorrhea. Symptoms may include:

·       Burning feeling during urination

·       Discharge from the penis or rectum

·       Tenderness or pain in the testicles

·       Rectal discharge or pain

Symptoms that may occur in women include:

·       Burning feeling during urination

·       Painful sexual intercourse

·       Rectal pain or discharge

·       Symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), salpingitis (inflammation of the fallopian tubes), or liver inflammation similar to hepatitis

·       Vaginal discharge or bleeding after intercourse

Exams and Tests

If you have symptoms of a chlamydia infection, your health care provider will collect a culture or perform a test called a nucleic acid amplification test.

In the past, testing required an exam by a provider. Today, very accurate tests can be done on urine samples. Results take 1 to 2 days to come back. Your provider may also check you for other types of sexually transmitted infection (STIs). Common STIs are gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis, and herpes.

Even if you have no symptoms, you may need a chlamydia test if you:

·       Are 25 years old or younger and sexually active

·       Have a new sexual partner or more than one partner

Treatment

The usual treatment for chlamydia is antibiotics.

Sexual partners must be treated. This will ensure that they do not pass the infection back and forth. A person may become infected with chlamydia many times.

A follow-up evaluation may be done in 4 weeks to see if the infection has been cured.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Antibiotic treatment almost always works if you and your partner take the medicines as directed.

If chlamydia spreads into your uterus, it can cause scarring. Scarring can make it harder for you to get pregnant.

You can help prevent infection with chlamydia by:

·       Finishing your antibiotics when you are treated

·       Talking to your provider about being tested for chlamydia

·       Going to see your provider if you have symptoms

·       Wearing condoms and practicing safe sex

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your provider if you have symptoms of chlamydia.

Many people with chlamydia may not have symptoms. Therefore, sexually active adults should be screened once in a while for the infection.

Source https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001345.htm