Facts About Chlamydia!

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in both men and women.

Every year, about 3 million cases of Chlamydia are diagnosed and it is most prevalent among US teenagers.

It is a bacterial infection of your genital tract and spread easily through sexual contact.

You can not recognize that you have Chlamydia since the signs and symptoms of pain and fluid discharge don’t appear immediately.

It is not difficult to treat the condition once you know you have it. If the condition is left untreated, it can lead to more serious health risks.

Here are some essential facts about chlamydia:

What type of infection is it?

It is a type of bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, which is found in women’s vaginal fluid.

How does Chlamydia transmit?

Mainly through sexual contact, i.e. vaginal and anal sex; also it can be transmitted via oral sex, but it is very rare.

What are the symptoms of Chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a silent disease because more than 75% women infected with this condition can experience no symptoms. The most common signs of Chlamydia that you experience are vaginal discharge and painful urination along with abdominal pain, pain during intercourse, low-grade fever, and frequent urination.

You will notice yellowish vaginal discharge; smelly vaginal discharge; painful or frequent urination; a burning sensation during urination.

But when the infection passes from the cervix to the fallopian tubes, you can experience lower back and lower abdominal pain, pain during intercourse, fever, nausea or bleeding between the menstrual periods.

Also, this bacterial infection can spread from the cervix to rectum and keeps you at an increased risk of cervical cancer.

Chlamydia during pregnancy can cause the baby to get eye infection or pneumonia.

In some rare cases, Chlamydia can cause Reiter’s syndrome, which affects your eyes and joints.

How to treat Chlamydia?

Your doctor prescribes antibiotics, such as azithromycin and doxycycline. Treatment usually lasts for one to seven days based on the type you are prescribed. Ensure that you finish the complete dose of medications and avoid sexual contact until you have finished the treatment. Get the treatment as soon as possible.

What are the complications associated with Chlamydia?

If Chlamydia left untreated, it can lead to various complications such as cervical damage, infection to the uterine canal and also fallopian tubes. Finally all these conditions can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain and finally infertility.

The bacterium can also lead to irritation and bleeding in the rectum. If the disease is transmitted through oral sex, then it can lead to eye infection and also infection of the throat.

What are the risk factors for Chlamydia?

Having multiple sex partners, not using the condoms during anal, vaginal or oral sex can keep you at high risk of sexually transmitted diseases. People under the age of 25 years are even at greater risk. Some studies showed that women who use contraceptives for longer periods are at high risk of Chlamydia.

How to prevent Chlamydia?

Take precautions every time you have sex. Avoid sex with multiple partners. Women under the age of 25 years and also pregnant women should undergo a test for Chlamydia.