Am I At Risk For Chlamydia
Anyone who has sex can get chlamydia through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex. However, sexually active young people are at a higher risk of getting chlamydia. This is due to behaviors and biological factors common among young people. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men are also at risk since chlamydia can spread through oral and anal sex.
Have an honest and open talk with your health care provider. Ask whether you should be tested for chlamydia or other STDs. If you are a sexually active woman younger than 25 years, you should get a test for chlamydia every year. If you are an older woman with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has an STD, you should get a test for chlamydia every year. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men as well as pregnant women should also get tested for chlamydia.
Practice Safer Sex By Using A Condom
When used correctly, external and internal condoms help prevent the spread of many STIs during vaginal, anal and oral sex. Condoms are less effective at protecting against STIs transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, such as herpes simplex virus, genital warts ) and syphilis .
Important things to remember when using condoms:
- Check the condom package for damage. Do not use a damaged condom
- Check the expiry date. Do not use a condom after its expiry date
- Carefully open the package so that the condom does not tear. Do not use a condom that has been torn
- Keep condoms away from sharp objects such as rings, studs or piercings
- Store condoms at room temperature
- Use a new condom every time you have sex. Do not reuse condoms
- Do not use 2 condoms at once. Using 2 condoms together may result in a condom breaking
- Use only water-based lubricants with external latex condoms. Oil-based lubricants, such as petroleum jelly, lotion or baby oil, can weaken and destroy latex
- Water or oil-based lubricant may be used with polyurethane/nitrile condoms
- Use only condoms made of latex or polyurethane/nitrile/polyisoprene rubbers. Latex and polyurethane condoms are the best types of condoms to use to help prevent pregnancy and STIs.
- Avoid using condoms with spermicides containing nonoxynol-9 as it can irritate tissue and may increase the chance of getting an STI
How Does Someone Get Chlamydia
Chlamydia is passed through oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Chlamydia can be passed from one person to another even if the penis or tongue does not go all the way into the vagina or anus.Eye infections can occur when discharge caries the disease into the eye during sex or hand-to-eye contact.
Chlamydia can also be passed from mother to newborn as the baby passes through the infected birth canal. This can result in eye infections, pneumonia or other complications.
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When To See A Healthcare Provider
It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider if you have any signs or symptoms of chlamydia, any other symptoms that concern you, or if you know or think you’ve been exposed to the infection.
According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, women 25 and under and those who are sexually active should be screened for chlamydia every year, as should older women who have an increased risk of infection.
Screening for other STIs/STDs is important as well, as the risk factors for chlamydia also increase the likelihood of contracting these other infections. If you are treated for chlamydia, be sure to tell your healthcare provider if any symptoms persist.
The Health Risks Of Chlamydia
For up to 40 percent of infected women, untreated chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease . PID effects include abdominal pain, fever, internal abscesses and long-lasting pelvic pain effects also include scarring of the fallopian tubes, which can cause infertility and increase the chance of potentially life-threatening ectopic or tubal pregnancies.
Men can develop scarring of the urethra, making urination difficult and occasionally causing infertility. Although rare, both sexes are at risk of a type of arthritis known as Reiter’s Syndrome that causes inflammation and swelling of the joints.
If a pregnant woman has chlamydia, her baby may be born prematurely, have eye infections or develop pneumonia.
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Whats Chlamydial Urethritis In Men
Chlamydial urethritis in men is an infection of the urethra caused by the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia. The urethra carries urine from the bladder, through the penis, and to the outside of the body.
This condition often causes swelling and inflammation of the urethra, accompanied by penile discharge. But as with many STDs, men often dont show symptoms. An infected person and all recent and current sexual partners must receive treatment for STDs to prevent reinfection.
The bacteria Chlamydia trachomatiscauses chlamydial urethritis. Its spread through oral, anal, and vaginal sex. Both men and women can develop this common type of infection.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , chlamydia is the most prevalent STD in the United States. Many of these cases are in adolescents and young adults.
People who have unprotected sex with multiple partners are more likely to contract chlamydial urethritis than those who practice safe sex and are in a monogamous relationship. Sexually active people before the age of 25 are also more likely to contract STDs in general, including chlamydia, according to the Mayo Clinic.
What Will Happen If Chlamydia Infections Is Ignored So Long
Trachoma of the eye. Progression of trachoma. Trachoma, an infection of the eye caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. Trachoma is a bacterial infection that affects your eyes
If you are thinking hard to know about how is chlamydia transmitted then the only answer is via sexual contact. Unfortunately, the side effects of Chlamydia over male infertility are generally underestimated. But it is observed that this infection can damage sperm and may also lead to some serious or non curable reproductive disorder like permanent infertility.
Males that are suffering with Chlamydia use to have DNA level 3 times higher than its normal amount in DNA. It clearly means that the genetic material is not perfectly packed inside and it is more susceptible to breakage.
Structure of Mycoplasma cell. the bacterium is the causative agent of sexually transmitted diseases, pneumoniae, atypical pneumonia and other respiratory disorders. unaffected by many antibiotics.
Mycoplasma is also similar kind of disease and it is also transferred with sexual contact both these diseases can have direct effect on sperm production in male body. Once a person gets infected with Chlamydia then his rate of abnormal sperm reproduction gets increased up to 80% and it has about 10% lesser mobility inside body when compared with normal peers.
Other than this, male Chlamydia patients are observed to experience urethritis, conjunctivitis and rheumatological conditions along with reactive arthritis issues.
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Diagnosing Chlamydial Urethritis In Men
Your doctor will perform a series of lab tests to diagnose chlamydial urethritis. Youll be asked to give a urine sample, which will be tested for the presence of the chlamydia organism.
You may also need a urethral discharge culture, or swab test, to rule out gonorrhea. Gonorrhea symptoms often look like the symptoms of chlamydia. Its possible to have both at the same time.
A technician will swab the head of your penis with alcohol or another sterile agent. Next, the technician or your doctor will insert a cotton swab into your urethra at the tip of your penis. The discharge or fluids collected will be analyzed to determine the cause of your infection.
How Do I Spot An Sti
You might be surprised to learn that most STIs dont have symptoms. This means you cant necessarily tell if you or your sexual partner has an STI just by looking. Thats why regular sexual health check-ups are essential.
Because STIs are so common and testing is quick and easy, many clinicians suggest getting an STI test every 612 months, when you change partners, or if you have any symptoms that youre concerned about.
It’s also important to know that being treated for STIs doesnt stop you from getting them again.
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Common Symptoms Of Syphilis
Syphilis has four different phases:
- primary
- latent
- tertiary
Each phase has its own set of symptoms. The symptoms of primary syphilis in men and people with a penis may include:
- a very small, firm, and painless sore where the bacteria entered the body, usually on the penis, anus, or lips that can be easily missed
- swollen lymph nodes in the area near the sore
Symptoms of secondary syphilis may include:
- a skin rash that doesnt itch, commonly found over the body that includes the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- tiredness
Complications Of Untreated Stds
In some cases, untreated STDs will go away on their own, but in others, they can lead to more serious conditions that can even be fatal.
These complications can include, but are not limited to the following:
- Gonorrhea: Infertility
- Chlamydia: Infertility
- Syphilis: Blindness, loss of motor skills, dementia, and damage to the heart, brain, eyes, kidneys, and bones
- Genital herpes: Bladder problems, meningitis
- Hepatitis A & B: Cirrhosis, liver cancer
- HPV: Cervical cancer, anal cancer, penile cancer, throat cancer
- HIV: Reduced life expectancy, opportunistic infections
- Trichomoniasis: Increased risk of HIV
Anyone who is sexually active is at risk of contracting an STD.
Here are some ways you can protect yourself:
- Use a condom correctly every time you have sex
- Have a small number of partners
- Get vaccinated
- Keep an open dialogue with your partner
- Get tested regularly
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How Easily Is Chlamydia Transmitted During Sexual Intercourse
Unfortunately, chlamydia is very easily transmitted through unprotected sexual contact. This is especially true because chlamydia infections are sometimes asymptomaticâmeaning they donât cause noticeable symptoms.
In fact, any time you come in contact with the bacteriaâeven if your sex partner doesnât ejaculate or you arenât fully penetratedâyou could become infected or pass along the chlamydial infection. This being the case, men and women should get tested for STIs before beginning any new sexual relationship.
How Do You Test For Male Chlamydia
Early testing and treatment of chlamydia is key. If you’ve recently had unprotected sex with a new partner, with someone you suspect may be infected or if you just haven’t been tested for STIs in a while, you should get tested. You can do this at your local GP or GUM clinic, .
Alternatively, you can order a chlamydia test kit from us and take your test at home and further chlamydia treatment if required. Because chlamydia is highly prevalent among 16 to 25 year-olds, chlamydia tests are now offered at most youth clubs and universities too.
You’ll need to provide a urine sample you may need to refrain from passing urine for about two hours leading up to the test to get an accurate result. If you’ve been engaging in oral or anal sex, you should also get a swab test of your rectum or throat.
If you don’t have much time or would prefer a home test, you can order a chlamydia test kit from us and have it delivered to your UK address within 48 hours. Your sample will be sent to a lab for analysis and youll be contacted with the result within a few days.
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Can You Have An Std Without Showing Any Symptoms
By | Oct. 13, 2010, 11:35 a.m.
Category:
can you have an STD but have no symptoms at all? and if so what disease?
Yes, you can have any sexually transmitted infection and have no symptoms. While some people experience symptoms of an infection, like discharge, burning, or itching in the genital area, other people can have a sexually transmitted infection and have no symptoms at all.
For example, 75 percent of women and 50 percent of men with chlamydia have no symptoms. And, on average, people with HIV dont develop symptoms for 10 years.
Practicing safer sex is very important because infections are often spread between partners who have no symptoms of infection.
Tags:STDs, STD symptoms
Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. is a registered 501 nonprofit under EIN 13-1644147. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable under the law.
Do Condoms Prevent Stis
Male latex condoms can reduce your risk of getting an STI if used correctly. Be sure to use them every time you have sex. Female condoms arent as effective as male condoms. However, you should use them when a man wont use a male condom.
Remember, though, that condoms arent 100% safe. They cant protect you from coming into contact with some sores or warts .
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How Is Chlamydia Diagnosed
There are a few different types of diagnostic tests for chlamydia. The newest type, known as nucleic acid amplification tests , can easily be performed on a swab of your vagina or a urine sample. Vaginal swabs are the preferred method to test for genital chlamydia in women, while urine samples are preferred for men.
Most labs arent approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to test rectal or throat swabs for chlamydia, but a doctor may still order these tests.
How Does Chlamydia Spread
Chlamydia is spread when a person has unprotected sex with an infected person.
Because chlamydial infection often has no symptoms, many people do not realise they have the infection.
Even if you know a person well, you may not be able to tell they have an STI, because people can look healthy and still have chlamydia.
Remember, you can get chlamydia and other STIs from a new sexual partner who has in the past had sex with someone who is infected.
It can also be spread from a long-term partner who has had sex with other people.
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Symptoms Of Chlamydial Urethritis In Men
Men with chlamydial urethritis may not show symptoms at all, or they may only start to show symptoms several weeks after exposure to the bacteria. Symptoms of chlamydia and the related inflammation of the urethra usually occur between one and three weeks after exposure to the bacteria.
The signs of infection include:
- painful, swollen testicles
The urethra becomes inflamed during infection, making urinating more difficult. Discomfort in the penis is generally limited to the tip, where the urethra ends.
Symptoms of chlamydial urethritis in men can mimic the symptoms of gonorrhea. Gonorrhea and chlamydia infections often occur at the same time, and anyone infected may require treatment for both STDs.
How Can I Protect Myself
- The use of condoms for vaginal and anal sex and condoms or dental dams for oral sex can help to prevent transmission
- If you want to stop using condoms with a new partner, you can both get a test and show each other the results.
- If you have had unprotected sex with a new partner, you should both get tested so that you can be treated before passing this on to someone else.
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How Chlamydia Diagnosis Process Is Carried On In Men
Early treatment of Chlamydia is essential to have a healthy life ahead. In case if you had unprotected sex with your recent partner then you must get tested for STIs as soon as possible. This test can be carried out at any local GUM clinic or GP. With improved facilities of digital world, patients can also order Chlamydia test kits to their home from online sources.
Once this test is carried out then depending upon its results further treatment will be carried out. Note that, Chlamydia disease is very common between age groups of 16 to 25 so most of the clinics these days are offering free tests to identify this disease on time. In case if you had oral or anal sex with your new partner who is suspected to be infected then it is good to undergo an oral swab test pr rectal swab test.
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How Can You Prevent Getting An Std
Using condoms can help prevent the transmission of many STDs, but no method of prevention is 100% safe. Sometimes, STDs may affect areas not ordinarily covered by a condom during sexual activity. Prevention can also be difficult because many people will not show specific signs or symptoms of an STD even though they may be infected. While abstinence from sexual activity is the only absolute way to prevent STDs, limiting the number of sexual partners can help reduce risk of exposure to infections. Early diagnosis and recognition of infections as well as counseling about STDs and risk can help avoid further spread of infections.
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Causes And Risk Factors Of Chlamydia
Chlamydia is caused by bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. These bacteria attack the cells of your bodys mucous membranes the soft, moist tissues of your body that arent covered by skin.
Here are areas of the body where mucous membranes are possible targets for chlamydia infection:
- Vagina, cervix, and fallopian tubes in women
- Urethra in women and men
- Anus and rectum
- Lining of the eyelid
- Throat
Although the bacteria that cause chlamydia can reach the uterus, Chlamydia doesnt attack the uterus itself, because a woman gets her period every month, and cells inside it are sloughed off, says Dr. Rabin.
But the fallopian tubes which connect the ovaries and uterus do not clean themselves regularly, so theyre vulnerable to attack and lasting damage caused by the bacteria.
Chlamydia can be spread through any sexual contact, with or without ejaculation.