Is chlamydia bad to have

Chlamydia - NHS

Chlamydia is 1 of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK.

It's passed on through unprotected sex (sex without a condom) and is particularly common in sexually active teenagers and young adults.

If you're a woman, sexually active and under 25 in England, it's recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year, and when you have sex with new or casual partners.

If you're a man, sexually active and under 25 in England, it's recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year if you are not using condoms with new or casual partners.

Symptoms of chlamydia

Most people with chlamydia do not notice any symptoms and do not know they have it.

If you do develop symptoms, you may experience:

pain when peeing
unusual discharge from the vagina, penis or bottom
in women, pain in the tummy, bleeding after sex and bleeding between periods
in men, pain and swelling in the testicles

If you think you're at risk of having a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or have any symptoms of chlamydia, visit a GP, community contraceptive service or local genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic to get tested.

How do you get chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection. The bacteria are usually spread through sex or contact with infected genital fluids (semen or vaginal fluid).

You can get chlamydia through:

unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex
sharing sex toys that are not washed or covered with a new condom each time they're used
your genitals coming into contact with your partner's genitals – this means you can get chlamydia from someone even if there's no penetration, orgasm or ejaculation
infected semen or vaginal fluid getting into your eye

It can also be passed by a pregnant woman to her baby.

Chlamydia cannot be passed on through casual contact, such as kissing and hugging, or from sharing baths, towels, swimming pools, toilet seats or cutlery.

Is chlamydia serious?

Although chlamydia does not usually cause any symptoms and can normally be treated with a short course of antibiotics, it can be serious if it's not treated early on.

If left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of your body and lead to long-term health problems, especially in women.

In women, untreated chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy and infertility.

In men, in rare cases, chlamydia can spread to the testicles and epididymis (tubes that carry sperm from the testicles), causing them to become painful and swollen. This is known as epididymitis or epididymo-orchitis (inflammation of the testicles).

It can also sometimes cause reactive arthritis in men and women.

This is why it's important to get tested and treated as soon as possible if you think you might have chlamydia.

Find out more about the complications of chlamydia

Getting tested for chlamydia

Testing for chlamydia is done with a urine test or a swab test.

You do not always need a physical examination by a nurse or doctor.

Anyone can get a free and confidential chlamydia test at a sexual health clinic, a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic or a GP surgery.

In England, if you're a woman under 25 years old, you may be offered a chlamydia test when you visit some health services, for example a pharmacy or GP. This offer is part of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP).

If you're offered a chlamydia test you should consider taking it.

If you're a woman, sexually active and under 25 in England, it's recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year, and when you have sex with new or casual partners.

If you're a man, sexually active and under 25 in England, it's recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year if you are not using condoms with new or casual partners.

You can also buy chlamydia testing kits to do at home.

Find out more about chlamydia diagnosis

How chlamydia is treated

Chlamydia can usually be treated easily with antibiotics.

You may be given a course of doxycycline to take for a week or azithromycin to take once a day for 3 days.

If you have doxycycline, you should not have sex (including oral sex) until you and your current sexual partner have finished treatment.

If you have azithromycin, you should wait 7 days after treatment before having sex (including oral sex).

It's important that your current sexual partner and any other recent sexual partners you have had are also tested and treated to help stop the spread of the infection.

Under-25s who have chlamydia should be offered another test 3 to 6 months after being treated.

This is because young adults who test positive for chlamydia are at increased risk of catching it again.

Sexual health or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics can help you contact your sexual partners.

Either you or the clinic can speak to them, or they can be sent a note advising them to get tested.

The note will not have your name on it, so your confidentiality will be protected.

Preventing chlamydia

Anyone who's sexually active can catch chlamydia.

You're most at risk if you have a new sexual partner or do not use a barrier method of contraception, such as a condom, when having sex.

You can help to prevent the spread of chlamydia by:

using a condom every time you have vaginal or anal sex
using a condom to cover the penis during oral sex
using a dam (a piece of thin, soft plastic or latex) to cover the female genitals during oral sex or when rubbing female genitals together
not sharing sex toys

If you do share sex toys, wash them or cover them with a new condom between each person who uses them.

Common questions

Find answers to some common questions about chlamydia:

How soon do STI symptoms appear?
What should I do if I think I've got an STI?
Are sex toys safe?
What services do sexual health clinics (GUM clinics) provide?

Community content from HealthUnlocked

Page last reviewed: 01 September 2021
Next review due: 01 September 2024

Chlamydia - Symptoms - NHS

Most people who have chlamydia don't notice any symptoms.

If you do get symptoms, these usually appear between 1 and 3 weeks after having unprotected sex with an infected person. For some people they don't develop until many months later.

Sometimes the symptoms can disappear after a few days. Even if the symptoms disappear you may still have the infection and be able to pass it on.

Symptoms in women

At least 70% of women with chlamydia don't notice any symptoms. If they do get symptoms, the most common include:

pain when urinating
unusual vaginal discharge
pain in the tummy or pelvis
pain during sex
bleeding after sex
bleeding between periods

If chlamydia is left untreated, it can spread to the womb and cause a serious condition called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This is a major cause of ectopic pregnancy and infertility in women.

Read more about the complications of chlamydia.

Symptoms in men

At least half of all men with chlamydia don't notice any symptoms. If they do get symptoms, the most common include:

pain when urinating
white, cloudy or watery discharge from the tip of the penis
burning or itching in the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body)
pain in the testicles

If chlamydia is left untreated, the infection can cause swelling in the epididymis (the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles) and the testicles. This could affect your fertility.

Read more about the complications of chlamydia.

Chlamydia in the rectum, throat or eyes

Chlamydia can also infect:

the rectum (back passage) if you have unprotected anal sex – this can cause discomfort and discharge from your rectum
the throat if you have unprotected oral sex – this is uncommon and usually causes no symptoms
the eyes if they come into contact with infected semen or vaginal fluid – this can cause eye redness, pain and discharge (conjunctivitis)

When to seek medical advice

If you have any symptoms of chlamydia, visit your GP, community contraceptive service or local genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic as soon as possible.

Find a sexual health clinic.

You should also get tested if you don't have any symptoms but are concerned you could have a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

If you're a woman, sexually active and under 25 in England, it's recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year, and when you have sex with new or casual partners.

If you're a man, sexually active and under 25 in England, it's recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year if you are not using condoms with new or casual partners.

Danger of chlamydia - causes and treatment of the disease

Urogenital chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease. The annual incidence in the world is 89 million people. The cause of this disease is an intracellular bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis or, colloquially, chlamydia.

You have about a 50% chance of contracting chlamydia through unprotected sex with someone who is sick. This is due to the fact that these bacteria die very quickly outside the human body. In addition, for infection, you need to get into the body of a sufficiently large number of these small creatures, one bacterium cannot infect you.

In addition to sexual contact, public toilets, baths, swimming pools and bath towels can also serve as a danger to humans in terms of contracting this disease.

In 5% of cases, chlamydia occurs without any symptoms. The remaining 95% of men and women have complaints. There are white, yellowish or clear discharge from the genital tract. Very often, patients complain of pain during intercourse and urination. Redness and itching of the genitals are also possible. Women may have pain in the lower abdomen.

The most common chlamydia are found in the so-called prismatic epithelium. The prismatic epithelium in women is located in the epithelium of the fallopian tubes and inside the cervix - endocervix. If a woman had a history of ectopic pregnancy, she should definitely exclude chlamydia from herself and her sexual partner. Chlamydia causes inflammation of the fallopian tubes, their stickiness and further obstruction.

Given the affinity of chlamydia to the epithelium of the cervix, any redness, cervicitis, cervical erosion and dysplasia require the exclusion of the presence of chlamydia in the woman's body.

This infection is dangerous due to its complications. For men, the most dangerous is inflammation of the epididymis, which is also called epididymitis. Epididymitis disrupts spermatogenesis in the ovaries in men.

In women, with prolonged persistence of chlamydia (more than 2 months), inflammation of the uterus may develop. This pathology in medical terminology is called endometritis.

In the absence of treatment of endometritis, a chronic process develops, the sensitivity and receptivity of the endometrium is impaired. The fertilized egg cannot fully attach to the altered endometrium. A process is developing that can contribute to the development of infertility or pregnancy loss: spontaneous miscarriage, miscarriage.

When chlamydia attaches to the fallopian tubes, in addition to ectopic pregnancy, other serious gynecological diseases can develop, namely tubo-ovarian abscesses. Tuboovarian abscesses are often accompanied by pelvic peritonitis and require active surgical tactics.

Chlamydia is a serious challenge in the body of a pregnant woman. In the absence of examination at the stage of pregnancy planning and during pregnancy for chlamydia, and the presence of this pathogen, pregnancy can be complicated by premature discharge of amniotic fluid, premature birth, intrauterine fetal hypoxia.

The incidence of chlamydia in pregnant women ranges from 10 to 40%.

Manifest forms of chlamydia develop in 50% of newborns from infected mothers early after birth. A premature baby who has given birth can be diagnosed with chlamydial etiology retinopathy.

General practitioners also encounter chlamydia. Most often they are general practitioners, ophthalmologists, and rheumatologists. Due to the presence of chlamydia in the body, Reiter's disease can occur. Reiter's disease manifests itself in inflammation of the eyes, inflammation of the joints (at the site of migration of chlamydia into the synovial fluid of the joint), and inflammation of the genital organs. Inflammation of the genital organs can be of different localization in women: urethritis, vaginitis, cervicitis, salpingitis, oophoritis, etc.

In men: urethritis, cystitis, prostatitis, epipidymitis, proctitis, etc.

Treatment of chlamydia is carried out exclusively under medical supervision. A prerequisite is the treatment of a sexual partner! The duration of treatment for chlamydia is individual. Treatment depends on the stage of the disease (acute or chronic), as well as on which target organ is affected.

The patient is considered absolutely healthy if 4 weeks after the end of the course, chlamydia was not found in the PCR tests. Immunoglobulins G may be present in the blood for more than a year, in some cases for life. These immunoglobulins indicate the fact of a chlamydial infection.

It is also worth mentioning the fact that the risk of complications increases significantly with repeated infection. Our specialists: gynecologists, urologists will answer additional questions on chlamydia in the section of the site "Ask a doctor a question".

At the Harmony Medical Center, we provide the patient with the opportunity to exclude this disease by performing a laboratory test for chlamydia. The highest specificity is the DNA test for the detection of chlamydia ( Clamidia Trachomatis ) by PCR. An additional research method can be ELISA diagnostics by blood: determination of immunoglobulins M, G, A.

Blood sampling is carried out strictly on an empty stomach in the treatment room from 8.30-12.00, except Sundays in both branches of the medical center.

The collection of biological material from the vagina in women and the urethra in men by PCR is performed from 8. 30-19.00 daily without an appointment.

Men should refrain from urinating for at least 2-3 hours before the test.

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Chlamydia - KVD №2

What is chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). The disease is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis (Chlamydia trachomatis), which affects the female genital area and is the cause of non-gonococcal urethritis in men. Manifestations of chlamydia are usually minor or absent, but serious complications develop. Complications can cause irreparable damage to the body, including infertility - all this proceeds very secretly.

Chlamydia also causes penile discharge in infected men.

Ways of contracting chlamydia

Chlamydia can be transmitted through:

vaginal or anal contact with an infected partner;
less common with oral sex;
use of sex toys with an infected partner;
infection of a newborn during childbirth from a sick mother.

Absolutely all sexually active people can get chlamydia. The greater the number of sexual partners, the greater the risk of infection. The risk of infection is especially high in girls, because their cervix is not fully formed. About 75% of new cases occur in women under 25 years of age. By the age of 30, approximately 50% of sexually active women have had chlamydia. In sexually active men, the risk of infection is highest between the ages of 20 and 24.

You cannot get chlamydia through kisses, hugs, dishes, baths, towels.

Manifestations of chlamydia

Chlamydia is very secretive. About 75% of infected women and 50% of infected men are asymptomatic. If manifestations of the disease develop, then this occurs approximately 1 to 3 weeks after infection.

In women, chlamydia first affects the cervix and urethra (urinary canal).

Manifestations:

unusual vaginal discharge;
pain or discomfort when urinating;

If the infection penetrates to the appendages, manifestations are possible:

pain in the lower abdomen;
pain in the lumbar region;
nausea;
slight increase in temperature;
pain during intercourse or bleeding after it;
bleeding between periods.

Symptoms in men:

clear or cloudy discharge from the penis;
pain or discomfort when urinating;
there may be burning and itching in the area of the urethral outlet;
rarely pain and/or swelling of the testicles.

Men or women who have anal sex with an infected partner can infect the rectum, resulting in inflammation, pain, discharge, or bleeding from the rectum.

Chlamydia can cause sore throat (pharyngitis) in men and women who have oral contact with an infected partner.

What complications can develop if chlamydia is not treated?

If the disease is not treated, serious short-term and persistent complications develop. Like the disease itself, complications often occur insidiously.

In women with untreated chlamydia, the infection can spread from the urethra to the fallopian tubes (the tubes that carry the egg from the ovaries to the uterus) - this causes (in 40% of cases) the development of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID causes permanent damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus, and surrounding tissues. Chronic pelvic pain, infertility and ectopic pregnancy are the result of PID.

Women with chlamydia are more susceptible to HIV infection, the risk increases by almost 5 times.

To prevent serious consequences of chlamydia, an annual chlamydia screening is required for all sexually active women 25 years of age and younger. An annual examination is necessary for women over 25 who are at risk (new sexual partner, multiple sexual partners). All pregnant women should be screened for chlamydia.

Complications of chlamydia are rare in men. The infection sometimes extends to the epididymis and causes pain, fever, and, rarely, male infertility (sterility).

Rarely, chlamydial infection can cause inflammation of the joints in combination with skin lesions, inflammation of the eyes and urinary tract - this is the so-called Reiter's syndrome.

The effect of chlamydia on a pregnant woman and her child

Chlamydia in pregnant women increases the risk of miscarriage, premature detachment of the placenta. Newborns from infected mothers can get eye and lung infections. A lung infection (pneumonia) can be fatal to a newborn.

Diagnosis of chlamydia

Diagnosis includes observation of the patient's clinical symptoms, testing for chlamydia smears from the cervix, scraping from the urinary canal, the first morning portion of urine. Most often, the study is carried out by PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Swabs and scrapings may cause minor discomfort.

Additionally, a blood test is performed by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) for the presence of immunity to chlamydia, this auxiliary test often helps to establish an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment of chlamydia

Chlamydia is treated with oral antibiotics. To prevent re-infection, all sexual partners must be found, examined and treated. Patients with chlamydia should refrain from unprotected sex during treatment, otherwise it is possible to re-infect the sexual partner. Unfortunately, after successful treatment, re-infection with chlamydia is possible, since a strong immunity to this microorganism does not develop. Repeated infection of women with chlamydia leads to a significant increase in the risk of serious complications, including infertility. A re-examination is carried out 4 weeks after treatment.

Prevention of chlamydia

The best way to prevent sexually transmitted infections is through long-term sexual contact with one healthy sexual partner. Latex male condoms, when used correctly, drastically reduce the risk of transmission.

Annual chlamydia screening required for all sexually active women aged 25 and under. An annual examination is also necessary for women over 25 who are at risk (new sexual partner, multiple sexual partners). All pregnant women should be screened for chlamydia.

Any manifestations, such as pain or discomfort when urinating, unusual rash, discharge are a signal to stop sexual intercourse and immediately examine in a specialized clinic - KVD. If the patient is found to have chlamydia (or any other STI), he must inform his sexual partners so that they also undergo a full examination and appropriate treatment.