How Does Chlamydia Affect A Pregnant Person And Their Baby
In newborns, untreated chlamydia can cause:
- ophthalmia neonatorum ,
Prospective studies show that chlamydial conjunctivitis and pneumonia occur in 18-44% and 3-16%, respectively, of infants born to those with chlamydia. 9-12 Neonatal prophylaxis against gonococcal conjunctivitis routinely performed at birth does not effectively prevent chlamydial conjunctivitis.37-39
Screening for and treating chlamydia in pregnant people is the best way to prevent disease in infants. At the first prenatal visit and during the third trimester, screen:
- All pregnant people under age 25 and
- All pregnant people 25 years and older at increased risk for chlamydia .
Retest those with infection four weeks and three months after they complete treatment.40
When Will The Signs And Symptoms Go Away
You should notice an improvement quite quickly after having treatment.
- Discharge or pain when you urinate should improve within a week.
- Bleeding between periods or heavier periods should improve by your next period.
- Pelvic pain and pain in the testicles should start to improve quickly but may take up to two weeks to go away.
If you have pelvic pain or painful sex that doesnt improve, see your doctor or nurse as it may be necessary to have some further treatment or investigate other possible causes of the pain.
When To See A Doctor
If left untreated, throat chlamydia can result in significant health complications.
If you have strep throat-like symptoms after giving oral sex, seek medical care right away, epsecially if youre pregnant.
A healthcare provider can test you for chlamydia and other STIs and also rule out other infections.
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How Do You Get Oral Chlamydia
You increase your risk of getting oral pharyngeal chlamydial infections by not using protection or having multiple sexual partners. One study looked into the rates of oral chlamydia infection in heterosexuals who had known or suspected genital infection and reported recent unprotected oral sex. It found that 7% of women and almost 3% of men had positive throat swabs .
Not only can you get an oral chlamydia infection from oral sex, but if you have pharyngeal chlamydia, you may infect the genitals of a partner. One study found that 3.5% of MSW whose only exposure in the past three months was receiving fellatio from a woman were positive for urethral chlamydia .
Another study found that close to 5% of MSM whose only exposure in the past three months was receiving fellatio from a man were positive for urethral chlamydia .
Can Chlamydia Ever Go Away Completely
Does chlamydia ever go away completely? Chlamydia is the most common STD and a person can be easily re-infected. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention , 26% of infected people end up getting re-infected. There have been cases where Chlamydia has infected a person even if one has taken all the required precautions and after resolution of previous infection. This could be attributed to re-infection or treatment failure. There have been arguments whether Chlamydia stays in the body and also studies have been carried out that have revealed that Chlamydia can stay dormant in a persons body for years without showing any symptoms and infected people can easily transmit the disease to their sexual partners or get re-infected. The bacterium is also good at hiding in the digestive tract despite its annihilation from other common sites such as vagina/penis/rectum/throat. This has been attributed to the ability of Chlamydia bacterium to remain associated with the host for prolonged periods of time even in a dormant state.
These studies have been done only in mice and this has not been tested in humans so far, but the scientists believe that it is a possibility in humans too. This theory is being researched, but in the meantime, an individual can prevent Chlamydia by having safe sexual practice and using protection to prevent infection or re-infection.
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How Do You Get Chlamydia In The Mouth And Throat
There are some myths out there about how you can contract sexually transmitted diseases, so to put your mind at ease we have detailed some instances in which you will not contract chlamydia.
It is not possible to contact chlamydia through:
- Sharing toiletries
Chlamydia may be passed on by:
- Receiving oral sex from someone who has an infection in their mouth or throat.
- Giving oral sex to someone who has an infection of the genitals
- Sharing sex toys with an infected partner
The most common way to get chlamydia in the mouth or throat is through giving someone oral sex who has genital chlamydia. These instances include:
Taking a test is a sure way of identifying whether a person has contracted a sexually transmitted disease. We have a selection of tests that will help identify potential infections, you can buy each one online and take our test in the convenience and privacy of your own home.
Chlamydia Is A Serious Infection
Chlamydia is Americas most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection. Every year, an estimated 2.86 million infections occur. Since its so common, you may assume that its no big deal. However, chlamydia can be a very serious infection.
Chlamydia is very common, but that doesnt mean it cant have a serious impact on your health. The infection can cause a number of long-term complications. In up to 15 percent of women with untreated chlamydia, the infection spreads to the uterus and uterine tubes, leading to symptomatic pelvic inflammatory disease. In addition, some women experience subclinical inflammation of the upper genital tract. This can cause permanent damage to the affected tissues.
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Can Pharyngeal Chlamydia Be Prevented
The best protection against oral chlamydia is by avoiding unprotected sex. Using a complete barrier method reduces your risk of acquiring pharyngeal chlamydia during oral sexthis includes using a polyurethane or latex condom or a dental dam. Partial barriers or contraceptive methods such as birth control pills and spermicidal lube do not decrease your risk of getting pharyngeal chlamydia, or other STIs, from your sex partner.
You are not likely to get oral chlamydia from mouth-to-mouth contact, including kissing or sharing a cup. However, a recent study suggested that gonorrhea, another STI, may potentially be transmitted by kissing. While the study did not find this to be the case with chlamydia, more research will help scientists learn more about the role of saliva in the transmission of STIs .
How Can I Prevent Chlamydia
Its easier to prevent an STI like chlamydia than it is to treat it:
- Dont have more than one sex partner at a time. The safest sex is with one partner who has sex only with you. Every time you add a new sex partner, you are being exposed to all of the infections that all of their partners may have.
- Use a condom every time you have sex. Latex and polyurethane condoms keep out the viruses and bacteria that cause STIs.
- Be responsible. Dont have sex if you have symptoms of an infection or if you are being treated for an STI.
- Wait to have sex with a new partner until both of you have been tested for STIs.
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Symptoms Of Genital Chlamydia
Some of the common symptoms of genital chlamydia include:
- A burning sensation during urination
- Pain or swelling in the testicles
- Pain during sex
Often people who have chlamydia in the mouth will not be aware of their condition due to the fact that they are not experiencing significant symptoms.
This is why it is so important to get tested as soon as you think you may have been exposed to the chlamydia. You could have no symptoms but continue to spread chlamydia onto other people.
In this case it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Signs And Symptoms Of Oral And Nose Chlamydia
Most medical health reports reveal that Chlamydia lives like a silent infection in most people. In fact, around 50% of men and 75% of women do not show any specific symptom of this disease. However, in other cases, the person may show signs even within one to three weeks after getting infected. Males and females generally have similar kind of symptoms for oral and nose chlamydia, but few gender-specific symptoms can be observed as well.
The major impact of oral chlamydia is seen on cell lining and throat area. Most patients report a sore throat or pharyngitis, and it may last for several days. The level of discomfort may vary person to person when it has a major impact on the throat, a person usually face difficulty in swallowing. A sore throat is generally accompanied by low-grade fever, and people may also have swollen lymph nodes on the neck area. But in general, most people infected with oral chlamydia do not show any recognizable symptom however, nose chlamydia may have few.
Some of the most common symptoms associated with oral and nose chlamydia are listed below:
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When To See A Healthcare Professional
If you suspect you have chlamydia, see a healthcare professional as soon as possible. Abstain from allsexual activity until your appointment.
If you arent comfortable getting tested for STIs with your usual provider, you can find a clinic in your area.
There are many free or low-cost clinics. Heres how to find one near you.
You can also visit GetTested or call CDC Info at 800-232-4636 to find local clinics.
What Health Problems Can Result From Chlamydia
The initial damage that chlamydia causes is often unnoticed. However, infections can lead to serious health problems with both short- and long-term effects.
If a woman does not receive treatment, chlamydia can spread into the uterus or fallopian tubes, causing PID. Symptomatic PID occurs in about 10-15% of women who do not receive treatment.30,31 However, chlamydia can also cause subclinical inflammation of the upper genital tract . Both acute and subclinical PID can cause long-term damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus, and surrounding tissues. The damage can lead to chronic pelvic pain, tubal factor infertility, and potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy.32,33
Some patients with PID develop perihepatitis, or Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome. This syndrome includes inflammation of the liver capsule and surrounding peritoneum, which can cause right upper quadrant pain.
In pregnant people, untreated chlamydia can lead to pre-term delivery,34 ophthalmia neonatorum , and pneumonia in the newborn.
Reactive arthritis can occur in men and women, following infection with or without symptoms. This is sometimes part of a triad of symptoms formerly referred to as Reiters Syndrome.35
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Other Causes Of Genital Itching
Itching is a broad symptom that applies to a host of medical issues including, but not limited to STDs. Again, its often important to distinguish the type of itch you feel. Itching in response to bumps or rashes on or around the genitals may stem from conditions like jock itch, genital warts, pubic lice, or scabies. Similarly, vaginal itching could indicate a number of issues like a yeast infection, a urinary tract infection , or even menopause. Dysuria also applies to a myriad of potential maladies.
Youre Not Immune To Chlamydia Once Youve Had It
Once youve had some diseases, you cant catch them again. Unfortunately, this isnt true for chlamydia. Repeat chlamydia infections are common.
If youve had chlamydia in the past, you have no immunity against the infection. If youre sexually active with somebody who has the infection, you could catch it again. Since reinfection is common, you should get tested for chlamydia about three months after being treated for the infection.
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How Common Is Pharyngeal Chlamydia
You may think about cold sores on the mouth caused by the herpes simplex virus , but for the most part, you probably associate other STIs with genital infections. Chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause burning while urinating and discharge syphilis can cause ulcers HSV can cause blisters human papillomavirus can cause warts, and so on. However, many of these STIs can also cause symptoms in other parts of the body, called extragenital infections.
Common parts of the body that are susceptible to extragenital infections are the rectum and mouth or throat since these parts of the body may also be involved in sexual contact. Being aware of infections outside the genital area is important for your sexual health, especially if you want to be screened for STIs. To truly make sure you dont have certain STIs, you cant just rely on a urine sample or vaginal swab. Instead, you need to check everywhere that may be at risk for infection.
Chlamydia is one of the STIs that can cause an extragenital infection and is sometimes found in the throat. This is sometimes called oral chlamydia or pharyngeal chlamydia. Chlamydia is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, so when you say you have pharyngeal chlamydia, it means you have an infection with the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis in the throat.
A review of the medical literature shows the rates of oral chlamydia in women, men who have sex with women , and men who have sex with men are as follows :
How Is Chlamydia Infection Diagnosed
Doctors have several tests they can use to screen for chlamydia. Note that screening for chlamydia in the throat isnt a part of usual STI testing.
If youve had a sore throat that doesnt seem to go away or have a partner that youve had oral sex with who tested positive for chlamydia, you might want to ask your doctor about pharyngeal chlamydia screening.
Doctors can use urine samples to diagnose chlamydia, but that doesnt help them diagnose chlamydia in the throat.
As a result, a doctor may swab your throat to test for chlamydia there. They send this swab to a laboratory, which tests the specimen for the presence of DNA from the bacteria that cause chlamydia.
This test is a little tricky because the Food and Drug Administration hasnt approved a swab test for pharyngeal chlamydia. Your throat contains a lot of bacteria, and this can make it hard to pinpoint chlamydia bacteria.
When a doctor uses a swab to test for chlamydia in the throat, its possible theyre doing so in an off-label fashion. This means the FDA hasnt specifically given the OK to use the test for pharyngeal chlamydia, but some doctors think swabs can help in detection.
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What Causes Chlamydia
Its caused by bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis.
In people with chlamydia, the bacteria are most commonly found in the cervix and urethra . The bacteria can also infect the throat and rectum .
Anyone whos sexually active can get chlamydia and pass it on. You dont need to have lots of sexual partners.
What If I’m Pregnant
During delivery, the infection can spread to the newborn from the birth canal. It can cause eye infection or pneumonia. There may also be an association with preterm labour and low birth weight. Screening and treatment of chlamydia during pregnancy can prevent these complications. This is not part of the routine NHS antenatal screening. Doxycycline cannot be taken during pregnancy, but azithromycin is safe and effective.
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How Common Is Mouth Chlamydia
It is difficult to be sure how commonly chlamydia is found in the throat, as study results are varied. In fact, most people with oral chlamydia do not have a sore throat and are unaware of the infection unless they test positive.
Its not always tested for the throat is not routinely sampled for chlamydia when you go for an STI screen. This is because current chlamydia tests may produce false positive results and cause anxiety. In addition, the chance of having oral chlamydia is extremely low .
When are people at risk? in a clinic, you may be offered a throat swab for chlamydia if there are other risk factors such as:
Can Chlamydia Come Back By Itself
There are certain situations in which reinfection with chlamydia may occur:
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What Are The Symptoms Of Chlamydia In The Throat
Often, chlamydia is an asymptomatic infection. This means it shows no symptoms so you could have chlamydia and not know.
Early chlamydia in the throat will often present as a sore throat. However, this is often dismissed as a common cold or viral. A sore throat is often accompanied by other symptoms of chlamydia.
Other symptoms of chlamydia in the throat can include:
- Redness, pain or inflammation around the mouth and throat
- Sores around the mouth and lips
How Is Oral Chlamydia Related To Other Chlamydias
Chlamydia is the name of a group of bacteria the type of chlamydia that affects genitals and the throat is called chlamydia trachomatis. This is only a subset of chlamydia bacteria and there other types.
Other types of chlamydias there are some alternative forms of chlamydia to the strain responsible for oral infections, including:
- Lymphogranuloma venereum this can also cause genital infections but is very rare in the UK
- Chlamydia psittaci which cause a flu-like illness
- Chlamydia pneumoniae which causes pneumonia in adults
Do tests vary between different types of chlamydia? yes. The tests for chlamydia will be different even for the same strain of chlamydia depending on where the infection is:
- Throat swab for mouth chlamydia
- Vulvovaginal swab for genital chlamydia in women
- A urine test for genital chlamydia in men
Other different strains or types of chlamydia also require different tests as they affect other parts of the body such as the lungs or eyes.
Does treatment vary between types of chlamydia? generally not very much. Because different types of chlamydia are still all bacterial infections, they are usually treated with broad spectrum antibiotics like doxycycline.
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