Long Term Effects Of Chlamydia In Females

Chlamydia And Female Fertility

If left untreated, chlamydia can spread and infect other parts of the female reproductive system, in particular the uterus and fallopian tubes, which can result in pelvic inflammatory disease . With one in five women with chlamydia developing PID, chlamydia is the most common cause of infertility in women.

PID sometimes develops without causing symptoms and just like chlamydia, it is often diagnosed too late. Over time, the disease causes blocking or scarring to the fallopian tubes, which leads to infertility as well as miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth.

In other cases, PID can lead to an ectopic pregnancy, which represents a serious health risk for the mother.

Warnings For Other Groups

For pregnant women:

Azithromycin hasnt been evaluated in clinical studies of pregnant women. However, when used during pregnancy, the drug hasnt been found to increase the risk of pregnancy loss, birth defects, or other problems.

One study in pregnant rats did show increased risk of fetal death and delays in development after birth. However, most animal studies of the drug havent shown any increased risk of birth defects. And keep in mind that animal studies dont always predict what will happen in humans.

Before taking azithromycin, talk with your doctor if youre pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This drug should be used only if its clearly needed.

For women who are breastfeeding:

Azithromycin does pass into the breast milk of lactating women. Because of this, the drug may cause side effects in a child whos breastfed. These side effects may include diarrhea, vomiting, and rash.

Before taking azithromycin, talk with your doctor about whether its safe for you to breastfeed.

All possible dosages and drug forms may not be included here. Your dosage, drug form, and how often you take the drug will depend on:

• your age

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Chlamydia In Men: Possible Long

by Hassan Thwaini

Chlamydia has made its way around the block and is now the most common sexually transmitted infection . Although chlamydia can be easily cured with a course of antibiotics, when left untreated, chlamydia can lead to severe complications.

Were going to cover both the symptoms and the possible complications of untreated chlamydia in men throughout this blog post. Remember, if you have any doubts about whether you may or may not be suffering from symptoms of chlamydia, or have asymptomatic chlamydia, make sure to order a test kit and put your mind at ease.

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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.

How Can I Reduce My Risk Of Getting Chlamydia

The only way to avoid STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting chlamydia:

• Be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and has negative STD test results
• Use latex condoms the right way every time you have sex.

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How Do You Prevent Chlamydia

Using a new male or female condom or dental dam every time you have sex is the best way to protect against chlamydia.

Chlamydia can be passed on by sharing sex toys. Always cover sex toys with a new condom and wash them after use to reduce your risk of getting chlamydia and other STIs.

Its important to regularly test for chlamydia, even if you dont have any symptoms, especially if youve had multiple sexual partners.

The contraceptive pill and other types of contraception wont prevent you getting chlamydia, and neither will PrEP.

What You Need To Know:

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria. Chlamydia is spread during oral, vaginal, or anal sex. The infection most often affects the urethra, rectum, or throat. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from your bladder to the outside of your body. Anyone with multiple sex partners is at higher risk for chlamydia. Your risk is also increased if you have another STI, such as gonorrhea.

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Is The Risk Of Sequelae Increased During A Repeat Chlamydial Infection

Studies Assessing the Risk of Sequelae after at Least 1 Detected and Treated Chlamydia trachomatis Infection

Repeat infections with C. trachomatis are common and may contribute to the higher incidence of PID among women at high risk , compared with women in the general population . Similarly, the higher risk of repeat chlamydial infection among women with 1 detected infection may help explain the higher rates of PID associated with longer follow-up of these women .

Studies Assessing the Risk of Sequelae after Repeat Chlamydia trachomatis Infections

In the retrospective cohort study assessing diagnosed chlamydia and sequelae risk that was conducted by Hillis et al , women who were identified as C. trachomatis positive 2 times in Wisconsin county databases from 1985 through 1992 were twice as likely and those with 3 diagnosed infections were > 4 times as likely to be hospitalized with an ectopic pregnancy. Another registry study involving 20,762 Norwegian women using the health care system from 1990 through 2003 reported a similar dose-response relationship between detected C. trachomatis infection and ectopic pregnancy . Compared with women who tested negative for C. trachomatis, women with a history of a diagnosed chlamydial infection had almost a 2-fold increased risk of ectopic pregnancy and those with 2 diagnosed chlamydial infections had a 3-fold increased risk of ectopic pregnancy .

Can Chlamydia Be Stopped Long Term Effects Of Chlamydia In Females

The only certain method to prevent chlamydia is to not have vaginal, rectal, or oral sex.

Right use of latex prophylactics significantly lowers but does not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading out chlamydia. If your or your partner dislikes latex, you can utilize polyurethane prophylactics.

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How To Help Partners Get Treatment

If you are not sure whether your sexual partner will seek treatment, ask your doctor for extra chlamydia medication . You can give it to them so they can be treated as soon as possible.

This is known as patient delivered partner therapy for chlamydia. Talk to your doctor to see if PDPT is right for you and your sexual partner.

Symptoms Of Chlamydia In Men

One of the most significant challenges that come with diagnosing chlamydia, and other STIs, is that they typically present no symptoms. The presenting symptoms can also be mild that people ignore them or mistake them for other common conditions such as urinary tract infections .

In men who become symptomatic, chlamydia typically presents in the following ways:

Pain during urination Penile discharge Itchy genitals

Eye pain

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Exact Answer: Up To 7 Days

Chlamydia is a fairly common disease in the category of Sexually Transmitted Infections , and the cause of the disease is a bacterium named Chlamydia Trachomatis. It can be passed through vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse.

However, it is not necessary that chlamydia would only be passed through when there is complete intercourse, it can also be passed if the genitals touch as it is a contagious disease.

Moreover, a person can also get infected with Chlamydia if they come in contact with infected semen, or get it in their eye. It cannot pass through general touches like hugging or shaking hands.

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Short Term And Long Term Effects Of Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a typical STD that can contaminate both men and women. It can create major, irreversible damages to a ladys reproductive system. Short Term And Long Term Effects Of Chlamydia

This can make it challenging or difficult for her to get pregnant later on. Chlamydia can also cause a potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy a pregnancy that takes place outside the womb.

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How Does One Get Chlamydia

Chlamydia is spread through sexual contact with an infected partner. It can be spread through any type of unprotected sex, including penis in vagina sex, anal sex, and oral sex . An eye infection, conjunctivitis, can also be acquired through contact with genital fluids infected with chlamydia.

A person can also be re-infected with chlamydia after having been treated previously. People donât become immune to chlamydia after theyâve had it once.

How Is It Treated

Antibiotics are used to treat chlamydia. It’s important to take all of the medicine as directed. Otherwise the medicine may not work. Both sex partners need treatment to keep from passing the infection back and forth.

As soon as you find out you have chlamydia, be sure to let your sex partners know. Experts recommend that you notify everyone you’ve had sex with in the past 2 months. If you have not had sex in the past 2 months, contact the last person you had sex with.

Having a chlamydia infection that was cured does not protect you from getting it again. If you are treated and your sex partner is not, you probably will get it again.

Some people who have chlamydia also have other STIs, such as gonorrhea.

Finding out that you have an STI may make you feel bad about yourself or about sex. Counseling or a support group may help you feel better.

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The Steadyhealth Team Reacts

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.

Where Can I Get More Information

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.

Division of STD Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-38271-800-783-987

References

1. OFarrell N, Morison L, Moodley P, et al. Genital ulcers and concomitant complaints in men attending a sexually transmitted infections clinic: implications for sexually transmitted infections management. Sexually transmitted diseases 2008 35:545-9.

2. White JA. Manifestations and management of lymphogranuloma venereum. Current opinion in infectious diseases 2009 22:57-66.

3. Kreisel KM, Spicknall IH, Gargano JW, Lewis FM, Lewis RM, Markowitz LE, Roberts H, Satcher Johnson A, Song R, St. Cyr SB, Weston EJ, Torrone EA, Weinstock HS. Sexually transmitted infections among US women and men: Prevalence and incidence estimates, 2018. Sex Transm Dis 2021 in press.

4. CDC. Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 2019. Atlanta, GA: Department of Health and Human Services April 2021.

5. Torrone E, Papp J, Weinstock H. Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis Genital Infection Among Persons Aged 1439 Years United States, 20072012. MMWR 2014 63:834-8.

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Chlamydia Is Caused By Sexually Transmitted Bacteria

The bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis causes chlamydia infection, which usually occurs in the genital tract, so the cervix in women and the penis in men. In both women and men, the bacteria may also infect the rectum and the throat.

“Infections are spread during any kind of sexual activity: vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse,” says Jonathan Schaffir, MD, an ob-gyn at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.

Chlamydia trachomatis can also cause conjunctivitis if the bacteria come into contact with the eyelids or the clear membrane covering the white of the eye.

Because chlamydia infections often cause no symptoms, individuals who have one may not seek medical attention or get treated for it. However, anyone who is infected with chlamydia can pass it to other people, who can, in turn, pass it to others.

Do Past Infections Mean Im Immune

While some studies have looked into the potential for immunity in animals and in humans, there have been no conclusive signs of immunity.

At this point, it seems you cannot become immune to chlamydia after having it. To avoid future infections, its important to practice safe sex and get tested regularlyespecially if you are sexually active with multiple partners.

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What Std Causes Infertility In Females

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the two sexually transmitted diseases that can cause infertility or make pregnancy difficult in females.

Along with potentially causing PID, untreated chlamydia can cause problems during pregnancy, this includes preterm labor, low birth weight, and the passing on of the infection to the newborn. Untreated gonorrhea can also be passed on to a newborn during pregnancy and has also been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.

See also:Chlamydia and Gonorrhea: How to Know the Difference

One of the most reliable ways to keep an eye on your sexual health is through regular sexual health screening. This can be done with your doctor or from home with an at-home lab test.

LetsGetCheckeds range of at-home Sexual Health Tests can detect some of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Online results will be available within 2-5 days and our dedicated clinical team will be available to answer any questions you may have throughout the process. Should you test positive, you will receive a call to discuss your results and your treatment options.

• You have had unprotected sex
• You are experiencing symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection
• You are entering into a new sexual relationship
• You have received a notification from a previous partner that they are infected

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Prevention Of Gonorrhea Infection

The ways to prevent gonorrhea infection include:

• Maintaining good hygiene
• Avoid having unprotected sexual practices. Usage of male or female condom is essential.
• Avoid sexual relation with multiple partners and with partners suffering from STDs.
• Past infections with gonorrhea do not confer immunity. Therefore, annual screening of gonorrhea by people engaged in unprotected sex is mandatory.
• Pregnant women should get tested early to start with immediate treatment so that the baby does not get gonorrhea infection.
• Avoid having sex with infected partner who has not completed the entire course of the treatment.
• The infected person on medications should do a retest after two weeks to confirm if the treatment is working and that there is no bacteria remaining in the body.
• The person treated for gonorrhea infection has high chance of getting it again, hence annual screening, to complete entire course of treatment and to follow above instructions is important.

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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.

Why Is Treatment Of Chlamydia Important

When treated early, chlamydia does not cause any long-term complications. Left untreated, serious and permanent damage can occur.

It may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease . This is when female reproductive organs, found in your pelvis, become inflamed. PID may cause ectopic pregnancies , infertility or chronic pelvic pain.

If not treated, chlamydia can spread to testicles, leading to pain and swelling. Chlamydia may occasionally cause infertility in men. Sometimes chlamydia may trigger a condition called Reiters disease which causes inflammation of your eyes, skin and joints.

Chlamydia can be passed from mother to baby during birth. The baby may subsequently develop eye and/or ear infections or pneumonia.

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Chlamydia Signs And Symptoms In Men

Numerous men dont notice the signs and symptoms of chlamydia. Most men have no signs and symptoms in all.

If signs and symptoms do appear, its generally 1 to 3 weeks after transmission.

Some of one of the most usual symptoms of chlamydia in guys include:

• melting feeling throughout urination
• yellow or green discharge from the penis
• pain in the lower abdominal area
• discomfort in the testicles

Its likewise feasible to obtain a chlamydia infection in the anus. In this case, the main signs are typically discharge, pain, as well as hemorrhaging from this location.

Having oral sex with somebody who has the infection increases the threat of getting chlamydia in the throat. Symptoms can include a sore throat, cough, or fever. Its also feasible to carry microorganisms in the throat and not know it. Short Term And Long Term Effects Of Chlamydia