How Do You Spread Chlamydia

How Do I Know If I Have Chlamydia

Chlamydia often has no symptoms, but it can cause serious health problems, even without symptoms. If symptoms occur, they may not appear until several weeks after having sex with a partner who has chlamydia.

Even when chlamydia has no symptoms, it can damage a womans reproductive system. Women with symptoms may notice

• An abnormal vaginal discharge and
• A burning sensation when peeing.

Symptoms in men can include

• A burning sensation when peeing and
• Pain and swelling in one or both testicles .

See a healthcare provider if you notice any of these symptoms. You should also see a provider if your partner has an STD or symptoms of one. Symptoms can include

• An unusual sore

Is Chlamydia For Life

Chlamydia is a common STD that can contaminate both men and women. It can trigger major, long-term damages to a ladys reproductive system. Is Chlamydia For Life

This can make it tough or impossible for her to obtain expecting later on. Chlamydia can likewise cause a possibly deadly ectopic pregnancy a maternity that happens outside the womb.

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What Can You Do To Relieve Your Symptoms

No home remedy for chlamydia can replace antibiotics. Chlamydia is a bacterial infection, so you need to take antibiotics to cure it.

However, there are a few ways you can soothe symptoms while you wait for the antibiotics to get to work. For example:

• Use pain medications, such as ibuprofen to reduce pain
• Use a cold pack to soothe inflammation.
• A herb called goldenseal might reduce inflammation and other symptoms.
• Use an echinacea supplement aid your immune system.

Remember that these home remedies might soothe the symptoms of chlamydia, but they dont actually cure chlamydia in itself. The best way to soothe the symptoms is to use antibiotics.

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Can You Get Chlamydia From A Towel

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease that is caused by bacteria in your system. Usually, contracting Chlamydia does not cause one to show any early signs or symptoms. So, getting yourself tested for an STD is extremely vital if you care about your personal health.

To answer the primary question of whether one can get Chlamydia from a towel, the answer is no. Chlamydia cannot get transferred or spread through normal non-sexual contact. This statement means that sharing or using towels cannot put you at risk of getting Chlamydia.

However, you should never be at ease or relieved knowing that you cannot get Chlamydia from a towel. Anybody who is sexually active can get Chlamydia. Plus, if you have a new sexual partner where you use no protection, youre putting yourself at risk of catching Chlamydia. If STDs such as Chlamydia is left unattended, it can spread to many parts of your body, resulting in longstanding physical problems. These reasons make it very important to get yourself tested for any type of STDs. Getting yourself an STD test invoices a urine or swab test.

Since Chlamydia shows very few symptoms, it is even riskier not to know if you have it. Some rare symptoms may include:

• Discomfort while peeing
• Enlarged testicles in males
• Bloody discharge from genitals after sex in females even if the subject doesnt have a period

Top three reasons to consider testing yourself for an STI

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What Are The Potential Causes Of Chlamydia

Chlamydia gets spread due to sexual contact and it is overly infectious. The name of the infection is suggested after the bacterium that acts like major cause for its production, it is Chlamydia trachomatis.

It is also possible to find Chlamydia symptoms in newborn child as they get transmitted from a Chlamydia positive mother. Reports say that almost 2/3rd newborn babies get infected with Chlamydia from infected mothers.

The most common problems faced by newborns due to Chlamydia infection appears in form of eye issues, respiratory troubles etc. whereas in adults, this diseases causes problems like genital infections.

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How Does Chlamydia Affect Pregnancy

For pregnant women, chlamydia may lead to premature birth, or babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Premature birth is the most common cause of infant death and can lead to long-term health and development problems in children.5

Babies born to mothers who have chlamydia can get:

• Infections in their eyes, called conjunctivitis or pinkeye. Signs include discharge from the eyes and swollen eyelids. The signs most often show up within two weeks after birth.
• Pneumonia. Signs include congestion, cough, and rapid or labored breathing, although these are not always present. Signs most often show up one to three months after birth.

What Can Happen If Chlamydia Isnt Treated

Untreated chlamydia can put your health at risk. Make an appointment with your provider immediately if you notice any symptoms of chlamydia, and get regular STI screenings to avoid complications later.

Complications of chlamydia for people with vaginas

Untreated chlamydia can cause:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease . PID is a serious condition that requires hospitalization. It can occur when an untreated STI, like chlamydia, damages your reproductive organs. PID can lead to infertility and chronic pelvic pain. It can also cause an ectopic pregnancy, which is life-threatening for the fetus and potentially deadly for the mother or gestational parent, too.
• Pregnancy complications. An untreated infection can lead to pre-term delivery. Also, if youre pregnant and have chlamydia, you can pass the infection on to your newborn. Babies born with chlamydia may have pneumonia or conjunctivitis that could lead to blindness if not treated.

Complications of chlamydia for people with penises

Untreated chlamydia can cause:

• Epididymitis. Infection can spread to the testicles and the tube that carries sperm to your testicles , causing symptoms like pain, swelling and tenderness in your testicles.
• Reduced fertility. Chlamydia can harm your sperm, negatively impacting your ability to conceive.

Complications of chlamydia that can affect all genders

Untreated chlamydia can:

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How Many Pills Do You Take For Chlamydia

With antibiotics, usually doxycycline or azithromycin. It is important that you take the pills as directed. The disease may not be cured until all the pills are taken. Azithromycin treatment consists of 4 pills taken all at one time.

How do I know if chlamydia is gone? When will the signs and symptoms go away?

What happens if you have chlamydia for too long?

What happens if chlamydia goes untreated? If a person is not treated for chlamydia, complications may occur. Women frequently develop pelvic inflammatory disease . PID can cause infertility , chronic pelvic pain, tubal pregnancies, and the continued spread of the disease.

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How Do You Get Infected With Chlamydia

Chlamydia typically gets spread when a person has sexual contact with someone who already has the infection. Infection can happen even when none of the parties involved have climaxed.

It can also rarely happen that a person gets the infection by touching their eyes if their hand was exposed to infected fluids.

Babies can also pick up the infection during birth if the mother is infected.

However, chlamydia is not spread during normal, casual contact. That means sharing food, hugging, kissing, and sitting on a toilet will not expose you to the bacteria that causes chlamydia.

You also cannot get the infection from someone sneezing or coughing near you.

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Does Smoking Affect Chlamydia Treatment

You can cure chlamydia with antibiotic treatment. The NHS states that 95% of infected people can be cured using antibiotics correctly. The two most commonly recommended antibiotics for chlamydia treatment are doxycycline and azithromycin, and doctors may prescribe other antibiotics for patients with allergies. In addition, pregnant or breastfeeding women may receive either erythromycin or amoxicillin.

Patients prescribed doxycycline should take them every day for a week. Those on azithromycin should take one dose, followed by 500 mg once daily for two days. Taking antibiotics have side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some important points about chlamydia treatment include:

• Patients must take all medications as their doctor directs, even if the symptoms disappear.
• All partners should get tested and treated.
• Infected patients shouldnt have sex until treated and cured.
• An individual may catch chlamydia again after treatment, so retesting is recommended if symptoms show.
• Females have a high infection rate, so retesting is recommended three to four months after treatment.
• A sexually active person may be infected with both chlamydia and gonorrhea, so treatment for both is recommended.

Smoking cigarettes can also increase the risk of antibiotic side effects and worsen any existing health issues. If youre a smoker and have been diagnosed with chlamydia, its best to speak with your doctor about quitting smoking and how it may affect your treatment.

How Long Can I Go With Chlamydia Untreated

Being tested means that you can be treated, and the proper treatment will help clear up a chlamydial infection in a matter of weeks. On the other hand, if you donât get tested or donât see a healthcare provider for treatment, chlamydia can live in the body for weeks, months, or even years without being detected.

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Chlamydia Is Common But Many People Dont Realize They Have It

About 1.7 million chlamydia infections were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2017, but the real number is likely higher because chlamydia is considered an underreported infection.

“The number of reported cases is substantially lower than the true estimated incidence,” says Bradley Stoner, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and former president of the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association.

The National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System relies on state and local public health departments to collect and report data on chlamydia to the CDC. Those public health departments depend on individual physicians, hospitals, and laboratories to report cases of chlamydia to them. Accurate statistics require all parties to routinely comply with disease-reporting mandates.

Rules For Successful Treatment

The patient should make sure that the doctor is informed if the patient is pregnant or has any allergies. These conditions influence the choice of the medicine prescribed. No matter which antibiotic the patient takes treating chlamydia the following points should be remembered:

• The treatment of all partners on the infected person is obligatory
• Abstain from sex contacts during the treatment and until the negative result on chlamydia test is received
• It is unadvisable to interrupt the course of antibiotics treatment as it will result in the necessity to start again from the beginning. Although the symptoms may disappear, the infection may still remain in the body
• It is necessary to get tested after 34 months after the end of the treatment to make sure the infection is no longer in the body.

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Nucleic Acid Amplification Test

The most common test for chlamydia, this is a simple, non-invasive test during which you collect a swab or urine sample yourself . A doctor can assist in taking a swab if you prefer.

The sample is then sent to be tested to see if there is genetic material that indicates the presence of chlamydia bacteria. Results come back quicker than the traditional culture test.

Do I Need To Get Tested For Chlamydia

• If you are 24 or younger and have sex, you need to get tested for chlamydia.3 Chlamydia is most common in women between 15 and 24 years old.2 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:3
• 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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How Is Chlamydia Spread Is Chlamydia For Life

You can obtain chlamydia by having genital, rectal, or oral sex with somebody who has chlamydia.

If youve had chlamydia and also were treated in the past, you can still obtain contaminated once more. This can take place if you have unguarded sex with somebody that has chlamydia.

If you are pregnant, you can offer chlamydia to your baby during giving birth.

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Testing And Treating Sexual Partners

If you test positive for chlamydia, it’s important that your current sexual partner and any other recent sexual partners you’ve 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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What Can Be Done To Prevent The Spread Of Chlamydia

• Limit your number of sex partners
• Use a male or female condom
• If you think you are infected or have been exposed, avoid any sexual contact and visit a local sexually transmitted disease clinic, a hospital or your doctor. Either bring your sex partners with you when you are treated or notify them immediately so they can obtain examination and treatment.

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When To Seek Medical Advice

If you have any symptoms of chlamydia, visit your GP, community contraceptive service or local genitourinary medicine clinic as soon as possible.

Find a sexual health clinic.

You should also get tested if you don’t have any symptoms but are concerned you could have a sexually transmitted infection .

If you’re a woman, sexually active and under 25 in England, it’s recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year, and when you have sex with new or casual partners.

If you’re a man, sexually active and under 25 in England, it’s recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year if you are not using condoms with new or casual partners.

Read more about chlamydia diagnosis.

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

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The Different Ways Chlamydia Can Be Transmitted

Giving oral sex to a partner with a penile chlamydia infection can transmit the infection to your mouth/throat.

Giving oral sex to a partner with a chlamydia infection in the rectum can result in getting chlamydia in your throat/mouth.

Vaginal sex

Fingering of the rectum may transmit chlamydia if the recipient has a chlamydia infection of the rectum. When infected bodily fluids come into contact with the hand, this can then transmit the chlamydia to mucous membranes the hand comes into contact with .

Sex toys

Sharing sex toys, especially if infected fluids come into contact with the toy, can result in chlamydia transmission.

How Do You Catch Chlamydia

It is still unclear whether the infection can be spread through touching or rubbing another persons genitals. Chlamydia cant be caught through kissing or sharing things such as the toilet. If you think you might have come into sexual contact with a person or toys that are or might be infected, then be sure to get tested.

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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