What Happens If Symptoms Are Left Untreated In Females
If chlamydia isn’t treated, it can spread to other areas and cause serious health conditions. In women, it can spread to the womb, ovaries, or fallopian tubes, and cause pelvic inflammatory disease . PID can cause difficulty in getting pregnant, long-term pelvic pain, and ectopic pregnancy, which is where a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb.
Pregnant women with untreated chlamydia are at risk of passing the infection on to their baby. The baby may develop an eye or lung infection as a result.
Whilst all of our content is written and reviewed by healthcare professionals, it is not intended to be substituted for or used as medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please speak to your doctor.
How Do I Know If I Have Gonorrhea
Some men with gonorrhea may have no symptoms at all. However, men who do have symptoms, may have:
- A burning sensation when urinating
- Painful or swollen testicles .
Most women with gonorrhea do not have any symptoms. Even when a woman has symptoms, they are often mild and can be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. Women with gonorrhea are at risk of developing serious complications from the infection, even if they dont have any symptoms.Symptoms in women can include:
- Painful or burning sensation when urinating
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Vaginal bleeding between periods.
Rectal infections may either cause no symptoms or cause symptoms in both men and women that may include:
- Painful bowel movements.
You should be examined by your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms or if your partner has an STD or symptoms of an STD, such as an unusual sore, a smelly discharge, burning when urinating, or bleeding between periods.
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What Does Syphilis Look Like
The secondary stage presents as a non-itchy rash, sometimes appearing as rough, red, or red-brown spots on the palms or bottoms of feet. It can also have a different appearance and occur on different parts of the body. Condyloma lata, which are large, flat-topped raised lesions, may also develop in warm and moist body parts like the vulva.
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Treated With The Same Type Of Antibiotic
Sexually transmitted infections tend to be something that we dont like to talk about. Despite how common they are, there is still a stigma attached to STIs and a lot of shame and embarrassment around testing positive. Perhaps youre worried about how to tell your partner, or how previous partners will react to the news. Whatever happens, youve done the right thing in getting tested and being honest about it.
Gonorrhea and chlamydia are two common sexually transmitted infections. They are both caused by bacteria and treated with the same type of antibiotics. In many cases, they dont cause symptoms, especially with chlamydia, so its possible to have an STI without knowing. This is how theyre so easily spread, because there are no warning signs.
Order safe treatment for chlamydia
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Chlamydia Symptoms In Women
Chlamydia is often known as the silent infection. Thats because people with chlamydia may not experience symptoms at all.
If a woman contracts the STI, it may take several weeks before any symptoms appear.
Some of the most common symptoms of chlamydia in women include:
- painful sexual intercourse
In some women, the infection can spread to the fallopian tubes, which may cause a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease . PID is a medical emergency.
The symptoms of PID are:
- abnormal vaginal bleeding between periods
Chlamydia can also infect the rectum. Women may not experience symptoms if they have a chlamydia infection in the rectum. If symptoms of a rectal infection do occur, however, they may include rectal pain, discharge, and bleeding.
Additionally, women can develop a throat infection if they have oral sex with someone with the infection. Though its possible to contract it without knowing it, symptoms of a chlamydia infection in your throat include cough, fever, and sore throat.
The symptoms of STIs in men and women can be different, so its important to talk with a healthcare professional if you experience any of the above symptoms.
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How Is Chlamydia Screening Done
A person can test for chlamydia at home or in the lab. They can take either a urine sample or a swab.
- Females can take a swab, place it in a container, and send it to a laboratory.
- Males will usually use a urine test.
A doctor can advise individuals on the best option. They may also recommend rectal or throat testing, especially for people who are living with HIV.
Home screening tests are available, but it is not always easy to do them correctly at home. A healthcare provider will usually recommend following up on any home tests by visiting a doctors office.
The person will likely need to provide a urine sample for a test to confirm a diagnosis. After treatment, they will need to retake the test to ensure that the treatment has worked.
If anyone wishes to try home testing, chlamydia screening test kits are available for purchase online.
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How Can I Prevent Chlamydia Infections
Although the symptoms and complications may sound daunting, in reality, preventing chlamydia infection is very simple. You can avoid chlamydia infections by:
1. Avoiding multiple sex partners. Avoid sexual contact with unknown individuals and maintain your sexual health.
2. Avoiding unprotected intercourse preferably use latex condoms.
If you or your partner are allergic to latex, polyurethane condoms can be used. Even for oral sex, a latex/polyurethane condom can be cut up and used to avoid contact with the genitals.
3. Once chlamydia diagnosed, the patient must ensure treatment of sex partner as well. This is essential to limit the chances of relapse of the disease via infection.
4. Medical education for all sexually active adults regarding safe sex practices and identification of early symptoms of chlamydia infection
5. Ensure that once you identify symptoms of chlamydia or youâre diagnosed with it, you do not pass chlamydia infection to others.
These were the most common symptoms that one may be present with.
Symptoms of chlamydia may be late in onset and sometimes may not present as easily, but always keep an eye out for any discomfort or abnormality you may observe. It ensures early detection and treatment without complications.
Please get in touch with your health care advisor or doctor immediately if you present with any of these symptoms.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Chlamydia In Women
The symptoms of Chlamydia in women are rarely noticeable. Professionals reveal that among a huge number of patients, only 30% females show symptoms related to this disease and rest all suffer from silent infection. In case if symptoms of the disease are present in the body then the person will notice them within 3 weeks right from their occurrence.
Some of the major symptoms associated with Chlamydia disease are:
Can Women Who Have Sex With Women Get Chlamydia
Yes. It is possible to get chlamydia, or any other STI, if you are a woman who has sex only with women. Chlamydia lives in the reproductive tract of an infected woman and can pass to a sex partner, whether male or female.
Talk to your partner about her sexual history before having sex, and ask your doctor or nurse for an STI test if you are at risk.6
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Can I Test Myself For Chlamydia At Home
Home testing kits for chlamydia are widely available and can be purchased at many pharmacies or online.
These kits typically require a urine sample or tissue swab, which you can collect at home and securely ship back to the lab to receive your results.
Some companies also include a free medical consultation with a doctor if your test results are positive to review your treatment options.
How Do You Know When Chlamydia Is Gone
Improvement should occur right after receiving treatment. Some of the changes that you might notice include:
- Pain while urinating will improve within a week.
- Discharge will return to normal.
- There wont be bleeding between periods or heavier periods.
- Pelvic pain will fade away.
- Pain during sexual intercourse will decrease.
To prevent yourself from catching it again, get re-tested three months after treatment. This is essential if you engage in sexual intercourse with a partner who hasnt been tested for chlamydia.
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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.
Chlamydia: Symptoms And Treatment
No surprise that the most common STI in the UK is also the easiest to spread. Its also an STI in which the STI symptoms in women are subtle, at best. Very few people who are infected will even know about it, says Knox.
So, what to look for, if you do have warning signs of the infection? In women, chlamydia can cause pain or a burning sensation when you pee, abnormal vaginal discharge this may be clear or yellowish in colour pain in the lower abdomen during intercourse, heavy periods and irregular spotting.
Think you might have the infection? Chlamydia can be diagnosed with a urine or swab test of the infected area either at a sexual health clinic, GUM clinic, GP surgery, or via an at-home testing kit, if youre feeling shy then treated with a course of antibiotics.
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What Is A Chlamydia Infection
Chlamydia is among the most common STDs in the world. Many people have it its estimated that 1 in 20 sexually active young women aged 14-24 has chlamydia.
The main cause for chlamydia is the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis that affects both men and women. The chlamydia infection is easily spread because it often has no symptoms and you can unknowingly pass it to your sexual partner.
Although you dont have outward symptoms in the early stages, its important to be careful. If you dont treat it on time, chlamydia can cause infertility or a risky pregnancy.
What Are Your Chances Of Catching An Sti
If youre sexually active and don’t use a condom every time, have had more than one sexual partner, and your partner has, too, then youre at risk. Meet the stats:
- According to Public Health England, one in four STI cases occur in London thats 100,000 people affected per year in the capital alone. And the Citys not alone STI cases are highest in urban areas.
- In 2019, there was a 5% increase in STIs in England, with almost 44,800 new cases being reported in 12 months.
- In 2015 , chlamydia accounted for 46.1% of all STIs diagnosed and 70% of those cases were female.
- Genital herpes and genital warts are most common among the 20-24 age group. Overall, women account for 63% of genital herpes cases.
- Instances of gonorrhoea an STI which is becoming resistant to antibiotic treatment have increased every year since 2008, and was up 11% between 2014 and 2015 alone.
If you do have unprotected sex, head to a sexual health clinic ASAP, so that they can detect any STIs and help you to treat them.
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How To Tell Your Partner You Have Chlamydia
The first thing you need to do when your test comes back positive is to tell your partner. Your sexual partner should know about the infection so that they too can be tested and treated. If you dont tell them about your condition, youre risking getting reinfected.
Here are some tips for handling the conversation:
- Educate yourself about the STD youve contracted so you can thoroughly explain to your partner what exactly you have, the treatment, and how you plan on keeping them safe.
- Inform your current or most recent sexual partner about a positive STD test by telling them face-to-face, or by calling them. Sending them a message is not the most respectful way.
- When telling them the news, stay calm and collected. Sit them down and tell them youve been tested. Tell them that the results are positive and discuss the next steps.
- Make sure you keep your partner from getting infected. Use condoms at all times, take antibiotics, and abstain from intercourse during your treatment.
Uterus Fallopian Tubes And Ovaries
The most dangerous complication of chlamydial infection in women is pelvic inflammatory disease . PID is when the infection spreads to the internal reproductive organs . In many women, this may not cause symptoms. In others, it can cause :
- Nausea and vomiting
If left untreated, PID can damage the internal reproductive organseven if you dont have symptoms. This damage includes scarring of the fallopian tubes, one cause of infertility. PID also increases the chances of having an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg attaches somewhere in the body other than the uterus. If the egg attaches to the fallopian tube, it can cause the fallopian tube to rupture as the egg develops. A ruptured ectopic pregnancy can lead to pain, internal bleeding, shock, and even deathits a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment .
A further complication of PID is a condition called Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome. In Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome, the infection spreads to the lining of the liver, which is called perihepatitis. Over time, this can cause internal scarring and adhesions that, if severe, require surgery to remove. One potential symptom of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis is pain in the upper right side of the abdomen .
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Std Treatments For Women
STD treatments for women depend on the type of STD you have, including the intensity of said STD.
In most cases, if you do receive an STD diagnosis, treatment will involve a round of antibiotics, antivirals and/or a topical cream, though the type of medication you receive may differ depending on where you live.
Oral Chlamydia: Symptoms Causes Diagnosis And Treatment
Detecting a condition that has no symptoms, like chlamydia in women, comes down to screening. Screening is a way to look for a disease in a person even if they dont have any signs or symptoms of the condition. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for chlamydia in sexually active females under 25. For women over 25, screening is only necessary for those at higher risk of infection .
The same recommendations are in place for women who are pregnant. However, pregnant women should also be retested in the third trimester if under age 25 or at increased risk. Screening is important because, in addition to causing infertility, infection with chlamydia can cause issues during pregnancy and in the newborn. During pregnancy, chlamydia may lead to early rupture of the fluid sac containing the fetus and early delivery of the newborn. If the infant is exposed to chlamydia during birth, it can cause pneumonia or conjunctivitis .
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What Does Chlamydia Do To Your Body
Although chlamydia doesnt usually cause any symptoms, it can be serious if you dont get treatment early on.
The bacteria can spread to your fallopian tubes and uterus. If this happens, it might cause pelvic inflammatory disease which results in abdominal and pelvic pain. Even if PID does not cause abdominal and pelvic pain, it can still do permanent damage to your reproductive system. PID can lead to an inability to get pregnant, long-term pelvic pain, and ectopic pregnancy.
How Can I Protect Myself From Chlamydia
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:
- 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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How Gonorrhea And Chlamydia Are Tested
Both gonorrhea and chlamydia can be diagnosed with similar methods. A healthcare provider might do a physical examination to look for symptoms, and they may do a urine test to check for the bacteria that cause chlamydia or gonorrhea.
But screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea doesnât have to take place at a clinic. With the Everlywell at-home Chlamydia & Gonorrhea Test, you can easily check for these STIs from the comfort and privacy of your home.
The kit comes with easy-to-follow instructions and everything you need to collect your sample at home, and your physician-reviewed results can be conveniently and securely viewed online on your device. Plus, if you receive a positive result after you get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea with the Everlywell at-home test, youâll have the opportunity to connect with our independent physician networkâand may be prescribed medication to treat the infection.
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