Saturday, March 23, 2024
HomeTreatHow Long Does Chlamydia Last If Untreated

How Long Does Chlamydia Last If Untreated

Antibiotics Are A Highly Effective Cure For Chlamydia Infection

What Is Chlamydia Symptoms and Treatment

Antibiotics prescribed for chlamydia include:

A single oral dose of Zithromax is the most common treatment. Other drugs may be given in varying doses for a period of up to a week. Most cases of chlamydia clear up within a week after you start on antibiotics.

If you think you have been exposed to chlamydia, Stoner says, see your healthcare provider to receive antibiotic medication to prevent the onset of infection.

The partners of individuals diagnosed with chlamydia will need treatment, too, and in some states they can get it without a doctor visit through a practice called expedited partner therapy, in which the first person treated delivers the treatment to their partner or partners.

Does Chlamydia Cause Cervical Cancer

No, chlamydia doesn’t cause cervical cancer.

It’s possible to get a sexually transmitted infection by having sex with someone who has an STI, even if they have no symptoms.

The following measures will help protect you from most STIs including chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HIV.

If you have an STI, they’ll also help prevent you from passing it on to someone:

  • Use condoms every time you have vaginal or anal sex.
  • If you have oral sex , use a condom to cover the penis, or a dam to cover the vulva or anus.
  • Avoid sharing sex toys. If you do share them, wash them or cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them.

Can You Pass Chlamydia On Without Symptoms

Even if you are asymptomatic with Chlamydia, it is still possible to pass on the disease. The viral infection transmits via bodily fluids during sexual activity, therefore it is vitally important to practise safe sex and be tested regularly to ensure that you are clean of sexually transmitted infections. Visit our website to learn more about home testing.

You May Like: How Did I Get Chlamydia

How Can I Tell My Partner Will They Think I’ve Cheated On Them

You may feel embarrassed, scared or angry. However it is important and respectful to let your partner know as soon as possible so they can get tested and treated. Remember that chlamydia often has no symptoms, so a diagnosis doesn’t necessarily mean the infection was caught recently. You may not be sure when you were exposed. Many people are surprised how supportive their partner is, and how they appreciate being confided in.

When Will The Signs And Symptoms Go Away

Does Chlamydia 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.

Recommended Reading: Chlamydia And Gc Urine Test

What Happens If Chlamydia Is Untreated

If you’re not treated for chlamydia, you may have some serious complications.

  • Chronic pelvic pain
  • Infertility. Pelvic inflammatory disease can cause scar tissue to develop in your fallopian tubes. This can block your tubes and make it difficult for an egg to pass through and become fertilized.
  • Ectopic pregnancy. This scarring of your fallopian tubes can stop a fertilized egg from moving into your uterus. The egg may then begin to grow in your fallopian tube. An ectopic pregnancy can be dangerous, as your fallopian tube may break and cause bleeding in your pelvis and abdomen.

A study of women admitted to hospitals found that women with pelvic inflammatory disease were:

  • Ten times more likely to be admitted to hospital for abdominal pain
  • Ten times more likely to be admitted for ectopic pregnancy
  • Six times more likely to be admitted for endometriosis
  • Eight times more likely to be admitted for a procedure to remove their womb

Some people with pelvic inflammatory disease caused by chlamydia may also develop a rare complication known as Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome or perihepatitis. This is a painful inflammation of the tissue surrounding your liver.

Pregnancy complications

If youre pregnant and your chlamydia is untreated, this increases your likelihood of problems like premature birth and a low-birth-weight baby. You may pass chlamydia on to your baby. Your baby may develop a lung infection or eye infection .

Other complications

Chlamydia Signs In Females How Long Does Chlamydia Last If Untreated

Chlamydia is commonly called the quiet infection. Thats since individuals with chlamydia may not experience signs in any way.

If a woman agreements the STI, it might take numerous weeks prior to any kind of symptoms appear.

A few of one of the most common signs and symptoms of chlamydia in females consist of:

  • painful intercourse
  • pain in the reduced abdominal area
  • swelling of the cervix
  • bleeding in between durations

In some females, the infection can spread to the fallopian tubes, which may cause a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease .

Also Check: Does Chlamydia Make Your Stomach Hurt

Read Also: What Medicines Are Used To Treat Chlamydia

Can You Prevent Chlamydia

You can lower your risk of getting chlamydia and other STIs by:

  • using a condom every time you have vaginal, oral or anal sex
  • not having sex with someone with chlamydia, even with a condom, until theyve finished treatment and 1 week has passed since their last dose of antibiotics
  • regularly getting tested for STIs, especially if you are under 30 and sexually active

Remember that most people with chlamydia dont show any symptoms and dont know they have it, so feeling ‘well’ does not mean that you or your partner are not infected. If in doubt, get tested.

If you have chlamydia, you can help reduce the spread by letting your recent sexual partners know so they can get tested and treated.

Can Chlamydia Go Away On Its Own

What is Gonorrhoea? | Why is Untreated Gonorrhoea so Serious?
  • Can Chlamydia Go Away On Its Own? Center
  • It is highly unlikely for chlamydia to go away on its own. Although the symptoms may subside temporarily, the infection may persist in the body in the absence of treatment . It is important to seek diagnosis and timely treatment to get rid of the infection.

    If treatment is not sought, chlamydia can lead to the following serious complications:

    • Pelvic inflammatory diseases or PID
    • Infertility
    • Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome
    • Untreated chlamydia in pregnant women can cause serious consequences such as preterm delivery , ophthalmia neonatorum , and pneumonia in the newborn.
    • Reactive arthritis may develop in men and women following chlamydia infection.
    • Men have less symptoms linked to chlamydia compared with women. Chlamydia infection can sometimes lead to epididymitis , causing pain and fever. Rarely, chlamydia can cause infertility in men.

    Don’t Miss: How Can You Tell If A Girl Has Chlamydia

    Chlamydia Is Only Contagious From Person To Person

    You can only get chlamydia by having intimate sexual contact with an infected person, not from casual contact, touching another persons clothing, or consuming contaminated food or water.

    The chlamydia organism lives only in human cells and cannot be transmitted by external contact, such as towels or toilet seats, Schaffir says.

    Where Can I Get A Test

    There are a number of services you can go to. Choose the one you feel most comfortable with.

    A chlamydia test can be done at:

    • a genitourinary medicine or sexual health clinic
    • your general practice
    • contraception and young peoples clinics
    • some pharmacies.

    Abortion clinics, antenatal services and some gynaecology services may also offer a chlamydia test.

    In England, if youre a woman aged under 25 years old, you may be offered a chlamydia test as part of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme when you visit some service for other reasons, for example at a pharmacy or your GP.

    The NCSP aims to identify people without symptoms to reduce the complications of untreated infection. If chlamydia is not treated, it can cause health complications, especially in women. Untreated chlamydia in women can cause pain in the pelvis, ectopic pregnancy and infertility .

    If you are a woman aged under 25 years old and you are offered a chlamydia test as part of the NCSP you should consider taking it.

    In many areas, free home self-sampling tests for chlamydia are available to order online. This is where you take your own sample and send it to be tested. See www.nhs.uk

    Its also possible to buy a chlamydia test to do at home. The accuracy of these tests varies. Some types are very accurate when carried out according to the instructions, others can be less reliable. If you buy a testing kit make sure you get advice from a pharmacist or your doctor.

    Also Check: What Medicine To Treat Chlamydia

    What Are The Treatments For Chlamydia

    Antibiotics will cure the infection. You may get a one-time dose of the antibiotics, or you may need to take medicine every day for 7 days. Antibiotics cannot repair any permanent damage that the disease has caused.

    To prevent spreading the disease to your partner, you should not have sex until the infection has cleared up. If you got a one-time dose of antibiotics, you should wait 7 days after taking the medicine to have sex again. If you have to take medicine every day for 7 days, you should not have sex again until you have finished taking all of the doses of your medicine.

    It is common to get a repeat infection, so you should get tested again about three months after treatment.

    Symptoms In The Throat

    Gonorrhea: Signs, Symptoms, and Complications

    Chlamydia symptoms can sometimes appear in the throat, although this is uncommon. When it does occur, the time frame is likely to be similar to that of chlamydia infections of the genitals.

    In people who experience symptoms, the main one is a persistent sore throat. A doctor may refer to a chlamydia infection in the throat as pharyngeal chlamydia.

    Testing for chlamydia in the throat is not a common practice in STI testing, as it does not have approval from the Food and Drug Administration . However, if a person suspects that they have pharyngeal chlamydia, a doctor may take a swab from the throat.

    A person can undergo testing for chlamydia at their:

    • doctors office
    • local health department
    • local planned parenthood center

    A person can also order a chlamydia test online, take it at home, and then send it off for testing.

    If people are at high risk of chlamydia, they may need screening for all types of chlamydia every 36 months.

    At risk groups include people who have:

    • multiple or unknown sexual partners
    • sex in combination with illegal drug use
    • sexual partners who use illegal drugs or have multiple partners

    7 days .

    People should avoid having sex until their treatment is complete. If a person is experiencing symptoms even after the treatment, they should see a doctor.

    People who menstruate should notice that their periods return to normal or that bleeding between periods stops by their next period.

    Read Also: Where To Get Tested For Chlamydia For Free

    How Long Does It Take For Pid To Develop

    In 2013, 88,000 American women between the ages of 15 and 44 were diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID. If left untreated, PID can cause permanent damage to a womans reproductive organs and even lead to infertility.

    If youre a sexually active female, its important to understand the signs and symptoms of this condition and to get tested ASAP if you suspect that you have PID.

    What Happens If Chlamydia Isn`t Treated

    Not all people with Chlamydia will experience any complications. If the infection gets treatment early, it won`t probably cause any long-term damages. Still, with no treatment Chlamydia will spread to other body parts. The more times you get infected with it, the more like it is for you to experience complications.

    • In men this condition may lead to an infection of the testicles and maybe even infertility.
    • In women this infection may lead to inflammation and pain around the liver. With proper treatment, this usually gets better in time.
    • In women this medical condition may spread to other important body organs leading to PID. In turn, this may lead to long-term damages, such as ectopic pregnancy, pelvic pain, infertility and blocked fallopian tubes.
    • In both man and women More rarely, this infection may lead to joint inflammation. This is also known as SARA and it`s on occasion accompanied by eye and urethral inflammation. It occurs more rarely in women than men.

    Also Check: How Do You Test For Chlamydia

    Does Chlamydia Go Away On Its Own

    It is highly unlikely that Chlamydia will go away on its own without treatment, which is why it is so important to be tested regularly and be treated swiftly if positive. Whilst it has been known for some infected with Chlamydia to recover without treatment, this is uncommon and very risky as untreated Chlamydia may lead to more severe health problems.

    What Happens If You Dont Get Treated For Chlamydia

    Normalizing Chlamydia ScreeningHow to Talk to Patients

    Even though chlamydia is common and doesnt usually cause any symptoms, it can become a big deal if its not caught and treated early.

    Chlamydia can spread to your uterus and fallopian tubes if it goes untreated for a long time. This can cause you to have pelvic inflammatory disease . PID can cause permanent damage that leads to pain, infertility, or ectopic pregnancy. So getting tested regularly for chlamydia really lowers your chances of getting PID.

    If you have a penis, a chlamydia infection can spread to your epididymis if its left untreated, and can cause chronic joint pain. Rarely, it can make you infertile.

    Having chlamydia may increase your chances of getting or spreading HIV.

    If you have chlamydia during your pregnancy and dont treat it, you can pass it to your baby when youre giving birth. Chlamydia can also cause eye infections and pneumonia in newborns, and it also increases the risk of delivering your baby too early.

    Testing and treatment for chlamydia is quick, easy, and the best way to avoid all of these problems.

    Also Check: What Happens If Chlamydia Is Left Untreated

    Don’t Miss: How To Treat Chlamydia Naturally

    What Is The Dosage Of Azithromycin For Chlamydia

    The recommended dosage of azithromycin for chlamydia is 1 gram as a single dose. This dose may be taken morning or night and can be taken with or without food. Another name for azithromycin is Zithromax.

    If you have taken your dose of azithromycin on an empty stomach and your stomach has become a bit upset or you feel sick, it is Ok to eat some food, which may help to settle it.

    A 500mg dose of azithromycin is not recommended by guidelines to cure chlamydia. There is also a chance it may increase the risk of C. trachomatis bacteria becoming resistant to it. If you have only taken or only been prescribed a 500mg dose of azithromycin, you need to return to your doctor to get a 1 gram dose prescribed. You should never share your dose of azithromycin with another person.

    Also Check: What To Use For Chlamydia

    Can Chlamydia Be Prevented

    The only sure way to prevent chlamydia is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

    Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading chlamydia. If your or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms.

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    Read Also: What Are The Symptoms Of Chlamydia In The Throat

    Can Chlamydia Be Dormant

    Chlamydia is one of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infections in the world. However, that doesnt mean that everyone who gets chlamydia will show signs of this infection. Have you ever wondered whether chlamydia can remain asymptomatic and dormant inside your body?

    Read on to learn whether chlamydia can be dormant, for how long, and how to detect this disease when its asymptomatic.

    The Steadyhealth Team Reacts

    How Long Should I Wait To Test For An STD?

    Chlamydia often has no symptoms unless left untreated for a long time, and the same also holds true for many other sexually-transmitted diseases. This is why anyone who is sexually active benefits from regular STD testing even if youre monogamous, theres a chance your partner may not be. It is, however, especially good to get tested:

    • If you have just started a new relationship
    • You and your partner would like to ditch the condoms
    • You have symptoms that may indicate an STD, such as pelvic pain, abnormal discharge from the penis or vagina, pain during urination, warts, or genital lesions
    • You have just found out your partner has had sex with someone else or multiple other people
    • You have sex with multiple partners of unknown STD status, even if you use condoms

    If, after an STD test, you are positive for Chlamydia, you will be treated with antibiotics.

    Donât Miss: Can A Uti Lead To Chlamydia

    Recommended Reading: How To Get Rid Of Chlamydia Smell

    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.

    âThe number of reported cases is substantially lower than the true estimated incidence,â 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.

    RELATED ARTICLES

    Most Popular