An STI called chlamydia treatment doesn’t usually cause symptoms. Chlamydia may, however, cause significant consequences if neglected.
Chlamydia: What is it?
A typical STI that is brought on by bacteria is called Chlamydia. In the early stages of the disease, chlamydia patients often show no visible symptoms.
In reality, between 40 and 96 per cent of chlamydia patients are considered asymptomatic. Later on, Chlamydia might potentially harm your health.
It’s essential to have routine tests for Chlamydia and to see your doctor or another healthcare provider if you have any concerns since untreated Chlamydia may lead to significant consequences.
Chlamydia symptoms may resemble those of other STIs. View images of STI-related signs to comprehend the outward impact these diseases may have.
How does Chlamydia spread?
The significant methods of chlamydia infection transmission include oral sex without a barrier technique and intercourse without a condom or other barrier.
It need not be pierced for you to catch it. The bacterium might be transmitted by touching genitalia. Additionally, it may be acquired during anal intercourse.
Chlamydia may be passed from the mother to the baby during delivery. Chlamydia testing is often part of prenatal testing, but confirming with an OB-GYN during the first prenatal visit doesn’t hurt.
Although it is uncommon, oral or vaginal contact with the eyes might result in a chlamydia infection in the eye.
Even those who have already had the illness and successfully undergone treatment are susceptible to contracting chlamydia. Learn more about the method of chlamydia transmission.
Symptoms
Chlamydia is sometimes called a “silent infection” since most chlamydia patients show no symptoms.
However, it may result in several symptoms in others, such as:
- Pain
- A burning feeling during urination
- Inappropriate vaginal or penile discharge
Men and women may experience specific chlamydia symptoms somewhat differently.
Men’s chlamydia symptoms
Many men fail to recognize the signs of Chlamydia. Most males have zero symptoms.
The following are some of the most typical signs of Chlamydia in men:
- A scorching feeling while urinating
- Discharge from the penis that is yellow or green
- Tummy ache in the lower third
- The testicles hurt
The anus may also get infected with Chlamydia. The primary signs in this situation are frequently
- Discharge
- Pain
- Bleeding in this location
The risk of contracting Chlamydia in the throat increases during oral intercourse with an infected person. The presence of a sore throat, a cough, or a fever are symptoms. It’s also possible to have undetected throat bacteria.
Signs of Chlamydia in women
Because some chlamydia patients show no symptoms, the disease is sometimes called a “silent infection.”
It could take many weeks before a woman has symptoms after contracting the STI.
The following are some of the most typical signs of Chlamydia in women:
- Dyspareunia: painful sexual activity
- Vaginal oozing
- A scorching feeling while urinating
- Tummy ache in the lower third
- Cervicitis, an inflammation of the cervix
- Between periods bleeding
The infection may progress to the fallopian tubes in particular women, which may result in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a disorder. A medical emergency is PID.
PID symptoms include:
- Fever
- A lot of pelvic discomforts
- Nausea
- Between cycles, abnormal vaginal bleeding
Chlamydia may also infect the rectum. If a woman has a chlamydia infection in the rectum, she cannot exhibit any symptoms. But if a rectal infection does develop, symptoms might include bleeding, discharge, and discomfort.
Women who engage in oral sex with a person who has a throat infection run the risk of developing one themselves. Cough, fever, and sore throat are signs of a chlamydia infection in your throat, yet you might have it without knowing it.
If you encounter any of the symptoms above, speaking with a healthcare provider is crucial since the signs of STIs in men and women might vary.
Causes and danger signs
Chlamydia is an STI brought on by a particular bacterial strain called Chlamydia trachomatis.
It may be spread by genital touch, oral, vaginal, or anal intercourse without a barrier technique like a condom, as well as through vaginal discharge or semen.
Women are more likely than males to get Chlamydia. It’s believed that overall infection rates for women in the US are two times greater than for males.
Other infection risk factors include the following:
- Not routinely utilizing barrier techniques, such as condoms, with new sexual partners
- A sexual partner who engages in sexual activity with other persons
- Having a chlamydia or other STI history
How can I lower my chance of contracting Chlamydia?
The only specific strategy to avoid contracting Chlamydia is to refrain from sexual activity.
If you engage in sexual activity, you may take a few easy actions to lower your chance of getting Chlamydia and many other STIs.
Here are some strategies to lower your risk:
- Use barriers as a tool. Each time you engage in oral, vaginal, or anal intercourse, using a condom, dental dam, or another barrier technique may dramatically reduce the chance of infection.
- Take a test. Regular STI testing may help stop the spread of Chlamydia and ensure you get the necessary treatment. Depending on your risk level, a doctor may help you decide how often you should be checked.
- With your sexual partners, communicate. Chlamydia and other STIs are more likely to infect you if you have several sexual partners. However, you may lessen this risk by utilizing barrier techniques each time you have sex and openly discussing STI prevention.
- Don’t distribute sex toys. If you do decide to share any sex toys, be sure you wash them well after each usage and cover them with a condom.
Chlamydia therapy
Chlamydia is curable and is easily treatable. Antibiotics are used to treat it as it is bacterial in origin.
Antibiotic azithromycin is often provided in a single, substantial dosage. The antibiotic doxycycline has to be taken twice daily for roughly a week.
A medical expert may also prescribe other antibiotics. Any antibiotic recommended should be taken exactly as directed to ensure the illness is completely treated. Even with the single-dose drugs, this might take up to two weeks.
It’s crucial to avoid having sexual relations while receiving therapy. Even after treatment for a prior infection, Chlamydia may still be transmitted and acquired if exposed again.
Throat chlamydia
Oral intercourse is another venue for the transmission and acquisition of STIs. Chlamydia may be spread simply by contacting the mouth, lips, or tongue.
If you have Chlamydia via oral intercourse, you may not show any signs of it. Symptoms don’t always show up with chlamydia infections, whether vaginal or anal.
Chlamydia in the throat symptoms may include the following:
- Unwell throat
- Throat is dry
- Fever
- Coughing
In the throat, other STIs may manifest. Each STI that affects the throat results in different symptoms and worries.
Even though Chlamydia treatment is effective, it’s still crucial to protect yourself and avoid recurrence.
Chlamydia home cures
A bacterial infection is the cause of Chlamydia. Antibiotics are the only effective treatment for this kind of illness.
Alternative therapies could reduce symptoms. Remember that Chlamydia may cause chronic inflammation and other long-term concerns, such as issues with fertility.
The following are some possible home cures for Chlamydia (but just for the symptoms, not the infection itself):
- Goldenseal. This medicinal herb may reduce the severity of an infection’s symptoms by lowering inflammation.
- Echinacea. This plant has long been used to strengthen the immune system and aid in the recovery from various diseases, including the common cold and skin wounds. It could lessen chlamydia symptoms.
There are no reliable studies demonstrating that the chemicals in these plants help treat the symptoms of Chlamydia despite the possibility that they might reduce inflammation and infection in general.
Diagnosis
A doctor treating you for Chlamydia treatment will probably inquire about your symptoms. If there aren’t any, they could ask about your worries.
The medical professional may do a physical examination if symptoms are present. This enables them to look for any discharge, lesions, or strange patches that could be connected to an illness.
Swabs of the vagina are the most reliable diagnostic tools for Chlamydia treatment, as are urine tests for men and women. These places may also be swabbed if there’s a likelihood the infection is in the throat or anus.
Results might take a few days to appear. Call the doctor’s office to discuss the findings. Follow-up consultation and available treatments will be addressed if the test is positive.
Several procedures may be used to test for STIs. Learn more about each kind and what it may tell your doctor by reading about it.
Please use our FindCare service to assist you in selecting a primary care physician.
Prevention of chlamydia
Using a condom or other barrier technique during sexual contact is the most effective strategy for someone who engages in sexual activity to prevent catching Chlamydia.
It is advised to:
- Apply the barrier technique to each new sexual partner.
- Get routine STI testing done while dating new people.
- Till you and a new partner have been tested for STIs, refrain from engaging in oral sex or use protection during oral sex.
Following these precautions may prevent infections, unwanted pregnancies, and other consequences. If done correctly, STI prevention is highly effective.