Chlamydia

Overview

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection or STI. It is transmitted from one person to another through unprotected sex. It can be spread by both male or female genitals and the mouth. Even though the symptoms associated with this infection are typically mild or absent all together, serious complications can arise from them that result in irreversible damage, including infertility. There are more than 1,030,911 reported cases of chlamydia in the United States at any one time. However, there is a substantial amount of underreporting and information on chlamydia because so many men and women who have chlamydia are completely unaware of it and are not seeking testing or treatment.

Types

There is only one type of chlamydia. It is caused by bacteria known as chlamydia trachomatis.

Symptoms

Chlamydia is often regarded as a silent disease because half of all infected men, and as many as three quarters of infected women, have no symptoms of chlamydia to speak of, meaning that they are completely unaware of having the infection. When symptoms do occur, they usually only appear within one to three weeks following exposure to the infection. In women, the primary infection points are the cervix and the urethra. Women who have symptoms usually experience abnormal vaginal discharge or a burning feeling when urinating. Should the infection spread to the fallopian tubes from the cervix, some women may experience no symptoms at all while others will experience abdominal pain, lower back pain, fever, nausea, pain during intercourse and even bleeding between menstrual periods. A chlamydia infection in the cervix can spread to the rectum as well. Chlamydia is also capable of causing discharge from the penis when a man is infected with the disease.

Chlamydia symptoms in men include: pain and swelling around the testicles, a small, white discharge at the tip of the penis, pain when urinating and itching and burning around the opening of the penis.

Causes/Risk Factors

The primary cause of chlamydia transmission is having unprotected sex with someone who is infected. Symptoms do not have to be present in order for chlamydia to be transmitted. The surest way to prevent the spread of chlamydia trachomatis is simply to abstain from sex or to always have protected sex.

Tests/Diagnosis

Because most chlamydia infections do not show symptoms, the best way to diagnose the presence of chlamydia bacteria is through laboratory tests. Some of these tests are performed on urine, while others involve taking a specimen directly from the site of the potential infection, such as the penis or the cervix.

Treatment

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease that can be treated easily, using antibiotics primarily. A single dose of an antibiotic like azithromycin or a weekly routine of doxycycline is usually enough to rid the body of a Chlamydia infection. For treatment of chlamydia, it is recommended you see a physician first for the right chlamydia antibiotics and diagnosis.