Chlamydia: Learn How They Are Transmitted and Their Symptoms

Chlamydia is a group of bacteria transmitted through sexual contact, often showing no symptoms!

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Often referred to as the “silent” bacterial infection because it frequently presents without symptoms, chlamydia affects both men and women and often goes undiagnosed. This can lead to reproductive health issues in women.

What is Chlamydia? When we talk about chlamydia, we refer to a group of bacteria that attack and grow within the body's cells. Chlamydia infection is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia infection is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. A large percentage of chlamydial infections, which can reach up to 50% for men and 70% for women, do not show symptoms. Thus, regular preventive screenings significantly contribute to limiting the spread of the disease. Chlamydia is divided into 2 categories: Chlamydia Chlamydophila "Chlamydia in women is considered a silent disease, as the infection is often asymptomatic, and if left untreated, it can lead to salpingitis or infertility."

Who does Chlamydia affect? Chlamydia infection affects every sexually active individual, with an emphasis on younger ages. If a pregnant woman is infected, she can transmit the infection to the newborn through a normal delivery, causing eye infection or pneumonia. Theoretically, any sexually active person who has unprotected sexual intercourse can be infected with chlamydia, and there appears to be a clear upward trend in the 18 to 24 age group, with a higher percentage among women.

Modes of Transmission The bacterium that causes chlamydia can be transmitted through: Vaginal sex Anal sex Oral sex Through the use of sexual toys More rarely, chlamydia infection can also be transmitted through contaminated fluids, for example, by touching the eye. Also, an infected pregnant woman can transmit the infection to the baby during childbirth. The incubation period from transmission to the onset of symptoms ranges from 1 to 3 weeks. Chlamydia is not transmitted through: Kissing Hugging Sharing food or drinks Using a toilet after someone else Using a swimming pool Droplets from coughing or sneezing Chlamydophila (pneumonia, psittacosis) is transmitted through droplets spread during speech. Bacterial infection from this genus of chlamydia can cause pharyngitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia, and sexual contact is not required for its transmission.

Chlamydia & Risk Factors The chances of contracting chlamydia increase: Inversely with age and in younger ages under 24 years. When you have multiple sexual partners. When condoms are not used correctly. "Younger ages show higher rates because they are more likely to have multiple risk factors."

Chlamydia: Symptoms Chlamydia infection, in a large percentage of cases, does not cause symptoms. Even when it does, they are not severe, which is why it is often underestimated. Chlamydia usually has mild or no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they are found where the bacterial infection originated (genitals, rectum, mouth). Therefore, regular preventive check-ups are of particular importance. Symptoms that may appear in men and women include: Pain during urination. Vaginal discharge. Pain during sexual intercourse in women. Vaginal bleeding between periods and during sex. Discharge from the penis. Testicular pain for men. Also, chlamydia infection can also infect: The eyes, where it can cause conjunctivitis, with redness and irritation of the eyelids. The throat, causing a sore throat. The rectum, where it may present with pain, discharge, or blood loss. Women Vaginal discharge Pain during sex Bleeding after sex Fever Vaginitis Salpingitis Cervicitis Lower abdominal pain Men Pain in testes, penis, urethra Swelling in the testes Lower abdominal pain Urethral pain Burning sensation (tingling) during urination Discharge of milky or yellowish fluid from the urethra These symptoms usually appear 1-3 weeks after the bacteria are transmitted. “Chlamydia causes no symptoms in 80% of women and 50% of men infected with the infection”

Diagnosis The diagnosis of chlamydial infection can be made in women with laboratory tests on a urine sample or a vaginal smear taken from the vagina, mouth, throat, rectum, or around the cervix. The test can be done during a scheduled Pap test. In men, diagnosis is made with a urine test. The doctor can also take a sample with a cotton swab from both the throat and the rectum. Chlamydia is diagnosed based on symptoms, when present. Samples are taken: Endourethrally Endocervically From the pharynx From the rectum From vaginal secretions From the skin of the penis These samples are processed using various methods to detect chlamydia bacteria.

“Women aged 17-25 should be examinated for chlamydia more often, as they have more sensitive cervical epithelium, so they can get infected easily” You've just been diagnosed… with Chlamydia Chlamydia infection will be treated with the antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. Until then, you should avoid sexual intercourse and inform your partner(s) of the last three months, so that they can be tested and, if deemed necessary, receive treatment. This way, you protect your partner's health and your own from possible re-infection. Furthermore, if you are diagnosed with chlamydia, it is advisable to also be tested for other sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea, syphilis, or HIV. Read also... Syphilis Read also... PrEP “Re-testing should be done in 3 months to confirm treatment and the definitive eradication of chlamydia infection”

Chlamydia Treatment Chlamydia can be treated, as it is a bacterium, hence it is treated with antibiotics. Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotic medications that your doctor will recommend. Please note that you should follow the treatment exactly as prescribed by your doctor and not stop if you observe a reduction in symptoms. However, the partner of the person infected with chlamydia should follow the same treatment. The majority of patients achieve complete recovery in the early stages of treatment, but treatment should not be interrupted until the bacteria are completely eliminated from the body.

In cases of pregnancy, treatment is accordingly modified and, of course, it is essential to complete it consistently. In most cases, the infection clears in 1 to 2 weeks, but you can still transmit chlamydia, so you should avoid sexual activity until you complete the treatment, as should your sexual partners. “During the entire period of medication intake or for the duration specified by the doctor, abstinence from all forms of sexual intercourse is necessary”

Chlamydia & Complications Chlamydia infection, whether symptomatic or not, can cause complications with significant impacts on reproductive health, especially for women. These include pelvic inflammatory disease and salpingitis, which can lead to infertility, while also increasing the chances of ectopic pregnancy. In men, untreated chlamydia infection can cause epididymitis as well as fertility problems. If not treated promptly, chlamydia can cause: Chlamydia Salpingitis Cervicitis Urethritis Pelvic inflammatory disease Proctitis Ectopic pregnancy Infertility Epididymitis Chlamydophila Eyes Eyelid irritation Trachoma Blindness Mouth Pneumonia

Prevention Preventing chlamydia infection is essentially linked to abstaining from sexual activity. However, you can reduce your chances of contracting the infection if: You use latex condoms correctly every time you have sex. You are mutually monogamous or limit your sexual partners. You get regular screenings. By discussing with your doctor, you will be informed about the schedule of regular screenings you should undergo based on your risk of infection.

References https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/chlamydia/facts https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537286/#article-19431.s3 https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/chlamydia-gonorrhea-and-syphilis

How is chlamydia cured?

Chlamydia is treated with antibiotic medications, which will eliminate the infection, but not necessarily the damage it may have caused before treatment.

How is chlamydia infection transmitted?

Chlamydial infections are transmitted through unprotected sexual – vaginal, anal, oral – contact. You can also get re-infected if you have sex with an infected person while undergoing treatment.

How is chlamydia tested?

For women, testing is done with a urine sample or vaginal fluid, and for men, with a urine sample or a urethral swab sample.

If I get chlamydia and treat it, will I be immune to the bacteria?

No. Chlamydia, precisely because it is a bacterium, can cause reinfection multiple times in the same person when there is contact with the responsible bacteria. Furthermore, a follow-up check is recommended 3 months after completion of treatment, as there is a possibility of relapse.

How did I get chlamydia if my partner doesn't have it?

The symptoms of chlamydial infection take time to appear. So you may have been infected by a previous sexual partner and not known about it.

Are women more vulnerable to chlamydia infection?

No. Only those who consistently use condoms correctly during every encounter can be considered safe from chlamydia bacterial infection. The difference between men and women is that men more frequently experience symptoms, therefore addressing the issue before unpleasant complications arise.

How can I know when and from whom I got chlamydia?

Symptoms of chlamydia typically appear about 1-3 weeks after contact with the responsible bacteria. However, if there are no symptoms at all, then it's impossible to know exactly when the infection occurred. The only way is regular preventative screening by a qualified doctor.