When To See A Doctor
If youre experiencing chlamydia symptoms whether in your genitals, rectum, throat, or eyes its essential to see a doctor.
A urine test can also diagnose chlamydia, and many individuals choose this option because it is less invasive than a swab.
In most cases, you can cure chlamydia with a single course of antibiotics. Dont delay if you think you may have chlamydia, make an appointment with your doctor today. Its best to nip any STD in the bud as soon as possible to avoid further complications.
Regular Screening Prevents Later Problems
When young women and other women at high risk for chlamydia follow CDC guidelines and get yearly screening, they reduce their risk for the serious problems that the illness can cause. They are less likely to suffer infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and other serious health troubles than women who skip yearly testing.
Testing is easy. If it helps you remember, do it the week after your birthday, or tie it to some other annual event, like July 4th. That way, you can declare your independence from worry about STDs.
Chlamydia is usually passed on through unprotected vaginal, or oral sex.
Chlamydia cant be passed on through kissing, hugging, sharing towels or using the same toilet as someone with the infection.
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What Are Popular Chlamydia Treatments
Chlamydia is easily cured with antibiotics prescribed by a doctor. However, antibiotics cannot repair any permanent damage the bacteria has caused, so it is important to get treated as soon as possible. It is essential that those treated for chlamydia follow all antibiotics instructions provided by the doctor, as failure to complete the course can lead to further difficulty in eradicating the bacteria.
To prevent reinfection and spread, all sexual partners should undergo treatment, ideally at the same time. While on antibiotics, you should refrain from sex until the course is finished. When resuming sexual activity, use a latex condom. If symptoms, like pelvic pain, persist after one week, schedule a follow-up visit with your doctor. It is common to get a repeat infection, so get tested again in three months to ensure the infection is gone.
Pregnant women should also get a test when visiting a doctor for their first prenatal visit.
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Home Remedies For Chlamydia Symptoms
You may still experience painful or uncomfortable symptoms while youre taking chlamydia antibiotics.
Here are some home remedies for reducing your pain and other symptoms while youre waiting for the antibiotics to work:
- pain medications, such as ibuprofen to reduce pain
- cold pack to help limit swelling and inflammation
- goldenseal to reduce inflammation and potentially make symptoms less severe
- echinacea to bolster your immune system against the infection and reduce your symptoms
- turmeric containing an ingredient called curcumin to reduce inflammation and make symptoms less severe
No studies support the effectiveness of these supplements specifically for chlamydia, so take them with caution.
And theres no substitute for antibiotics when treating chlamydia. Only try these remedies if youre already taking antibiotics or if you plan to go to the doctor.
How Is Chlamydia Infection Treated
If you were diagnosed with the infection then you will need treatment. The good news is that chlamydia can be treated and cured. The drugs used are doxycycline, azithromycin, amoxicilin. In pregnant women with the infection, amoxicillin and azithromycin are safe.
Doxycycline is given twice daily for a week. However, it has some side effects which include vomiting, nausea, mild passage of watery stool and skin rash. If you experience any problems while taking your medications, you should inform your doctor.
In addition, you should complete your medications and take them. Also, where possible, your doctor will prescribe drugs for your partner. It is important to talk to him or her on need for treatment.
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How Long Does It Take To Show Up In The Throat
Symptoms of chlamydia in your throat are typically caused by having oral sex with someone whos contracted the infection.
Its much less common to notice throat symptoms, but they may still appear after a week or so, up to a few months or longer.
STI tests that look for chlamydia arent always done on the throat since its an area that does not carry the infection often. Ask your doctor for a throat swab or other chlamydia test if you think youve been exposed through oral sex.
Here are the most common symptoms of chlamydia in both people with penises and people with vulvas.
What Are The Early Signs Of Chlamydia
Most of the time chlamydia doesnt have any symptoms at first, so there probably wont be any early signs. And sometimes the symptoms are so mild that people dont notice them or mistake them for something else.
The only way to know for sure if you have chlamydia is to get tested whether or not you have symptoms. If you do have symptoms, its important to get tested right away. They can take several weeks after you get the infection to show up. Possible symptoms include:
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pain or burning while peeing
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pain during sex
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abnormal vaginal discharge
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bleeding between periods
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swollen or tender testicles
If you or your partner has any of these symptoms, go to a nurse, doctor, or your local Planned Parenthood health center for testing and treatment. In general, its a good idea to get tested for STDs regularly, including chlamydia. Ask your doctor or nurse how often you should get tested.
Tags:STD symptoms, chlamydia
Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. is a registered 501 nonprofit under EIN 13-1644147. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable under the law.
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Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes
In the United States and other developed countries, the prevention of sexually transmitted genital infections and complications mainly focuses on screening and treating nonpregnant sexually active women aged 25 years or younger on an annual basis. Screening for pregnant women is recommended, and screening and treatment of women over 25 years of age are recommendations if there are identifiable risk factors, such as new or multiple sexual partners. Screening of young men in high-risk settings should be a consideration if resources allow. Urine or endocervical NAAT are the recommended screening tests. The partner should be screened and treated at the same time.
Healthcare workers and nurse practitioners should educate patients on the importance of using a condom during sex, practicing safe sex or abstaining from sexual activity to prevent chlamydia.
Pharmacists should verify dosing and agent selection for antimicrobial therapy, check for drug interactions, and report any concerns to the prescriber.
The prognosis is excellent with prompt initiation of treatment early, and with the completion of the entire course of antibiotics, antibiotic treatment is 95% effective for first-time therapy.
No vaccine is currently available for either trachoma or chlamydial genital infections.
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 Can I Protect Myself And Prevent Chlamydia
Sex is a normal and healthy part of life, and STIs are unfortunately a third wheel that you may have to deal with from time to time. Thankfully, there are ways to reduce your risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections like chlamydianamely by using condoms and dental dams whenever you get intimate. Talk with your doctor if youre concerned that you may have been exposed to an STI, or if youd like to get tested just to be sure.
And dont feel embarrassed or guilty if you do have chlamydia. There is a sense of shame around sexually transmitted diseases, Dr. Grifo says. Well, whats the shame? You had sex. People have sex all the time. You treat it and move on with your life.
Burning Sensation When Urinating
Chlamydia can cause a burning sensation when you urinate. Its easy to mistake this for a symptom of a urinary tract infection.
You might also feel like you have the urge to urinate more often than usual. And when you do go to urinate, only a little bit comes out. Your urine might also smell unusual or look cloudy.
If you have chalmydia, you might also feel some pain during sex, especially intercourse.
You may also some bleeding and lingering irritation after any type of sexual activity involving penetration.
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How Do I Know If I Have Chlamydia
Chlamydia often has no symptoms, but it can cause serious health problems, even without symptoms. If symptoms occur, they may not appear until several weeks after having sex with a partner who has chlamydia.
Even when chlamydia has no symptoms, it can damage a womans reproductive system. Women with symptoms may notice
- An abnormal vaginal discharge and
- A burning sensation when peeing.
Symptoms in men can include
- A burning sensation when peeing and
- Pain and swelling in one or both testicles .
See a healthcare provider if you notice any of these symptoms. You should also see a provider if your partner has an STD or symptoms of one. Symptoms can include
- An unusual sore
Chlamydia And Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease, better known as PID, is a bacterial infection of the womb and/or fallopian tubes. Itâs often caused by chlamydia and it causes chlamydia related infertility in women as described above.
The most common symptoms of PID in women are:
- abdominal vaginal bleeding .
- lower back pain
Some women become ill over the course of just a few days, but the infection can also occur slowly, . PID is very common in the UK, with around 1 in 50 women developing it each year. Itâs most prevalent among the 15 â 24 age group and a womanâs chances of developing PID are much higher if she has contracted an STI such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea.
The treatment for PID is a two week course of antibiotics. In serious cases, a stay in hospital may be needed.
Chlamydia is transmitted primarily through sexual activity. The following are the most common ways:
- unprotected intercourse with an infected partner
- sharing sex toys
- from mother to the newborn during vaginal childbirth through the infected birth channel
- infection can be transferred on fingers from the genitals to other parts of the body
Chlamydia is not contracted through simple kissing, handshaking, any casual contacts, sharing baths, towels and cups as well as from toilet seats.
Chlamydia trachomatis, an obligate intracellular human pathogen, is one of four bacterial species in the genus Chlamydia. 3D illustration
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Typical Antibiotics Prescribed To Those Infected
You can treat chlamydia and completely remove it from the system. The best treatment options are prescribed by your doctor, and they include proper antibiotics with high potency. Depending on the potency required and how allergic you are to the ingredients, your doctor can prescribe:
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When Should You See A Doctor About Chlamydia Symptoms
There are a few reasons its a good idea to see your doctor for STI screening. Dr. Soper says if you have had a high-risk exposure, had unprotected sex with multiple partners, or had sex with someone who has had multiple partners, its best to rule out any infections. Seek out screening even before symptoms occur since so much of chlamydia infection is asymptomatic, he says.
If it turns out you do have chlamydia, know that it is easily treatable with either a single dose or a seven-day course of antibiotics, according to the CDC. Unlike, say, herpes, which is a virus and can live in your nerve roots and reappear, chlamydia doesnt do that, but it can be present for a long period of time, Dr. Soper says. If you treat it effectively, it doesnt come back unless you get exposed again. And dont forget to inform your partner if youve been infected. After all, wouldnt you want your partner to let you know? Its the responsible thing to do.
Its also a good idea to get retested in three months, Dr. Reno says, as you are at an increased risk of another STI. But not for the reasons you might think. Chlamydia doesnt actually make you more prone to getting another STI, Dr. Grifo says, but rather the person or people youre having sex with could have multiple exposures to STIs that then put you at risk, including someone you may think is monogamous.
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What Are The Complications Of Chlamydia Infection
Because chlamydia does not show symptoms in everyone that is infected, it can easily cause long term problems in both men and women. If treatment does not occur early some of this complications are possible.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease . This is an ascending infection that affects the fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus and abdomen. It can cause severe pain and infertility in women.
- Peri-hepatitis. This is due to inflammation of the covering of the liver.
- In children, chlamydia can cause red eyes and pneumonia.
- If the fallopian tubes are affected, the baby may grow outside the uterus. This will cause severe pain or fainting attack if it ruptures
- Infertility or inability to conceive
- Increased chance of contacting other sexually transmitted infections like HIV, Gonorrhea, Trichomoniasis.
Symptoms Of Chlamydia And Gonorrhea
Once in a while somebody with gonorrhea or chlamydia doesnt show any side effects.
Truth be told, 75% of ladies and half of men with chlamydia show no side effects.
It is muddled how basic it is with gonorrhea, yet a few evaluations are that most of people show no side effects.
Indeed, even without any side effects, it is as yet conceivable to transmit the illness and harm the reproductive system. The key indications of gonorrhea and chlamydia can show up inside one to three weeks in the wake of engaging in sexual relations with a cooperate with the STD.
There are a few contrasts in how both STDs present in men versus ladies, yet all in all the most widely recognized revealed indications in the two people are:
Men can likewise have a more uncommon indication of expanding or agony in either or the two balls. Both can contaminate one or the two eyes causing release, conjunctivitis , or affectability to light. Both can likewise spread or contaminate the rear-end causing:
Gonorrhea and chlamydia can likewise display mellow side effects, driving a few ladies to accept they have a yeast disease and self-treat with over the counter prescription.
Hence, it is imperative to counsel a specialist to guarantee you get an appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
Chlamydia is usually passed on through unprotected vaginal, or oral sex.
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Common Symptoms Of Male Chlamydia
Chlamydia should be treated as early as possible to avoid severe health complications. If left untreated, it can cause a condition in men called nongonococcal urethritis . In this condition, it can cause inflammation in the prostate glands, urethra, epididymis or rectum, infertility and narrowing of the urethra or stricture. So, when one notices certain signs and symptoms of Chlamydia, he should immediately approach a doctor for proper treatment. Let us discuss the Chlamydia symptoms men experience:
How To Prevent Oral Chlamydia
Abstinence is the only way to completely avoid oral chlamydia. Barring that, you can lower your risk by reducing your number of sex partners.
Using condoms or dental dams consistently can also reduce the risk of either passing or getting an STD like chlamydia. This not only include external condoms but also internal condoms.
If you don’t have a dental dam, you can simply cut a condom lengthwise and open it flat.
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How To Treat Chlamydia Symptoms In Women
Chlamydia will not clear up on its own. You will need to treat it with antibiotics. There are two types of chlamydia treatments, azithromycin and doxycycline. These are chlamydia tablets or pills that you swallow whole with water.
Doxycycline is the recommended chlamydia treatment as it is more effective. You take doxycycline twice a day for 7 days.
Azithromycin is usually prescribed if you canât take doxycycline. Itâs taken for 3 days. You take two 500mg tablets on the first day and one 500mg tablet on the second and third day.
You should not have sex at any time whilst you are taking the treatment course and for a week after. This is because your body may take up to 7 days after treatment to respond to the antibiotics.
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.
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