You Just Found Out That You May Have Been Exposed To
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease that you can get from having sex with a person who already has it. You can get chlamydia from having any kind of sex: oral, vaginal or anal. Many people with chlamydia feel fine and do not have any symptoms. They still need treatment. Men may have: Women may have: No symptoms at all.
What Is The Difference Between An Std And Sti
The term STD is often used interchangeably with the term sexually transmitted infection . But despite this common misconception, STDs and STIs arent exactly the same. Each term has a specific meaning:
- STI. An STI is a sexually transmitted infection and doesnt cause any symptoms. Instead, an STI refers to the presence of the virus, bacteria, or other pathogens in your body.
- STD. An STD is a sexually transmitted disease, which does cause symptoms. It happens when the pathogens in your body have led to the cell damage that produces symptoms.
Put simply, an infection just means the presence of the pathogen is in your body, while a disease means youre having symptoms. A condition is only considered an STD if there are symptoms.
This might seem like a small difference, but the distinction is important. This is especially true for STIs that rarely cause symptoms, like chlamydia or gonorrhea. For many people, these STIs wont ever progress to STDs.
Other Complications Of Untreated Chlamydia In All People
- Conjunctivitis, spread by touching the infected area and then touching the hand to the eye
- Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the rectum , if the chlamydia is from anal sex
- Varied symptoms, such as joint and eye inflammation, caused by bacterial infection
- Lymphogranuloma venereum, or LGV. This is caused by a type of chlamydia that is usually rare in the United States, but it is becoming more common in men who have sex with men. It causes open sores in the genital area, headache, fever, fatigue, and swelling of the lymph nodes in the groin. It also causes proctitis in people who get chlamydia through anal sex.
You May Like: What Happens If You Have Chlamydia For A Long Time
Will Treating Someone For Stds Prevent Them From Getting Hiv
No. Its not enough. Screening for STDs can help assess a persons risk for getting HIV. Treatment of STDs is important to prevent the complications of those infections, and to prevent transmission to partners, but it should not be expected to prevent spread of HIV.
If someone is HIV-positive and is diagnosed with an STD, they should receive counseling about risk reduction and how to protect their sex partner from getting re-infected with the same STD or getting HIV.
Health care providers with STD consultation requests can contact the STD Clinical Consultation Network . This service is provided by the National Network of STD Clinical Prevention Training Centers and operates five days a week. STDCCN is convenient, simple, and free to health care providers and clinicians. More information is available at www.stdccn.orgexternal icon.
Treating Stds And Hiv
Its important to get tested if you think youve been exposed to any STD or to HIV. Getting proper treatment can reduce your risk of serious complications and the chance of spreading it to others. Although the treatments for STDs and HIV are different, theres some overlap.
Treating an STD can help to slow the spread of HIV in your body. But STD treatments wont prevent or stop HIV. Similarly, the antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV wont prevent or cure STDs.
The treatments youll need for an STD depend on which one you have.
STDs caused by bacteria like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are treated with antibiotics. STDs caused by viruses like human papilloma virus , hepatitis B, and herpes cant be cured, but treatments can reduce your symptoms and your risk of passing them on to others.
HIV is also caused by a virus and cant be cured. But treatments can stop HIV from progressing to AIDS and can greatly reduce the risk of passing the virus on to sexual partners.
In fact, people who take antiretroviral drugs as directed and have an undetectable amount of HIV in their blood effectively have no risk of transmitting the virus to sexual partners.
Viral STDs or HIV cant be cured, but many people living with them still lead full and active lives. When treated, these conditions dont cause symptoms and dont continue to damage your body. The virus will continue to live in your body, but the treatments will keep it from harming you.
You May Like: Can Yeast Infection Medicine Cure Chlamydia
How Chlamydia Is Treated
Chlamydia can usually be treated easily with antibiotics.
You may be given a course of doxycycline to take for a week or azithromycin to take once a day for 3 days.
If you have doxycycline, you should not have sex until you and your current sexual partner have finished treatment.
If you have azithromycin, you should wait 7 days after treatment before having sex .
Its important that your current sexual partner and any other recent sexual partners you have had are also tested and treated to help stop the spread of the infection.
Under-25s who have chlamydia should be offered another test 3 to 6 months after being treated.
This is because young adults who test positive for chlamydia are at increased risk of catching it again.
Sexual health or genitourinary medicine clinics can help you contact your sexual partners.
Either you or the clinic can speak to them, or they can be sent a note advising them to get tested.
The note will not have your name on it, so your confidentiality will be protected.
Im In A Monogamous Relationship Am I Protected From Stis
No. A monogamous relationship wonât automatically protect you from STIs . Anyone can get a sexually transmitted infection, sometimes even without noticeable symptoms. Although some STIs produce discharge or other visible signs, itâs not always possible to tell by looking at someone if they have an STI. To be protected from STIs, get yourself and your partner screened for STIs before engaging in any sexual contact, and practice safer sex by always using condoms, dams or gloves.
Read Also: How Do You Clear Up Chlamydia
How Can You Protect Yourself From Hiv And Stds
- Avoid or put off having sex. If you do have sex, use a male latex or female condom every time.
- Latex male condoms and female condoms, when used the right way every time, are very effective in preventing HIV and many other STDs. Condoms may prevent the spread of other STDs like HPV or genital herpes, only when the condom covers the infected areas or sores.
- Talk with your partner about HIV and STDs.
- Don’t share drug “works”
- Get STD and HIV counseling and testing.
To find out if you might have an STD, visit your doctor or clinic as soon as you can.
How Do You Treat Chlamydia
Chlamydia can be easily cured with antibiotics prescribed by a healthcare provider.
It is important to complete the full treatment, as prescribed by your healthcare provider, even if symptoms go away sooner. The infection stays in your body until you finish the antibiotics. Also, do not share your medicine with anyone or take someone elses.
Some healthcare providers may give a separate dose of antibiotics for your partner so you do not re-infect each other or anyone else. Do not have sex until you have finished treatment.
Get tested again in 3-4 months to make sure the infection is gone and you were not re-exposed.
You May Like: Amoxicillin For Chlamydia And Gonorrhea
If Left Untreated Can Chlamydia Turn Into Hiv Or Aids
Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!
Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!
HealthTap doctors are based in the U.S., board certified, and available by text or video.
What You Need To Know About The Links Between Hiv And Stds
Many people think that STDs are a harmless “fact of life.” Since most STDs can be cured, people think, “Doctors give you medicine and that’s the end of it, right?” Well, not quite! Having an STD can increase your chances of getting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
You May Like: How To Get Rid Of Oral Chlamydia
Reducing The Risk From Oral Sex
The risk from unprotected oral sex with someone with a detectable viral load increases if you have:
- a throat infection
- damage to the lining of the mouth or throat
- had recent dental work or your gums bleed a lot.
Avoid performing oral sex without protection on someone with a detectable viral load while you have any of the above.
Dont floss or brush teeth before oral sex . Regular check-ups for STIs will pick up infections in your throat.
Remember that other STIs can also be passed on through oral sex, including herpes, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis.
Fast Facts About Chlamydia
- Chlamydia can be transmitted through fucking, getting fucked, oral sex, arse play, fingering and fisting
- Transmission can happen even when no symptoms are present
- If you have symptoms, they can affect your general well-being and health
- Chlamydia can affect anyone of any age
- Chlamydia can occur more than once in someone
- The best way to avoid getting chlamydia is by using condoms whenever you have sexual contact with another guy
Read Also: Does Chlamydia Make You Bleed
How Can A Person Reduce The Risk Of Getting An Std
Sexual abstinence is the only way to eliminate any chance of getting an STD. But if you are sexually active, you can take the following steps to lower your risk for STDs, including HIV.
Choose less risky sexual behaviors.
- Reduce the number of people you have sex with.
- Do not drink alcohol or use drugs before and during sex.
Use condoms correctly every time you have sex.
- Visit this website from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to learn how to use condoms correctly.
A Word From Same Day Std Testing
Any STD can cause significant physical harm. From infertility to organ failure, STDs present a major health risk to sexually active individuals. Thats why its so important for everyone to receive comprehensive STD tests on a regular basis. When you visit one of our facilities, youll not only receive empathetic care and privacy, youll also gain access to the best tests on the market. Call one of our professionals to schedule an appointment here at , or to get tested right away, visit a facility near you!
Read Also: Chlamydia 4 Me Pills Reviews
Health Services For Screening And Treatment Of Stis Remain Weak
People seeking screening and treatment for STIs face numerous problems. These include limited resources, stigmatization, poor quality of services, and little or no follow-up of sexual partners.
- In many countries, STI services are provided separately and not available in primary health care, family planning and other routine health services.
- In many settings, services are often unable to provide screening for asymptomatic infections, lacking trained personnel, laboratory capacity and adequate supplies of appropriate medicines.
Also Check: Can You Have Chlamydia And Not Know
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.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Medicine To Treat Chlamydia
Harm Reduction Services Branch
Most people who have chlamydia have no symptoms, but the infection can still cause irreversible damage to your reproductive system. If you do have symptoms, they may appear one to three weeks after having sex with an infected partner. Symptoms may go away even if left untreated, but it does not mean that the infection has cleared.
I Was Treated For Chlamydia When Can I Have Sex Again
You should not have sex again until you and your sex partner have completed treatment. If your doctor prescribes a single dose of medication, you should wait seven days after taking the medicine before having sex. If your doctor prescribes a medicine for you to take for seven days, you should wait until you have taken all of the doses before having sex.
Recommended Reading: Do Females Have Symptoms Of Chlamydia
How Did I Get Chlamydia If I Didnt Cheat
Chlamydia cant be transmitted without sexual contact, so in some cases, a new chlamydial infection could mean that someone has been unfaithful in the relationship. But penetrative sex isnt a requirement for chlamydia to spread, and other types of intimate contact can also lead to this infection.
However, its also possible for your partner to have asymptomatic chlamydia and be completely unaware of it. In fact, most people with chlamydia will never develop any signs of the disease, but they can still pass it on to new partners and develop complications from a chronic infection. So if you develop new STD symptoms that are compatible with chlamydia but havent cheated, its possible that your partner has had an asymptomatic infection for some time and passed it on to you.
So how exactly can you get chlamydia? Lets find out.
Some Stds Can Cause Hiv To Rebound
One of the primary goals of antiretroviral therapy is to fully suppress HIV to undetectable levels. In doing so, the person with HIV is far less likely to infect others. In fact, most research seems to indicate that an HIV-infected person is more than 90% less likely to infect a committed, non-HIV-infected partner if on fully suppressive ART.
However, if that person were to experience viral rebound , the risk of transmission could increase exponentially.
According to researchers with France’s ANRS , persons with HIV have a nearly 200% greater risk of viral rebound if co-infected with syphilis. On average, primary syphilis infection results in at least a five-fold viral load increase in HIV-infected men. This includes men on continuous, fully suppressive ART, and occurs irrespective of age, sexual orientation, or immune status .
This highlights the greater need for syphilis surveillance in high-risk populations, particularly men who have sex with men who account for 83% of syphilis cases in men and 30% of all new HIV diagnoses in the U.S.
While there doesn’t appear to be any association between other STDs and the risk of viral rebound, the on-going risk of transmission remains high in persons untreated for HIV.
Read Also: Having Chlamydia For A Long Time
Can Chlamydia Be Cured
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.
Do I Need To Use Condoms During My Period
Yes, if you want to avoid pregnancy and STIs. Itâs possible to get pregnant during your period, although the day-specific risk is variable and depends on your cycle, age, and health.
Clueâs 2018 study with the Kinsey Instituteâs Condom Use Research Team found that condoms are used less often during menstruation. It is important to use condoms or a barrier during period sex because many STIs can be transmitted through blood. Using a condom for period sex can prevent pregnancy and protect against STI transmission.
Read Also: How Fast Can I Get Chlamydia Results
Behaviour Change Is Complex
Despite considerable efforts to identify simple interventions that can reduce risky sexual behaviour, behaviour change remains a complex challenge. Research has demonstrated the need to focus on carefully defined populations, consult extensively with the identified target populations, and involve them in design, implementation and evaluation.
Education and counselling can improve peoples ability to recognize the symptoms of STIs and increase the likelihood that they will seek care and encourage a sexual partner to do so. Unfortunately, lack of public awareness, lack of training among health workers, and long-standing, widespread stigma around STIs remain barriers to greater and more effective use of these interventions.
Can You Masturbate With Chlamydia
You can still masturbate by yourself and if you use any sex toys wash them thoroughly after use. # Do make sure all of your current partners are treated as soon as possible. Don’t have sex with your partner/s until they have completed treatment, even with a condom, or you will need to be treated again.
Don’t Miss: I Got Treated For Chlamydia But Still Have Discharge
Stds Can Increase The Risk Of Spreading Hiv
People with HIV are more likely to shed HIV when they have urethritis or a genital ulcer.4, 5 When a person with HIV gets another STD, such as gonorrhea or syphilis, it suggests that they were having sex without using condoms. If so, they may have spread HIV to their partners. Antiretroviral treatment for HIV can prevent the transmission of HIV even from persons who have other STDs.6