How Common Is Chlamydia In Men
Chlamydia is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted disease in the world. According to the Aids charity Avert,
Global chlamydia statistics show that an estimated 92 million new chlamydia infections occur each year, affecting more women than men
It is the most sexually transmitted disease in the United States with estimates that nearly 3 million people are infected each year with the disease. This story does not get any better in the UK either. The following report from the BBC News website stated that,
In 2008, young people accounted for two-thirds of all new standard chlamydia infections diagnosed in sexual health clinics.
In England, as many as 68 young men in every 1,000 and 84 young women in every 1,000 carry the infection.
Since the mid-1990s, the number of diagnosed infections has risen an average of 7,500 per year to over 123,000.
As you can clearly see chlamydia in men and women is a growing problem. But why is this sexually transmitted disease on the rise?
Im Pregnant How Does Chlamydia Affect My Baby
If you are pregnant and have chlamydia, you can pass the infection to your baby during delivery. This could cause an eye infection or pneumonia in your newborn. Having chlamydia may also make it more likely to deliver your baby too early.
If you are pregnant, you should get tested for chlamydia at your first prenatal visit. Testing and treatment are the best ways to prevent health problems.
Chlamydia Is Caused By Sexually Transmitted Bacteria
The bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis causes chlamydia infection, which usually occurs in the genital tract, so the cervix in women and the penis in men. In both women and men, the bacteria may also infect the rectum and the throat.
Infections are spread during any kind of sexual activity: vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse, says Jonathan Schaffir, MD, an ob-gyn at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.
Chlamydia trachomatis can also cause conjunctivitis if the bacteria come into contact with the eyelids or the clear membrane covering the white of the eye.
Because chlamydia infections often cause no symptoms, individuals who have one may not seek medical attention or get treated for it. However, anyone who is infected with chlamydia can pass it to other people, who can, in turn, pass it to others.
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Urine Testing Vs Bacterial Culture
Urine testing is currently primarily used to detect bacterial STDs. Chlamydia and gonorrhea urine tests are widely available. Trichomoniasis urine tests are also available, but they are less common.
The gold standard for diagnosing bacterial STDs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, used to be bacterial culture. That involved attempting to grow bacteria out of samples that were taken directly from the cervix or urethra.
These days, bacterial DNA testing is considered a better option. It works differently than bacterial culture. Instead of trying to grow bacteria, these tests just look for bacterial DNA. This can be done using a process called ligase chain reaction or with other DNA amplification techniques.
These types of testing are sensitive to even very small amounts of bacterial DNA. Even better, they do not require a live bacterial sample. As such, they can be run on urine samplesnot just urethral or cervical swabs.
For most people, the thought of a getting gonorrhea urine test or chlamydia urine test is a lot less intimidating than the thought of needing a physical exam.
Can You Recognise Chlamydia From Pictures
Can you tell you if have chlamydia by comparing your visible symptoms with pictures?
No. You cannot tell if you have chlamydia just from the appearance. While you might notice some irritation of the genital area, swelling or discharge, these symptoms can also be caused by other infections. The only way to know that an infection is caused by chlamydia is to have a test.
Could a doctor tell you have chlamydia by looking at visible symptoms?
No. The only way to find out if you have chlamydia is to get tested. After a physical examination your GP may suspect you have chlamydia, but they wont be able to confirm a diagnosis without proper testing.
Could the visible symptoms of chlamydia be mistaken for something else?
Yes, but in many cases chlamydia is symptomless. Symptoms may not occur until 1-3 weeks after you have been infected. The symptoms can also be random and infrequent which can lead individuals to overlook that an infection may be causing the symptoms. It could be that your visible symptoms are a result of a different infection.
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Types Of Sti Tests And Exams That May Be Done:
Pelvic Exam: There are two parts to a pelvic exam.
- Speculum exam. A speculum is placed into the vagina and gently opened. Swabs are taken from the vagina or cervix and sent to the lab for STI testing.
- Bimanual exam. This is done to check your uterus , fallopian tubes, and ovaries. The health care provider will place two gloved, lubricated fingers into your vagina, and will gently press on your lower belly with the other hand. You may feel pressure, but it shouldnt be painful.
Urine tests: You will be asked to pass urine into a cup. The tests are most accurate if you have not passed urine for 1-2 hours before giving the urine sample.
Swab tests: Swab tests are done with a sterile q-tip that is sent to the lab for testing. Swabs may be taken from the vagina, cervix, penis, throat, anus, or skin.
Blood tests: Both syphilis and HIV testing are done on blood samples. HIV testing is done in two ways.
How You Prevent It
Remember to always practice safer sex and use condoms. This will lower the risk of getting chlamydia or other STIs.
If you find out that you have chlamydia, your partner need to be told that they could have an infection even if there arent any symptoms. If you have concerns about telling your partner, contact a public health nurse.
The public health nurse can suggest ways to handle the situation or they will contact your partner for you. Of course, your name will be kept confidential.
You can get chlamydia from having vaginal, oral or anal sex without a condom, or sharing sex toys with an infected person.
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Letting Partners Know You Have Chlamydia
Sexual partners may be infected too. If you have chlamydia, anyone you have had sex with from the last 6 months needs to be informed, tested and treated.
If they dont know, they could reinfect you or infect someone else if they are not treated. dont receive treatment.
Most people will appreciate being told they may have an infection and it is an important step in preventing further infection in the community.
Your local GP and sexual health centre can help you inform your partners and let them know that they need a test. This process is called partner notification. It can be done anonymously, and your confidentiality is always respected.
You can also anonymously notify your sexual partners of the need to get tested and treated for chlamydia via the Let Them Know website if you feel unable to speak to them personally.
There are also nurses who can help you anonymously notify your partners. They can be contacted on .
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How Do I Test For Chlamydia
You can get tested for chlamydia even if you dont have any symptoms.
Getting tested for chlamydia is easy and doesnt hurt. A healthcare professional will ask for a urine sample and/or take a swab from the area that might be infected. This is usually the lower part of the womb or the vagina for women, and the tip of the penis for men. If youve had anal or oral sex, you may have a swab taken from your anus or throat.
In some countries you can get a self-testing kit to do at home.
If you test positive for chlamydia, its important to tell any recent sexual partner/s so they can also get tested, and treated if necessary. If you need advice about how to do this, speak to your healthcare professional. You should also test for other STIs.
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Queenslands Most Common Stis And Their Symptoms In Men
STI symptoms can be different between men and women. Well take a closer look at mens symptoms here, but for more information check out our blog on Queenslands most commonly diagnosed STIs.
If youve got odd lumps in intimate places, theres a chance its either genital herpes or genital warts. Both are caused by viruses and can be transmitted through unprotected vaginal, oral and anal sex or intimate skin-on-skin contact.
Genital herpes is a very common STI. In fact, its estimated that 1 in 10 sexually active adults in Australia have genital herpes. The virus that causes genital herpes can lay dormant in the body for many years. This means you might have symptoms straight away, or not for many years after contracting it.
For men, the typical symptoms of genital herpes include:
- outbreaks of small, painful blisters
- outbreaks of a rash that looks like cracked skin
- stinging or tingling in the infected area
- difficulty urinating.
After first contracting the virus, you may also experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, headaches and swollen glands.
Symptoms typically occur in episodes, with each lasting around 7 to 10 days. Currently there is no cure for genital herpes, but treatments are available that can reduce the length and severity of each episode. The virus that causes genital herpes stays in the body for the rest of your life, and the symptoms can recur over time. For more information, watch our animation about herpes.
For men, the symptoms of chlamydia can include:
Possible Treatments For Chlamydia
It is good to stay aware about how to treat Chlamydia. In case of your test is found positive then you have to undergo Chlamydia treatment. Most of the doctors prescribe just a single dose of some antibiotics like azithromycin. But in case if you are allergic to its content then you may have to take other standard antibiotic.Note that if you are infected then let your previous sex partners know about the infection so that they can also undergo tests and treatments at right time. It is also possible to start Chlamydia treatment online because most of the experts are delivering fast and reliable services over internet for complete treatment of this Silent Infection.
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You Can Get Chlamydia More Than Once
With some diseases, having one infection makes you immune to future infections. That’s not the case with chlamydia. If you engage in sexual activity with a person who has a chlamydia infection, you can get it again, even if you’ve just completed treatment for it.
“Both partners should be treated before reinitiating sexual intercourse to prevent relapse,” Schaffir says.
What Should I Do If Symptoms Of Chlamydia Appear
If you experience symptoms of Chlamydia after sexual activity, you should see your doctor or visit a sexual health clinic as soon as you can to get tested. For guys who have sex guys, you should get tested for HIV and STIs once every three months.
Not sure where to get tested? There are sexual health clinics across Sydney and regional NSW that all offer confidential STI testing and treatment. HIV and STI tests at clinics across the state are free, though if you get tested with a general practitioner this may vary depending on your access to Medicare, and whether or not your doctor offers a bulk billing service. You can find your closest sexual health testing site using our where to get tested tool.
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Can You Die From An Std
When untreated, some treatable STDs can spread throughout the body, causing serious consequences.
- Gonorrhea and syphilis are examples of treatable conditions that can cause serious consequences if not treated.
- HIV infection causes immune suppression that can lead to death from cancers or rare infections, although treatments are available to postpone or delay the immunosuppressive actions of the virus.
- Both hepatitis B and C can cause liver damage however, it may cause liver damage that sometimes progresses to liver failure.
- Herpes infection persists throughout life, with the possibility of future outbreaks of the illness however, there is no cure.
- Herpes infection persists throughout life. There is no cure.
How Long Can Chlamydia Stay In Your System
Chlamydia typically goes away within 1 to 2 weeks. You should avoid sex during this time to prevent transmitting the disease. Your doctor may prescribe a one-dose medication or a medication youll take daily for about a week. If they prescribe a one-dose pill, you should wait 7 days before having sex again.
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How Soon Do Symptoms Appear
In males, symptoms usually appear two to seven days after infection but it can take as long as 30 days for symptoms to begin. Often, there are no symptoms for people infected with gonorrhea 10 to 15 percent of men and about 80 percent of women may have no symptoms. People with no symptoms are at risk for developing complications to gonorrhea. These people also spread this infection unknowingly.
How Do You Prevent Chlamydia
Using a new male or female condom or dental dam every time you have sex is the best way to protect against chlamydia.
Chlamydia can be passed on by sharing sex toys. Always cover sex toys with a new condom and wash them after use to reduce your risk of getting chlamydia and other STIs.
Its important to regularly test for chlamydia, even if you dont have any symptoms, especially if youve had multiple sexual partners.
The contraceptive pill and other types of contraception wont prevent you getting chlamydia, and neither will PrEP.
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What Causes Chlamydia
Chlamydia infections spread through sexual contact, when vaginal fluid or semen containing the bacteria that causes chlamydia travels from one person to another. Sexual contact includes all kinds of sex, including sex that doesnt involve penetration or ejaculation. There are lots of ways that the fluids from one persons genitals can transmit the bacteria that causes chlamydia.
- Intercourse. Bacteria pass from one persons penis to their partners vagina or vice versa.
- Anal sex. Bacteria passes from one persons penis to their partners anus or vice versa.
- Oral sex. Bacteria passes from one persons mouth to their partners penis, vagina, or anus, or vice versa.
- Sex involving toys. Bacteria pass from a toy with the bacteria to a persons mouth, penis, vagina or anus.
- Manual stimulation of the genitals or anus. Less commonly, infected vaginal fluid or semen can come in contact with a persons eye, causing an infection called conjunctivitis. For example, this can happen if you touch the genitals of an infected person and then rub your eyes without washing your hands first.
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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What Can Be Done To Prevent The Spread Of Gonorrhea
Sexual relations should be approached responsibly.
- Limit the number of your sex partners.
- Use a male or female condom.
- If you think you are infected, avoid any sexual contact and visit a local sexually transmitted disease clinic, hospital or your doctor.
- Notify all sexual contacts immediately so that they can be examined and treated by a health care provider.
Syphilis Testing In Men
Unlike gonorrhea and chlamydia, syphilis is not treated with a urine test. If a male does experience symptoms in the early stage of syphilis, then a doctor will collect a body fluid sample such as discharge from the penis or open sore. This sample will then be sent to a lab to be tested for the syphilis bacteria.
If a male does not experience symptoms in the early stage of syphilis, this does not mean he is not infected. Like many other STDs, syphilis can fly under the radar in its early stage and sneak up in later stages when the infection is more advanced and harmful. In the later stages of syphilis a doctor will collect a blood sample to check if the infection is present. If the test comes back positive, the doctor will prescribe an antibiotic to clear the infection.
If syphilis remains untreated, it is possible that it will advance into the tertiary stage, where the infection can spread through the bloodstream and infect other parts of the body. This phase can lead to heart problems, neurological issues, blindness, paralysis and even death.
If you have or think you may have syphilis, refrain from any sexual activity until you have a clean bill of health. Learn more about syphilis testing
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What Are The Prominent Chlamydia Symptoms In Men
Actually, no one can easily ensure that his body has some trouble due to the silent infection because its symptoms are rarely reflected. But once if they start occurring then they can be easily noticed even within few weeks. Medical doctors say that symptoms of Chlamydia in men can be random and infrequent so most of the time patients are not able to know if they are in contact with the infection.
Some of the most common signs of Chlamydia in men include:
- Very small cloudy or clear Chlamydia discharge in men from penis tip.
- It can cause painful urination.
- Leads to itching and burning sensation around penis openings.
- Swelling and pain in the area surrounding testicles.
Major symptoms of Chlamydia are observed for genitals but in few cases it can affect rectum, eyes and throat. Note that, the actual effect varies with type of transmission. Few uncommon symptoms of chlamydia in men can include:
- Throat infections.
- Rectal bleeding, discharge or pain.