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.
Your Partner Didn’t Get Treated
If you have a consistent sexual partner, it’s important to tell them about your infection. They likely will need to get treated too.
Once you’ve both gotten treated, you have to wait until the treatment has had time to work before you start having sex again. This is especially true of unprotected sex.
You want to avoid passing the STD back and forth between the two of you. Without taking these important steps, it’s possible for this to happen. Such a cycle would prolong the STD and its symptoms.
Does Chlamydia Go Away
The dangers of sexually transmitted viruses are increasing day by day and people these days are more in fear about how they can stay safe. Chlamydia is one of the common names in the list of sexually transmitted infections and most of its cases are reported in North America.
It can affect males as well as females still the cases for female Chlamydia are reported more in number. It demands immediate attention because if left untreated then it leads to painful troubles or may cause severe health issues like pelvic pain, testicles or women can even face infertility.
Most of people throughout this world are not familiar with the disease and its symptoms and when they hear its name for the first time they often get into worry about does Chlamydia go away on its own.
The fact is, it can go away but only if you follow right guidelines and medications as suggested by professionals. But first of all it is important to educate yourself about the disease so that you can understand its symptoms and make efforts to keep yourself safe for longer run.
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How Is Chlamydia Treated
If detected early, chlamydia can be treated with a single dose of antibiotic.
If complications from chlamydia infection are present such as pelvic inflammatory disease in women a longer course of antibiotics will be required.
Do not have sex for 7 days after you and your current partner have completed treatment. This includes all kinds of sex with or without a condom.
You can get reinfected with chlamydia if you have sex within the 7 days.
After you have completed treatment, have another test for chlamydia in 3 months time to make sure you have not been re-infected.
How Is Chlamydia Diagnosed
There are a number of diagnostic tests for chlamydia, including nucleic acid amplification tests , cell culture, and others. NAATs are the most sensitive tests, and can be performed on easily obtainable specimens such as vaginal swabs or urine.43
Vaginal swabs, either patient- or clinician-collected, are the optimal specimen to screen for genital chlamydia using NAATs in women urine is the specimen of choice for men, and is an effective alternative specimen type for women.43 Self-collected vaginal swab specimens perform at least as well as other approved specimens using NAATs.44 In addition, patients may prefer self-collected vaginal swabs or urine-based screening to the more invasive endocervical or urethral swab specimens.45 Adolescent girls may be particularly good candidates for self-collected vaginal swab- or urine-based screening because pelvic exams are not indicated if they are asymptomatic.
NAATs have demonstrated improved sensitivity and specificity compared with culture for the detection of C. trachomatis at rectal and oropharyngeal sites.40 Certain NAAT test platforms have been cleared by FDA for these non-genital sites and data indicate NAAT performance on self-collected rectal swabs is comparable to clinician-collected rectal swabs. 40
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Testing And Treating Sexual Partners
If you test positive for chlamydia, its important that your current sexual partner and any other recent sexual partners youve 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 Is The Cause Of Chlamydia
When vaginal fluid or sperm with the bacteria that causes chlamydia passes from one person to another, chlamydia infections spread through sexual contact. All types of sex are included in sexual contact, including sex that does not entail penetration or ejaculation. Fluids from one persons genitals can transmit the bacteria that causes chlamydia in a variety of ways.
Intercourse. Bacteria can spread from one persons penis to their partners vaginal area or the other way around.
Anal sex is a type of intercourse that occurs when a man Bacteria can be transferred from one persons penis to their partners anus, or vice versa.
Oral sex is a type of sexual activity that takes place in the mouth. Bacteria can spread from one persons mouth to anothers penis, vagina, or anus, or vice versa.
Toys are included in sex. Bacteria can spread from a toy to a persons mouth, penis, vagina, or anus.
Anus or manual stimulation of the genitals. Infected vaginal fluid or sperm can occasionally come into touch with a persons eye, resulting in conjunctivitis. This can happen if you contact an infected persons genitals and then rub your eyes without first washing your hands.
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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 site 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.
How Often Should I Get Checked For Chlamydia
Sexual health check-ups are recommended for anyone who is sexually active. Frequency of testing also depends on your STI risk:
- An annual sexual health check-up is highly recommended if you are sexually active especially if you are under 25.
- Get checked more often during the year if you frequently change sexual partners.
- Remember, you are at greater risk if you have sex without a condom with 1 or multiple sexual partners.
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Screening For Genitourinary Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection
Currently, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends routine screening in all sexually active women 24 years and younger, and in women 25 years and older who are at increased risk because of having multiple partners or a new sex partner 52). Because of the high risk of intrauterine and postnatal complications if left untreated, all pregnant women at increased risk should be routinely screened for chlamydia during the first prenatal visit 53). Additionally, any pregnant woman undergoing termination of pregnancy should be tested for chlamydia infection 54).
There is insufficient evidence to recommend screening in men, although a small number of studies suggest that screening high-risk groups may be useful and cost-effective 55). Per the CDC, the screening of sexually active young men should be considered in clinical settings with a high prevalence of chlamydia , and in certain groups . In men who have sex with men, some experts recommend screening for rectal infections 56). The CDC includes chlamydia screening with a urine test among the list of annual tests for all men who have had insertive intercourse within the previous 12 months 57). Testing for Chlamydia trachomatis pharyngeal infection is not recommended in men who have had receptive oral intercourse.
Chlamydia Complications In Women
Complications of chlamydia in vaginas of women.
Chlamydia can lead to the following complications if left untreated:
- Inflammation of the pelvis . PID is a life-threatening condition that necessitates hospitalization. It can happen if an untreated sexually transmitted infection , such as chlamydia, destroys your reproductive organs. Infertility and severe pelvic pain are both possible outcomes of PID. It can also result in an ectopic pregnancy, which is potentially fatal for both the fetus and the mother or gestational parent.
- Complications of pregnancy An untreated infection can result in a premature birth. You can also spread chlamydia to your baby if youre pregnant and have the virus. If left untreated, chlamydia-infected babies can develop pneumonia or conjunctivitis, which can lead to blindness.
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What’s The Treatment For Chlamydia
Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. If you take the treatment according to instructions, its over 95% effective at treating chlamydia.
- Youll be given a course of antibiotics for 3 or 7 days or sometimes up to two weeks.
- If theres a high chance you have chlamydia, treatment may be started before the results of the test are back. Youll always be given treatment if a sexual partner is found to have chlamydia.
- You may also need other treatment if complications have occurred.
- Tell the doctor or nurse if youre pregnant, or think you might be, or youre breastfeeding. This may affect the type of antibiotic youre given.
- Complementary therapies cant cure chlamydia.
What Kinds Of Complications Can The Infection Cause
The initial damage that chlamydia causes often goes unnoticed. However, chlamydial infections can lead to serious health problems.
In women, untreated infection 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. Both symptomatic and silent PID can cause permanent damage to a womans reproductive tract and lead to long-term pelvic pain, inability to get pregnant and potentially deadly ectopic pregnancy .
Complications are rare in men. Infection sometimes spreads to the tube that carries sperm from the testis, causing pain, fever, but, rarely, preventing a man from being able to father children.
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When Should I See My Healthcare Provider
When it comes to chlamydia, its a good idea to be proactive. Speak with your healthcare provider about your risks of infection. Make a plan to get screened regularly for STIs based on your providers recommendations for how often you should be tested. Make an appointment with your healthcare provider if your partner tests positive for chlamydia or if you notice any signs or symptoms that you may be infected.
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.
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Im Pregnant How Does Chlamydia Affect My Baby
If you are pregnant and have chlamydia, you can pass the infection to your baby during delivery. This could cause an eye infection or pneumonia in your newborn. Having chlamydia may also make it more likely to deliver your baby too early.
If you are pregnant, you should get tested for chlamydia at your first prenatal visit. Testing and treatment are the best ways to prevent health problems.
What Happens If Chlamydia Is Not Treated
In women, untreated chlamydia can spread to the womb and fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease. This causes permanent damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus and leads to chronic pain, infertility and potentially life threatening ectopic pregnancies
Men and women can suffer from joint stiffness, swelling and swell and eye pain following a chlamydia infection.
This is why it is very important to get treated for chlamydia with antibiotic tablets as soon as you know you are infected.
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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.
How Can I Prevent The Spread Of Chlamydia And Other Stis
Ask your healthcare provider for more information about the following safe sex practices:
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Chlamydia: Frequently Asked Questions
What is chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection, caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, which results in substantial morbidity and economic cost worldwide. It is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Different strains of C. trachomatis cause genital infections , lymphogranuloma venereum a genital ulcer disease that affects lymphoid tissue-, and trachoma .
How common is chlamydia?
The World Health Organization estimates that in 2012, 131 million new cases of chlamydia infections happened among adults and youth aged 1549 years worldwide, with around 128 million cases already present. The highest number of cases are found in WHO Region of the Americas and the WHO Western Pacific Region.
In the region of the Americas there were around 17.8 million new cases for females and 7 million for men in 2012, adding to the already around 18.8 million existing cases for females and 4.5 million existing cases for males. In many countries, the number of chlamydia is highest among girls aged 1519 years, followed by young women aged 20-24 years.
10-40% of people infected with gonorrhea is also infected with chlamydia.
How is chlamydia spread?
How chlamydia can be prevented?
Correct and consistent use of condoms significantly decreases the risk of infection during anal, vaginal or oral sexual contact. For all neonates, the WHO STI guideline recommends topical ocular prophylaxis for the prevention of gonococcal and chlamydial ophthalmia neonatorum .
When Can I Have Sex Again
If you had doxycycline, you shouldnt have sex including vaginal, oral or anal sex, even with a condom until both you and your partner have completed treatment.
If you had azithromycin, you should wait 7 days after treatment before having sex .
This will help ensure you dont pass on the infection or catch it again straight away.
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Apple Vinegar To Treat Chlamydia
The health benefits of apple cider vinegar are numerous. Its also regarded as one of the most effective natural treatments for STDs like Chlamydia. Apple cider vinegar can be consumed or administered topically.
Apple cider vinegar has antimicrobial characteristics, but its also highly acidic, which might irritate your genital tissues.
How Can I Protect Myself From Chlamydia
The only way to avoid getting chlamydia is to abstain from having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has a chlamydia infection. And be sure that sex toys that carry the bacteria dont come in contact with your genitals.
Its not always possible to know if a current or potential partner has chlamydia, though, especially since many people with chlamydia never notice symptoms. With prevention in mind, its a good idea to make safer sex practices a regular part of your sex life:
- Use condoms during intercourse, anal sex and oral sex.
- Use dental dams during oral sex or vagina-to-vagina contact.
- Dont share sex toys, but if you do, wash them after each use and cover toys used for penetration with a condom.
- Have sex with only one partner, who only has sex with you.
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