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How To Know If A Boy Has Chlamydia

What Are The Potential Complications

Clinical Pearls for Chlamydia & Gonorrhea

If treated in time, chlamydia causes no lasting concerns. Untreated chlamydia can lead to complications as the infection spreads to other areas of the body.

Untreated chlamydia may cause sexually-acquired reactive arthritis, which includes skin, eye and joint problems. It is also associated with a higher chance of getting HIV.

In women, complications may include difficulty getting pregnant, ectopic or tubal pregnancy or pelvic inflammatory disease . See HealthLinkBC File #08c Pelvic Inflammatory Disease for more information.

In men, complications may include an infection in the testicles, which can lead to infertility.

How Can Chlamydia Be Prevented

Latex male condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of getting or giving chlamydia.53 The surest way to avoid chlamydia is to abstain from vaginal, anal, and oral sex, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.

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How Long Can You Have Chlamydia Without Knowing Years Or Months

How long can you have chlamydia without knowing is a common question after an unprotected sexual contact.

What is chlamydia infection?

Chlamydia infection, caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, is a common sexually transmitted infection that affects both men and women. In the united stated, more than 1.4 million new cases of chlamydia are detected yearly.

Chlamydia can affect the eyes , the joints, the vagina, anus and the penis. It may sometimes cause infertility if left untreated in men and women.

In women, chlamydia infection can ascend up the genital tracts resulting to pelvic inflammatory disease with symptoms like fever, abdomen pain and difficulty conceiving.

Chlamydia trachomatis infection is transmitted through

  • Unprotected anal intercourse
  • Heavy period
  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • If youve had intercourse with these symptoms, then its likely you have chlamydia. You should inform your doctor ASAP or get a chlamydia test kit to detect chlamydia.

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    They Didnt Realize Theyre Suppose To Discuss These Things

    Many people feel that talking about sex just isnt something you doand there are many reasons for this. Some individuals come from conservative upbringings that discourage sexual exploration. While they may have been able to overcome those restrictions enough to have sex, talking about sex is a whole different ball game. For many, talking about sex can be scarier and sinful than having it.

    On the other hand, a person can e so wrapped up in their own problems that it simply doesnt occur to them that if they have an STD, their partner may have one, too. They are so focused on getting treated and moving on that they dont notify their partners about getting tested and treated. They just hope that their symptoms will go away before anyone notices. Unsurprisingly, they often end up with recurrent STD infections.

    Does Discharge In Men Mean They Are Infected

    Causes of a Yellow Discharge Coming Out of Your Newborn

    Thepresence of watery, cloudy, or white discharge is the main concern for many menand is often the primary sign of chlamydia. However, if a man has a discharge,it doesnt mean he is infected with chlamydia. There are other infections thatcause the same symptoms as:

    • genitalherpes
    • urinarytract infection
    • ureaplasma

    Becauseof how misleading discharge can be, its important to get tested to make surethe sign is not caused by anything else other than chlamydia.

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    How Is Chlamydia Spread

    You can get chlamydia by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has chlamydia.

    If your sex partner is male you can still get chlamydia even if he does not ejaculate .

    If youve had chlamydia and were treated in the past, you can still get infected again. This can happen if you have unprotected sex with someone who has chlamydia.

    Recommended Reading: What Happens If A Male Has Chlamydia For Too Long

    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.

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    What Other Problems Can Chlamydia Cause

    In women, an untreated infection can spread to your uterus and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease . PID can cause permanent damage to your reproductive system. This can lead to long-term pelvic pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. Women who have had chlamydia infections more than once are at higher risk of serious reproductive health complications.

    Men often don’t have health problems from chlamydia. Sometimes it can infect the epididymis . This can cause pain, fever, and, rarely, infertility.

    Both men and women can develop reactive arthritis because of a chlamydia infection. Reactive arthritis is a type of arthritis that happens as a “reaction” to an infection in the body.

    Babies born to infected mothers can get eye infections and pneumonia from chlamydia. It may also make it more likely for your baby to be born too early.

    Untreated chlamydia may also increase your chances of getting or giving HIV/AIDS.

    Can Chlamydia Be Cured

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    Yes, chlamydia can be cured with the right treatment. It is important that you take all of the medication your doctor prescribes to cure your infection. When taken properly it will stop the infection and could decrease your chances of having complications later on. You should not share medication for chlamydia with anyone.

    Repeat infection with chlamydia is common. You should be tested again about three months after you are treated, even if your sex partner was treated.

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    What Problems Can Happen

    If it’s not treated, chlamydia can lead to:

    Who Should Be Tested For Chlamydia

    You should go to your health provider for a test if you have symptoms of chlamydia, or if you have a partner who has a sexually transmitted disease. Pregnant women should get a test when they go to their first prenatal visit.

    People at higher risk should get checked for chlamydia every year:

    • Sexually active women 25 and younger
    • Older women who have new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted disease
    • Men who have sex with men

    Read Also: How Does Chlamydia Get Treated

    Chlamydia Symptoms In Men

    Chlamydia is one of the most common STDs in men and women. Its caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis and can be spread through oral, vaginal, or anal sex. Most men who have a chlamydia infection show no obvious signs, though some develop symptoms within several weeks of infection.

    According to the CDC, if a man experiences chlamydia symptoms, they typically are due to one of two complications:1

    • Urethritis An infection causing inflammation of the urethra, the tube that allows urine and semen to exit the penis.
    • Symptoms include:

    Read Also: Can Bv Cause Positive Chlamydia Test

    How To Stop The Spread Of Infection

    Chlamydia Infection Pictures: What does Chlamydia Symptoms look like

    Therisk of contracting and transmitting chlamydia is very high, so any precautionsyou can take will prove a valuable asset to your sexual health. To stop thespread of the infection, you should:

    • Use condoms during intercourse
    • Suggest to your partner that you both get tested for STIs before having unprotected sex
    • Cover all the sex toys you share with your partner with condoms

    Chlamydiais a serious issue for men. The problem is that most men dont experience anysigns, and that is typical for those infected. If you havent used a condomwhile having intercourse with multiple partners, its important to get tested.That way, you can avoid any unwanted complications and treat the infection ontime.

    References

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    Can You Get Chlamydia More Than Once

    Its possible to have chlamydia multiple times. The bacteria will not create antibodies to protect your body from further infection. You can get re-infected by continuing sexual relations with a partner who is untested and untreated.

    Its best to always use condoms with partners who may have chlamydia.

    What Happens If A Man Doesnt Treat His Chlamydia

    If chlamydia is left untreated, it can become a more severe infection. Its also possible for it to have long term effects, including on fertility.

    Chlamydia can affect the whole of the male reproductive system, causing inflammation in the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles, as well as the testicles themselves and the prostate gland. If this inflammation isnt treated, it may lead to scarring, which can have an effect on fertility.

    There have also been some studies that suggest the infection itself can affect sperm being produced properly, but the evidence around this isnt conclusive at the moment.

    Chlamydia can also cause a condition called reactive arthritis. This is when there is inflammation that affects the eyes, joints, and the urethra . The knees, feet, toes, hips, and ankles are also commonly affected. Its unclear exactly why this happens, but it may be related to the body overreacting to the infection. The symptoms can take months to recover, and you should treat this with anti-inflammatory medicines.

    Treating chlamydia is also very important because it can easily be passed on to other partners, even if you dont have symptoms.

    Read Also: What Antibiotics Treat Oral Chlamydia

    How Long Does It Take For A Male To Show Signs Of Chlamydia

    Symptoms in the penis

    Symptoms of chlamydia may affect the penis within 13 weeks of the person coming into contact with the infection. In some cases, though, these symptoms can take months to appear. Symptoms of chlamydia in the penis may include: white, cloudy, or watery discharge from the tip of the penis.

    What Complications Can Result From Chlamydial Infection

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    The initial damage that chlamydia causes often goes unnoticed. However, chlamydial infections can lead to serious health problems with both short- and long-term consequences.

    In women, untreated chlamydia can spread into the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease . Symptomatic PID occurs in about 10 to 15 percent of women with untreated chlamydia.30,31 However, chlamydia can also cause subclinical inflammation of the upper genital tract . Both acute and subclinical PID can cause permanent 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 chlamydial PID develop perihepatitis, or Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome, an inflammation of the liver capsule and surrounding peritoneum, which is associated with right upper quadrant pain.

    In pregnant women, untreated chlamydia has been associated with pre-term delivery,34 as well as ophthalmia neonatorum and pneumonia in the newborn.

    Reactive arthritis can occur in men and women following symptomatic or asymptomatic chlamydial infection, sometimes as part of a triad of symptoms formerly referred to as Reiters Syndrome.35

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    The Key Questions About Chlamydia In Men

    According to 2018 figures from Public Health England, a higher percentage of young men tested positive for chlamydia compared to women. Despite this, the number of young men getting tested was half of the number of women getting testing. Weve created this article, focussing specifically on chlamydia in men, to answer the key questions surrounding the STI.

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    How Can I Find Out If My Boyfriend Has An Std Before We Have Sex

    My boyfriend has already had sex and oral sex with multiple partners. I think weâre ready to have sex, but Iâm nervous that I will get pregnant or get an STD. How can I prevent these? Also how can I tell if he has an STD without asking him?Sophie*

    Youâre right to consider these possibilities. Having sex is a huge decision, and an STD or unplanned pregnancy can change your life.

    Condoms are the best way to prevent pregnancy and STDs, so be sure to use a condom every time you have sex . Like most things in life, though, condoms arenât 100% guaranteed. Thatâs why you need to talk to your boyfriend about your concerns before you have sex.

    Your boyfriend has been honest about his past sexual partners, and thatâs a sign heâll be open to talking about STDs. Try to work up the courage to talk. You can start by asking your boyfriend if heâs ever worried about STDs and if heâs been tested.

    Its important for people to get checked anytime they have a new partner. Lots of people have this conversation with their partners. Still, itâs normal to be nervous when you first start talking. If your boyfriend cares, heâll want to help you feel comfortable in your relationship. Most people admire partners who respect themselves enough to protect their own health, even if it means asking tough questions.

    *Names have been changed to protect user privacy.

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    How Common Is Chlamydia

    Chlamydia is the most common STI caused by bacteria. Nearly 2 million cases of chlamydia were reported to the CDC in 2019. The number of infections is likely even higher. When compared to previous years, 2019 infection rates increased among people of all genders, all races and ethnicities, and in every region of the U.S. Most cases of chlamydia are asymptomatic, which means there are no signs or symptoms of an infection. Many of these cases likely go unreported.

    Certain demographic characteristics may make you more likely to get diagnosed with chlamydia. Youre more likely to get diagnosed if youre:

    • A teen or young adult aged 15 to 24. More than half of all diagnosed chlamydia cases in the U.S. occur in this age group.
    • A cisgender woman aged 15 to 24. Young women in this age group are targeted for chlamydia screenings, and the rate of infection among those who are tested is high.
    • A man who has sex with men . Chlamydia infections disproportionately affect men who have sex with men.
    • Black and non-Hispanic. Chlamydia infections disproportionately affect non-Hispanic Black populations.

    How Long Does Chlamydia Last

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    If you believe youve been exposed to chlamydia, even if you dont have any symptoms, the first thing you should do is get tested. And if your chlamydia test is positive, be confident that you are doing the right thing.

    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 dont get tested or dont see a healthcare provider for treatment, chlamydia can live in the body for weeks, months, or even years without being detected.

    This can lead to long-term complications, including infertility.

    Read on to learn what chlamydia is, how it spreads, the symptoms, and when symptoms typically show.

    Ill also explain how long chlamydia lasts, what happens if it goes untreated, how long you have to wait to have sex after an infection, and if you can become immune to chlamydia.

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    How Does Chlamydia Spread

    Chlamydia is spread when a person has unprotected sex with an infected person.

    Because chlamydial infection often has no symptoms, many people do not realise they have the infection.

    Even if you know a person well, you may not be able to tell they have an STI, because people can look healthy and still have chlamydia.

    Remember, you can get chlamydia and other STIs from a new sexual partner who has in the past had sex with someone who is infected.

    It can also be spread from a long-term partner who has had sex with other people.

    How Does Someone Get Chlamydia

    Chlamydia is passed through oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Chlamydia can be passed from one person to another even if the penis or tongue does not go all the way into the vagina or anus.Eye infections can occur when discharge caries the disease into the eye during sex or hand-to-eye contact.

    Chlamydia can also be passed from mother to newborn as the baby passes through the infected birth canal. This can result in eye infections, pneumonia or other complications.

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    Causes And Risk Factors Of Chlamydia

    Chlamydia is caused by bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. These bacteria attack the cells of your bodys mucous membranes the soft, moist tissues of your body that arent covered by skin.

    Here are areas of the body where mucous membranes are possible targets for chlamydia infection:

    • Vagina, cervix, and fallopian tubes in women
    • Urethra in women and men
    • Anus and rectum
    • Lining of the eyelid
    • Throat

    Although the bacteria that cause chlamydia can reach the uterus, Chlamydia doesnt attack the uterus itself, because a woman gets her period every month, and cells inside it are sloughed off, says Dr. Rabin.

    But the fallopian tubes which connect the ovaries and uterus do not clean themselves regularly, so theyre vulnerable to attack and lasting damage caused by the bacteria.

    Chlamydia can be spread through any sexual contact, with or without ejaculation.

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