How To Prevent Chlamydia
The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is by avoiding sexual contact, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.
You can reduce your chances of getting chlamydia or of giving it to your partner by using male latex condoms correctly every time you have sexual intercourse.
Chlamydia screening is recommended annually for all sexually active women 25 years of age and younger. If you are infected but have no symptoms, you may pass the bacteria to your sex partners without knowing it. Therefore, any doctors recommend that anyone who has more than one sex partner, especially women under 25 years of age, be tested for STDs and STI infection regularly, even if they dont have symptoms. All pregnant women should have a screening test for chlamydia.
Any genital symptoms such as discharge or burning during urination or unusual sore or rash should be a signal to stop having sex and to consult a health care provider immediately. If a person has been treated for chlamydia , he or she should notify all recent sex partners so they can see a health care provider and be treated. This will reduce the risk that the sex partners will develop serious complications from chlamydia and will also reduce the persons risk of becoming re-infected. The person and all of his or her sex partners must avoid sex until they have completed their treatment for chlamydia.
What Are The Symptoms
Most women and men with chlamydia are asymptomatic meaning no obvious symptoms are present. However, they can still infect sexual partners.
Women may notice symptoms such as:
- an unusual vaginal discharge
- a burning or stinging sensation when urinating
- pain or bleeding during intercourse and
If left untreated, chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease . Potential infection and scarring of the fallopian tubes may cause infertility or pregnancy complications. Ectopic pregnancies are also a real risk.
For men, typical symptoms include:
- a burning or stinging sensation when urinating
- if left untreated, painful or swollen testicles.
Men also run the risk of infertility.
Additionally, both genders can develop complications such as reactive arthritis . This is where the urethra, joints and eyes become inflamed.
Donât Miss: What Happens To Untreated Chlamydia
Ii Home Remedies For Chlamydia
There are many natural treatments for chlamydia out there and you can choose any of these remedies to apply at home. All of these home remedies are highly effective in reducing the symptoms of this infection without causing any unwanted side effect, so you can feel secure when applying any of them.
1. Stay Hydrated
This should be the first one among home remedies for chlamydia infection that we would like to reveal in this article. Water can help cleanse your body by flushing off metabolic waste, toxins and harmful substances. It is recommended to drink at least 12 cups of water daily to remove toxins from the body. You can try adding ¼ tsp. of salt to your water for more effective results.
To know some of the simplest homemade drinks recipes for weight loss that you can make with ease at home, read on List Of 29 Best Easy Homemade Drinks Recipes To Lose Weight
2. Home Remedies For Chlamydia Lemon
When it comes to learning fast home remedies for chlamydia, you should try using the lemon. Actually, lemon can be used to treat chlamydia due to its high content of vitamin C. We all know that vitamin C helps improve the immune system to deal with the inflammation. Just add some drops of fresh lemon juice to a glass of water and then drink it.
Read on Benefits Of Drinking Lemon Water 19 Reasons To Drink It! to discover some of the benefits of lemon water for health and beauty.
3. Green Tea
Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Chlamydia And Gonorrhea
Also Check: How To Make Chlamydia Go Away
Does Chlamydia Treatment Have Side Effects
An antibiotic called Doxycycline is the most common medicine used to treat chlamydia. Like most medicines, it can cause mild side effects. The most common side effects of Doxycycline are nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, loss of appetite, mild diarrhea, skin rash or itching, change in skin color, vaginal itching, or discharge. These side effects should go away after you finish taking the medicine. Talk to your nurse or doctor about any medicines youre already taking and any medical issues you already have before taking Doxycycline.
Final Thoughts On Chlamydia Symptoms
Sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise in virtually all populations and age groups. Particularly concerning are the statistics that show that two-thirds of the cases involve young women and men, just beginning their sexual prime. As symptoms of chlamydia in men and women dont always appear, there is a significant risk in spreading this bacterial infection even when using typical safe-sex practices.
Young women, left untreated, can develop infertility, experience an ectopic pregnancy, and suffer painful inflammatory responses until chlamydia is cured. For long-term health and wellness, it is imperative that chlamydia is treated quickly and that proven safe-sex practices are employed moving forward.
Young men, left untreated can experience painful conditions that affect sexual performance and overall wellness. It is imperative that, like women with chlamydia, they are treated and cured prior to engaging in sexual acts.
Chlamydia is not just a problem in younger demographics older sexually active adults are contracting STDs, including chlamydia, in astounding numbers. For all age groups, it is imperative to practice safe sex, get tested annually, and to have open and honest discussions with all sexual partners about any chlamydia symptoms or other STDs.
Read Next:Genital Herpes Symptoms + 4 Natural Treatments
Don’t Miss: What Antibiotics Do They Use For Chlamydia
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.
Whats The Treatment For Chlamydia
Chlamydia is usually easy to get rid of. Your nurse or doctor will get you antibiotics to treat the infection. Sometimes you only have to take one dose of medication. Another chlamydia treatment lasts for 7 days. Your doctor will help you figure out which treatment is best for you.
If youre treated for chlamydia, its really important for your sexual partners to get treated also. Otherwise, you can keep passing the infection back and forth, or to other people. Sometimes your doctor will give you medicine for both you and your partner.
Recommended Reading: Side Effects To Chlamydia Medication
How Many Days Does It Take To Recover From Chlamydia
It can take up to two weeks to recover from a chlamydia infection. Most prescriptions last 7 to 14 days on average and chlamydia is typically cleared up at the end. However, you will likely have to be retested after 3 months to ensure you have recovered fully. If you have severe chlamydia it may take longer to recover and a hospital stay may be involved.
You May Like: Cost Of Chlamydia Test At Planned Parenthood
Chlamydial Infection Among Neonates
Prenatal screening and treatment of pregnant women is the best method for preventing chlamydial infection among neonates. C. trachomatis infection of neonates results from perinatal exposure to the mothers infected cervix. Initial C. trachomatis neonatal infection involves the mucous membranes of the eye, oropharynx, urogenital tract, and rectum, although infection might be asymptomatic in these locations. Instead, C. trachomatis infection among neonates is most frequently recognized by conjunctivitis that develops 512 days after birth. C. trachomatis also can cause a subacute, afebrile pneumonia with onset at ages 13 months. Although C. trachomatis has been the most frequent identifiable infectious cause of ophthalmia neonatorum, neonatal chlamydial infections, including ophthalmia and pneumonia, have occurred less frequently since institution of widespread prenatal screening and treatment of pregnant women. Neonates born to mothers at high risk for chlamydial infection, with untreated chlamydia, or with no or unconfirmed prenatal care, are at high risk for infection. However, presumptive treatment of the neonate is not indicated because the efficacy of such treatment is unknown. Infants should be monitored to ensure prompt and age-appropriate treatment if symptoms develop. Processes should be in place to ensure communication between physicians and others caring for the mother and the newborn to ensure thorough monitoring of the newborn after birth.
Don’t Miss: How To Tell If You Have A Uti Or Chlamydia
How To Get Rid Of Chlamydia With The Right Treatment Method
Chlamydia is one of the highly contagious sexually transmitted diseases around the world. In the US alone, an average of one out of ten young adults, mostly women, is likely to test positive of the infection.
STD patients often choose to fight the battle on their own. They try to find remedies that do not require showing up in a hospital even though theyre not entirely certain that they can get rid of the disease without proper treatment.
Fortunately, chlamydia is curable with the right treatment method. But, its also essential to raise awareness on the importance of knowing the risk factors of the disease and all the necessary preventive measures.
Lets discuss the proper ways of dealing with chlamydia and other STDs, and how to avoid catching them again, or at all.
First, heres everything we need to know about chlamydia.
Does Azithromycin Cure Chlamydia
Cure rates of 97% were reported in an analysis of 12 randomized clinical trials that investigated the use of azithromycin 1 gram for the treatment of chlamydia. That means for every 100 people with chlamydia who take azithromycin, 97 will be cured and 3 will not be cured.
This relies on the person with chlamydia taking azithromycin exactly as directed and not sharing the medication with anyone. Any sexual partners must be also treated.
Although azithromycin cures chlamydia in most people, it will not repair any permanent damage done to tissues by the disease.
If you have been symptomatic with chlamydia before treatment and your symptoms continue for more than a few days after receiving treatment, then ask to be re-evaluated by your health care provider.
Unfortunately, repeat infection with chlamydia is common. This means that even though azithromycin has cured your current infection with chlamydia, this does not mean you will not get chlamydia again. If your sexual partners have not been appropriately treated, you are at high-risk for reinfection. Having chlamydia multiple times puts women at high risk of fertility problems, ectopic pregnancy, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Infants born to mothers who are infected with chlamydia may develop chlamydial conjunctivitis and/or pneumonia. Chlamydial infection in infants can be treated with antibiotics.
Also Check: What Happens When You Take Chlamydia Pills
What Happens If I Get Chlamydia When I’m Pregnant
- Chlamydia during pregnancy has been associated in very rare cases with problems such as premature birth, and infection of the uterus lining after the birth.
- It can be passed to the baby during the birth and before the baby is born. This can cause inflammation and discharge in the babys eye and/or pneumonia.
- You may be offered a chlamydia test as part of your antenatal care.
- Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics when youre pregnant and when youre breastfeeding. The antibiotics wont harm the baby, but do tell the doctor or nurse that youre pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Youll be advised to have another test after you complete your treatment.
Can Amoxicillin Cure Std Super Infections
So far, weve been talking about the standard, run-of-the-mill case of STDs thats common in millions of people. Unfortunately, there is a new common threat. The World Health Organization recently reported that certain STDs, including gonorrhea, has been growing more resilient to the antibiotics weve been discussing, such as amoxicillin, which are usually used to eradicate it.
One of the likely causes of this advanced super gonorrhea is the fact that people often dont finish their antibiotics. Will Amoxicillin Cure Gonorrhea? Sure, most of the time. But you need to complete your medication, even if your symptoms seem to disappear. Stopping too early can allow bacteria to continue to grow and mutate. This can result in the infection coming back, or becoming far more dangerous.
This new super gonorrhea is much harder to stop. In some severe cases, it is incurable. Most bacteria will eventually evolve, developing resistances against specific antibiotics over time. Unfortunately, that includes amoxicillin. So while amoxicillin can currently usually treat gonorrhea, it will become less effective against strains of super gonorrhea in the future.
Dont Miss: Can I Buy Chlamydia Test Over The Counter
Recommended Reading: Can A Yeast Infection Turn Into Chlamydia
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.
The Health Risks Of Chlamydia
For up to 40 percent of infected women, untreated chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease . PID effects include abdominal pain, fever, internal abscesses and long-lasting pelvic pain effects also include scarring of the fallopian tubes, which can cause infertility and increase the chance of potentially life-threatening ectopic or tubal pregnancies.
Men can develop scarring of the urethra, making urination difficult and occasionally causing infertility. Although rare, both sexes are at risk of a type of arthritis known as Reiters Syndrome that causes inflammation and swelling of the joints.
If a pregnant woman has chlamydia, her baby may be born prematurely, have eye infections or develop pneumonia.
Also Check: Azithromycin Or Doxycycline For Chlamydia
When Should You Test For Gonorrhea Or Chlamydia At Home
If youve recently had unprotected sex or potentially been exposed to gonorrhea or chlamydia, you may think that its important to get tested immediately. But taking an STD test too soon could actually lead to inaccurate results. Why? STDs such as gonorrhea and chlamydia will not be detectable in your system immediately following exposure. If you take a test too early, you may get a false negative result.
So how long should you wait to get tested for STDs? Every STD has a unique incubation period, which is the amount of time that it takes for the STD to be detectable in your system. The incubation period for chlamydia can range from 7 days to 21 days, whereas the incubation period for gonorrhea is up to 14 days.
Therefore, it is best to get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea two to three weeks following the initial exposure. If you take a test within the first two to three weeks following exposure, its best to get tested again after several weeks to ensure your initial results were accurate.
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.
You May Like: How Long Until Chlamydia Makes You Infertile
Gonorrhea Cdc Fact Sheet
Anyone who is sexually active can get gonorrhea. Gonorrhea can cause very serious complications when not treated, but can be cured with the right medication.
Basic Fact Sheet | Detailed Version
Basic fact sheets are presented in plain language for individuals with general questions about sexually transmitted diseases.
Recommended Reading: How Does One Contract Chlamydia
Performance Of Chlamydia Screening Tests
Lastly, a proportion of rectal chlamydia treatment failure cases diagnosed are likely to be false positives. Nucleic acid amplification tests are highly sensitive and do not differentiate between live and dead chlamydial nucleic acid, and it has been shown that chlamydia DNA and rRNA can be detected for several weeks after treatment. This highlights the importance of not testing again too quickly after treatment.
Read Also: Can You Buy Medicine For Chlamydia
Getting Treated For Chlamydia And Often Gonorrhea
If you have your own doctor, he will prescribe the antibiotics you need to treat chlamydia. If you dont have your own doctor, you can often find free or low-cost care at either a Planned Parenthood location or a community health clinic.
Listen carefully to the instructions for taking the medicine that you are given by the doctor or other healthcare provider, and follow them closely.
Ask questions if you dont understand something. Also, if you have other questions as you take your medicine, you can always call the pharmacist for help. They are often easier to reach than the doctor.
If you test positive for chlamydia, your healthcare provider is likely to also recommend that you be treated for gonorrhea. This is because the cost of treating gonorrhea is less than the cost of testing for the infection.