Reproductive Health Care
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is the most frequently reported STI and is easily curable. The complications that come from non-treatment can be devastating.
Be safe. Be tested.
Most people who are infected do not have symptoms, so the only sure way for a person who has been at risk for chlamydia to tell whether they're infected is to be tested.
Even though symptoms of chlamydia are usually mild or absent, serious complications that cause irreversible damage, including infertility, can occur "silently" before a woman ever recognizes a problem.
One possible complication, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), if left untreated, can cause infertility or more frequent periods. Severe cases may even spread to the liver and kidneys causing dangerous internal bleeding, lung failure and death.
What is Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection, spread through oral, vaginal or anal sex. Often, there are no symptoms in men or women. Chlamydia can be detected in sexually transmitted infection screening and treated immediately with antibiotics.
As always, early detection is key!
After treatment, remember, all sexual partners must be treated to avoid possible transmission to others and re-contamination of you. Yes, you can get it back from your partner who may not even know they have it!
If left untreated, Chlamydia can lead to infections in your reproductive organs; infections that can lead to infertility and infections that even can lead to serious life threatening complications.
Do only women get Chlamydia?
Any sexually active person, male or female, can be infected with chlamydia.
And, since chlamydia can be transmitted by oral, vaginal or anal sex, you are at risk whatever your sexual preference.
Because the cervix (opening to the uterus) of teenage girls and young women is not fully matured, they are at particularly high risk for infection if sexually active.
Even newborns can be infected! During vaginal childbirth, an infected mother can pass Chlamydia to her newborn that can result in complications, including infant pneumonia.
What are the symptoms of Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is known as a "silent" infection because about three quarters of infected women and about half of infected men have no symptoms. Those who have reported symptoms state the symptoms appeared from 1 to 3 weeks after they were exposed to someone with chlamydia.
In women, the bacteria first infects the cervix and the urethra (urine canal). Women who do have symptoms might have an abnormal vaginal discharge or a burning sensation when urinating. When the infection spreads from the cervix to the fallopian tubes (tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus), some women still have no signs or symptoms; others have lower abdominal pain, low back pain, nausea, fever, pain during intercourse, or bleeding between menstrual periods. Chlamydia infection of the cervix can even spread to the rectum.
Men with signs or symptoms might have a discharge from their penis or a burning sensation when urinating. Men might also have burning and itching around the opening of the penis.
Men or women who have anal intercourse may get chlamydia in the rectum, which can cause rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding.
Chlamydia can also be found in the throats of women and men having oral sex with an infected partner.
How is Chlamydia diagnosed?
Here at Northland, you have choices:
- Our NEW HealthyMe! Program offers a screening Appointment for a urine test. Same-Day appointments are available in one or more of our three Centers.
- Or your regular Annual Exam is a great time to request infection screening.
Remember, we are here for you and your dreams. No judgments. It's safe to tell us the truth. Be safe. Get tested. And make sure your partner(s) know to be tested as well.
If I do have Chlamydia, can I be cured?
Chlamydia can be easily treated and cured with antibiotics.
Persons with chlamydia should abstain from sexual intercourse until they and their sex partner(s) have completed treatment, otherwise re-infection is possible.
Women whose sex partners have not been appropriately treated are at high risk for re-infection. Having multiple infections increases a woman's risk of serious reproductive health complications, including infertility. If you do not know for sure that your partner was treated, re-testing in 3 to 4 months is a good idea.
What can I do to prevent getting Chlamydia?
The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted infections is to abstain from sexual contact, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.
Latex male condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of transmission of chlamydia. This means using condoms in all forms of sex: oral, vaginal and anal.
Any genital symptoms such as discharge or burning during urination or unusual sore or rash should be a signal to stop having sex and call us for an appointment immediately.
Remember, most women (and men) do not know they are infected because there may be no warning signs or symptoms!
Here's a practical plan: Get screened each year with your Annual Exam.
We like to choose our birthday month! What a great gift to give yourself each year!
Want more information and resources?
Go to: The Birds & Bees Project - What is a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)?
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Last page update: 9/07 |
