First Symptoms Of Chlamydia In Females

General Treatment For Stds

Sexually transmitted diseases caused by parasites and bacteria are treatable, but viral infections are incurable. However, viral infections can be managed by medications. It is important for a pregnant lady who has been infected to start mediation immediately to avoid infecting the baby. Below are some treatment solutions for STDs:

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How Do I Know If I Have Gonorrhea

Some men with gonorrhea may have no symptoms at all. However, men who do have symptoms, may have:

• A burning sensation when urinating
• Painful or swollen testicles .

Most women with gonorrhea do not have any symptoms. Even when a woman has symptoms, they are often mild and can be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. Women with gonorrhea are at risk of developing serious complications from the infection, even if they dont have any symptoms.Symptoms in women can include:

• Painful or burning sensation when urinating
• Increased vaginal discharge
• Vaginal bleeding between periods.

Rectal infections may either cause no symptoms or cause symptoms in both men and women that may include:

• Painful bowel movements.

You should be examined by your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms or if your partner has an STD or symptoms of an STD, such as an unusual sore, a smelly discharge, burning when urinating, or bleeding between periods.

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What Are The Signs Of Chlamydia

According to Hilary Reno, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor of medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, chlamydia symptoms usually start a week after you contract the infection, but really there is no set timeline. Adding to the confusion, when you do get chlamydia symptoms, they can often be mild or reminiscent of other common ailments like a urinary tract infection or a yeast infection, or even another sneaky STI, gonorrhea.

You know your body best, so if you feel like something isnt quite right, its best to see a doctor. If something has changed, and you know what your sexual activity has been, and you are having symptoms, that is an alert that you better get checked, James Grifo, M.D, Ph.D., program director at NYU Langone Fertility Center and chief executive physician at Inception Fertility, tells SELF. In the meantime, here are some prominent chlamydia symptoms to be on the lookout for:

Now, changes outside of what is normal for your bodyvaginal discharge color, smell, and feelcould signal a larger issue. And there are a lot of things that can account for this outside of chlamydia, according to the Cleveland Clinic, including a yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. If your discharge is smelly or white, yellow, or gray in color, though, that may be chlamydia.

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Male Complications Of Untreated Chlamydia

Men can also experience complications when chlamydia is left untreated. The epididymis the tube that holds the testicles in place may become inflamed, causing pain. This is known as epididymitis.

The infection can also spread to the prostate gland, causing a fever, painful intercourse, and discomfort in the lower back. Another possible complication is male chlamydial urethritis.

These are just some of the most common complications of untreated chlamydia, which is why its important to get medical attention right away. Most people who get treatment quickly have no long-term medical problems.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Chlamydia

Yes! It is curable for both men and women and it is one of the common diseases to be passed on sexually. The hardest thing is noticing the infection itself as it remains symptomless so it can be difficult to realise you have it in the first place.

Most people dont show signs of the infection and it rare for people to recognise symptoms as the infection. If you do get symptoms of the sexually transmitted disease then they usually appear one to three weeks after having unprotected sex with an infected person. It is possible for symptoms to develop months after the initial infection and symptoms can come and go.

Yes! Chlamydial conjunctivitis is redness and swelling of the clear membrane that lines the inside of your eyelids and covers the white of your eyes. In some cases the infection when in the eye is known as pink eye. Although relatively harmless in adults, eye infection in newborn babies can lead to blindness.

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How Is Chlamydia Screening Done

A person can test for chlamydia at home or in the lab. They can take either a urine sample or a swab.

• Females can take a swab, place it in a container, and send it to a laboratory.
• Males will usually use a urine test.

A doctor can advise individuals on the best option. They may also recommend rectal or throat testing, especially for people who are living with HIV.

Home screening tests are available, but it is not always easy to do them correctly at home. A healthcare provider will usually recommend following up on any home tests by visiting a doctors office.

The person will likely need to provide a urine sample for a test to confirm a diagnosis. After treatment, they will need to retake the test to ensure that the treatment has worked.

If anyone wishes to try home testing, chlamydia screening test kits are available for purchase online.

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Female Complications Of Untreated Chlamydia

Some women develop PID, an infection that can damage the uterus, cervix, and ovaries. PID is a painful disease that often requires hospital treatment.

Women can also become infertile if chlamydia is left untreated because the fallopian tubes may become scarred.

Pregnant women with the infection can pass the bacteria to their babies during birth, which can cause eye infections and pneumonia in newborns.

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Do I Need To Have A Test To Check That The Chlamydia Has Gone

If you take the treatment according to the instructions, you wont usually need a test to check the chlamydia has gone.

If youre aged under 25, you should be offered a repeat test 3 months after finishing the treatment. This is because youre at a higher risk of getting chlamydia again.

Whatever your age, you may need a repeat test or more treatment if:

• you think youve come into contact with chlamydia again
• you had sex without a condom with a partner before the treatment for both of you was finished
• you didnt complete the treatment or didnt take it according to the instructions
• the signs and symptoms dont go away
• your test was negative but you develop signs or symptoms of chlamydia
• youre pregnant.

A repeat test can be done 56 weeks after the first test.

If the chlamydia was in your rectum , you may need another test around 3 weeks after finishing the treatment. Your doctor, nurse or clinic will let you know if you need another test.

You can go back to the doctor, nurse or clinic if you have any questions or need advice on how to protect yourself from infection in the future.

Changes In The Vaginal Discharge

Women may face discharge when affected with Chlamydia and it happens due to the presence of infection at the uterine cervix. You will find this discharge either yellow or milky white in color. It also leads to burning sensation at the time of urination.

Some studies show that Chlamydia infection can also cause troubles to urethra while leading to urinary tract infection that causes pain at the time of urination. A person may also feel frequent urges for urination. When this chlamydia in women symptoms are ignored too long then the infection may get spread towards fallopian tubes via the cervix.

In this case, following additional symptoms are observed:

• Bleeding or pain while having sex.
• Spotting in between periods.
• Some kind of heaviness can be felt by the person around hips.
• It may also lead to lower back pain or abdominal pain.

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How Can I Prevent Chlamydia Infections

Although the symptoms and complications may sound daunting, in reality, preventing chlamydia infection is very simple. You can avoid chlamydia infections by:

1. Avoiding multiple sex partners. Avoid sexual contact with unknown individuals and maintain your sexual health.

2. Avoiding unprotected intercourse preferably use latex condoms.

If you or your partner are allergic to latex, polyurethane condoms can be used. Even for oral sex, a latex/polyurethane condom can be cut up and used to avoid contact with the genitals.

3. Once chlamydia diagnosed, the patient must ensure treatment of sex partner as well. This is essential to limit the chances of relapse of the disease via infection.

4. Medical education for all sexually active adults regarding safe sex practices and identification of early symptoms of chlamydia infection

5. Ensure that once you identify symptoms of chlamydia or youâre diagnosed with it, you do not pass chlamydia infection to others.

These were the most common symptoms that one may be present with.

Symptoms of chlamydia may be late in onset and sometimes may not present as easily, but always keep an eye out for any discomfort or abnormality you may observe. It ensures early detection and treatment without complications.

Please get in touch with your health care advisor or doctor immediately if you present with any of these symptoms.

Possible Treatment For Chlamydia

As per medical professionals, Chlamydia can be easily treated with the help of antibiotic therapy. These antibiotics can be assigned for the 7-day course with a single dose per day. It is essential to stay away from sexual activity for these 7 days so that infection can be controlled with ease and your partner does not get infected with it.

The commonly known antibiotics for this chlamydia in women treatment are Doxycycline and Azithromycin but professionals may also recommend few other antibiotics for this treatment. In case if the lady affected with Chlamydia is pregnant that few other antibiotics can also be used as like ethyl succinate, erythromycin, and amoxicillin but pregnant ladies should not consume doxycycline. It is also essential to make your partner aware about the disease and bring him to the medical professional to undergo important tests.

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What Are The Symptoms

Chlamydia is known as a silent infection because most infected people have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they may not appear until several weeks after exposure. Even when it causes no symptoms, chlamydia can damage a womans reproductive organs.

In women, the bacteria first infect the cervix and/or the urethra . Some infected women have an abnormal vaginal discharge or a burning sensation when urinating. Untreated infections can spread upward to the uterus and fallopian tubes , causing pelvic inflammatory disease . PID can be silent, or can cause symptoms such as abdominal and pelvic pain. Even if PID causes no symptoms initially, it can lead to infertility and other complications later on.

What Causes Chlamydia In Women

Chlamydia trachomatis is the bacteria that causes chlamydia infection in women. Most women do not know they have contracted chlamydia in the early stages. It is because C. trachomatis is a silent infection as symptoms are mild or absent most times. Complications can arise if you do not treat c. trachomatis early. These complications can damage a womans reproductive organs.

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How Is It Treated

Antibiotics are used to treat chlamydia. Its important to take all of the medicine as directed. Otherwise the medicine may not work. Both sex partners need treatment to keep from passing the infection back and forth.

As soon as you find out you have chlamydia, be sure to let your sex partners know. Experts recommend that you notify everyone youve had sex with in the past 2 months. If you have not had sex in the past 2 months, contact the last person you had sex with.

Having a chlamydia infection that was cured does not protect you from getting it again. If you are treated and your sex partner is not, you probably will get it again.

Some people who have chlamydia also have other STIs, such as gonorrhea.

Finding out that you have an STI may make you feel bad about yourself or about sex. Counseling or a support group may help you feel better.

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About Chlamydia And Gonorrhea

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are 2.86 million cases of chlamydia in the US each year, and over half a million cases of gonorrhea. Both of these STIs are most common in women between the ages of 15 and 25. You are more at risk for these STIs if:

• You are under the age of 25 and sexually active
• You have a new sex partner
• You have multiple sex partners
• You dont use a male condom correctly when having sex

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How Can Doctors Tell If I Have Chlamydia

• Doctors suspect chlamydia based on your symptoms

If youre pregnant or are at higher risk of having chlamydia, your doctor may do a urine test for chlamydia when you dont have any symptoms. Women are at higher risk if they:

• Are having sex and are under age 25

• Have ever had an STI

• Do risky sexual activities

• Have a partner who does risky sexual activities

Men are at higher risk if they:

• Have had sex with a man in the past year

Doctors may also test your blood or urine for other STIs because many people have more than one STI.

Testing And Treating Sexual Partners

If you test positive for chlamydia, itâs important that your current sexual partner and any other recent sexual partners youâve had are also tested and treated.

A specialist sexual health adviser can help you contact your recent sexual partners, or the clinic can contact them for you if you prefer.

Either you or someone from the clinic can speak to them, or the clinic can send them a note to let them know they may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection .

The note will suggest that they go for a check-up. It will not have your name on it, so your confidentiality will be protected.

Page last reviewed: 01 September 2021 Next review due: 01 September 2024

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Im Pregnant How Does Chlamydia Affect My Baby

If you are pregnant and have chlamydia, you can give the infection to your baby during delivery. This can cause an eye infection or pneumonia in your baby. Having chlamydia may also make it more likely to deliver your baby early.

If you are pregnant, you should receive testing for chlamydia at your first prenatal visit. Talk to your healthcare provider about getting the correct examination, testing, and treatment. Testing and treatment are the best ways to prevent health problems.

Do I Need To Get Tested For Chlamydia

• If you are 24 or younger and have sex, you need to get tested for chlamydia. Chlamydia is most common in women between 15 and 24 years old. You need to get tested if you have had any symptoms of chlamydia since your last negative test result or if your sex partner has chlamydia.
• If you are older than 24, you need to get tested if, in the past year or since your last test, you:
• Had a new sex partner
• Had your sex partner tell you they have chlamydia
• Traded sex for money or drugs
• Have had chlamydia or another STI in the past
• Did not use condoms during sex and are in a relationship that is not monogamous, meaning you or your partner has sex with other people

You also need to be tested if you are pregnant or if you have any symptoms of chlamydia.

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Std Treatments For Women

STD treatments for women depend on the type of STD you have, including the intensity of said STD.

In most cases, if you do receive an STD diagnosis, treatment will involve a round of antibiotics, antivirals and/or a topical cream, though the type of medication you receive may differ depending on where you live.

How Do People Get Chlamydia

Pregnant people can give chlamydia to their baby during childbirth. This can cause ophthalmia neonatorum or pneumonia in some infants.9-12 Rectal or genital infection can persist one year or longer in infants infected at birth.13 However, sexual abuse should be a consideration among young children with vaginal, urethral, or rectal infection beyond the neonatal period.

People treated for chlamydia can get the infection again if they have sex with a person with chlamydia.14

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What Are The Goals Of Treatment For Chlamydia

Treatment of Chlamydia infections with an antibiotic is recommended to:

• Resolve symptoms if you have them. About 85% of patients with symptomatic infections of the urethra or cervix will improve within 2 weeks of starting an antibiotic.
• Prevent complications including infertility, chronic pain, and more severe infections.