What Are The Long Term Effects Of Chlamydia

Long Term Effects Of Untreated Chlamydia In Males

Chlamydia can be difficult to recognize at a glance. It has symptoms that are rather difficult to detect. A medical diagnosis is the only way to know for sure if the infection is present.

To further compound the issue, it is possible for the infection to never show any visible symptoms at all. The only way to be absolutely sure if you are a carrier is to take a proactive interest in your own sexual health. And by sexual health, we mean overall health. Therefore, this infection may never be properly treated and can lead to complications in all parts of the body.

The best offense against chlamydia is a good defense. A regularly scheduled screening for sexually transmitted diseases and infections is critical. myLAB Boxs at-home STI testing kits are a perfect way to test without ever leaving the comfort of home.

Routine screening is paramount. Especially since the male symptoms of chlamydia can be remarkably difficult to detect.

What Are The Treatments For Chlamydia

Antibiotics will cure the infection. You may get a one-time dose of the antibiotics, or you may need to take medicine every day for 7 days. Antibiotics cannot repair any permanent damage that the disease has caused.

To prevent spreading the disease to your partner, you should not have sex until the infection has cleared up. If you got a one-time dose of antibiotics, you should wait 7 days after taking the medicine to have sex again. If you have to take medicine every day for 7 days, you should not have sex again until you have finished taking all of the doses of your medicine.

It is common to get a repeat infection, so you should get tested again about three months after treatment.

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How Long Until Chlamydia Causes Damage

Symptoms usually appear within one to three weeks after being infected and may be very mild. If not treated, chlamydia can lead to damage to the reproductive system. In women, chlamydial infection can spread to the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease , according to the CDC.

Can chlamydia cause permanent damage?

Chlamydia is a common STD that can infect both men and women. It can cause serious, permanent damage to a womans reproductive system. This can make it difficult or impossible for her to get pregnant later on. Chlamydia can also cause a potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy .

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How Chlamydias Passed On

Chlamydia is usually passed from one person to another through sexual contact.

Chlamydia is most commonly spread through:

• sharing sex toys that arent washed or covered with a new condom each time theyre used.

It can be spread by giving or receiving oral sex with someone who has chlamydia. The risk can be lowered by using a condom or a dam to cover the genitals.

If youre pregnant its possible to pass chlamydia to the baby .

You cant get chlamydia from kissing, hugging, sharing baths or towels, swimming pools, toilet seats or from sharing cups, plates or cutlery.

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Who Should Be Tested For Chlamydia

You should go to your health provider for a test if you have symptoms of chlamydia, or if you have a partner who has a sexually transmitted disease. Pregnant women should get a test when they go to their first prenatal visit.

People at higher risk should get checked for chlamydia every year:

• Sexually active women 25 and younger
• Older women who have new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted disease
• Men who have sex with men

How Do I Know If I Have An Sti Get Tested Once A Year And Between Every Partner

As these infections often dont cause symptoms, the only way to know for sure if you have an STI is to get tested regularly if youre having sex. Regularly means at least once a year and between every new partner. Its much better to know than not to know so that if you do have an STI, you can get it treated as soon as possible.

The best way to get tested regularly is with a GP. If you dont want to do this, you could visit a sexual health clinic, True Relationships and Reproductive Health clinic, Aboriginal Medical Services or other community testing sites. If you think you have any STI symptoms, a GP or nearest sexual health clinic are the best options to get tested and treated quickly.

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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:

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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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What Are The Symptoms And Long

For women, the long-term effects of an untreated chlamydia infection may include:

• Severe infection with pain and fever requiring a hospital stay.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease, an infection of the upper reproductive tract.
• Scarring in the reproductive tract that causes infertility.
• Higher risk of ectopic pregnancy.

What are the long-term effects chlamydia?

Untreated chlamydia can affect the female reproductive organs through pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to inflammation of the fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries. This inflammation can cause an increased buildup of scar tissue, which can result in infertility.

What Problems Can Happen

If its not treated, chlamydia can lead to:

• in girls: pelvic inflammatory disease , which can damage the reproductive system, making it hard or impossible for a woman to get pregnant later on
• in guys: swelling in the testicles and tubes at the back of the testicles, possibly preventing a man from fathering kids later on

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How Is Epididymitis Treated If You Have Chlamydia

There are several reasons why epididymitis might develop STIs such as chlamydia are just one. Patients are usually treated with a course of antibiotics, and in some cases NSAIDs or other painkillers may be used to ease discomfort. This condition can affect the joints, eyes or the urethra.

However, if you have oral chlamydia symptoms, you may need to see your doctor for throat swab culture. The culture of chlamydia takes about 3 7 days. If diagnosed with chlamydia, you can easily be treated and cured with azithromycin or doxycycline tablets. During pregnancy, chlamydia infection can be treated safely with azithromycin.

If chlamydia is properly treated, within 3 5 weeks, you will test negative for chlamydia. However, if youve had intercourse while on treatment, you may still have chlamydia and may test positive. Can chlamydia go away and come back? If youve had unprotected intercourse, its likely you may not have chlamydia if your partner is not infected.

There are several reasons why epididymitis might develop STIs such as chlamydia are just one. Patients are usually treated with a course of antibiotics, and in some cases NSAIDs or other painkillers may be used to ease discomfort. This condition can affect the joints, eyes or the urethra.

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Can Chlamydia Go Away Without Treatment

It is unlikely that a chlamydial infection will go away without treatment. If symptoms of the infection appear, they might improve temporarily without treatment, but the bacteria may remain in the body. This can lead to severe complications and long term damages.

Therefore, it is vital to get screened, diagnosed, and treated immediately if you suspect you may have made contact with infected fluid.

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What Happens If Chlamydia Goes Untreated For 2 Years

In most cases, chlamydia symptoms will occur within weeks of exposure. Chlamydia symptoms usually appear within one to three weeks after being infected. They can range in severity levels.

Different cases of chlamydia can progress at different rates. If left untreated, some cases of chlamydia could cause important symptoms and even complications in just a few months, while others could take a longer time such as 2 years before any complications appear and cause damage to the reproductive system.

Chlamydial infections in women may spread to the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease which may damage the fallopian tubes and uterus and cause chronic pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. Women who have chlamydia also are at much greater risk for becoming infected with HIV. In men, complications from chlamydia are rare.

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Does Your Partner Need To Get Treated Too

If you have a sexual partner, or if youve recently had sex with someone, talk with them about your chlamydia diagnosis. Theyll need to get tested and treated, too.

If your sexual partner doesnt seek treatment, theres a risk that they can transmit it back to you, even after your infection has been cured.

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What Are The Long Term Effects Of Chlamydia

Long term effects of chlamydia in women 1 Pelvic inflammatory disease Pelvic inflammation disease can occur from untreated chlamydia infections. 2 Infertility. 3 Ectopic pregnancy. 4 Miscarriage. 5 Premature low birth weight babies. 6 Increased chance of contacting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

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 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.

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How Can I Reduce My Risk Of Getting Chlamydia

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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What Does Chlamydia Infection Mean For My Health

Chlamydia can be treated and cured easily, but that doesnt mean that chlamydia infection isnt potentially dangerous. If chlamydia is not detected and left untreated, it can cause complications serious complications in men and women.

Untreated chlamydia infections in women may lead to:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease , a serious infection of a womans reproductive organs . Left untreated, PID can cause infertility , chronic pelvic pain, or ectopic pregnancy .
• A condition called mucopurulent cervicitis, characterized by a yellow discharge from the cervix

Untreated chlamydia in men may lead to:

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Long Term Effect On Women

As noted earlier, untreated chlamydia can trigger several health complications in infected women. For instance, the infection can adversely affect a womans reproductive organs through PID.

This infection can lead to the inflammation of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus, leading to pelvic pain and infertility through the build-up of scar tissue. Most times, when chlamydia causes these adverse effects, the damage is nearly impossible to reverse.

Chlamydial infections also increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy in women. This complication occurs when a fertilized egg starts growing outside of the uterus in a fallopian tube. This can lead to a ruptured tube if the pregnancy is not removed.

Untreated chlamydia also increases your risk of contracting other sexually transmitted infections like syphilis and gonorrhea.

How To Treatment Of Chlamydia

Antibiotics, consisting of azithromycin and doxycycline, are typically recommended to treat chlamydia. Patients need to wait up until the chlamydia has been totally cured before taking part in sexual behavior.

If you start to exhibit symptoms once again after a successful course of treatment, it is most likely that you have been reinfected since treatment usually does not cannot remove the bacteria. Women typically have a high rate of reinfection and need to be tested once again within 3 to 4 months following the conclusion of treatment.

We hope the above info was practical.

Good luck! Have a nice weekend!

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Symptoms Of Ectopic Pregnancy

The symptoms of ectopic pregnancy are often difficult to spot early on, and sometimes it might not be obvious until they become more serious.

You might have an ectopic pregnancy if youve missed a period, or if you have a positive pregnancy test and notice:

• vaginal bleeding
• shoulder tip pain
• pain or discomfort when using the toilet

If you have a positive pregnancy test and notice any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

If an ectopic pregnancy gets too big it can cause a rupture or tear in the fallopian tube. This is an emergency and surgery is usually needed to repair the area. The signs of a rupture are:

• sudden and severe stomach pain
• lightheadedness or dizziness
• vomiting or feeling sick

So Im Having Sexhow Do I Make Sure I Dont Get An Sti

If youre having sex, the best way to prevent getting an STI whilst having any kind of sexual contact is to use condoms for protection. This includes oral sex, although dental dams are also available. Condoms literally create a barrier between your skin and someone elses, so that most STIs cant get through.

You should also use condoms on sex toys if youre sharing them or using them in more than one part of the body.

It sounds easy right? And in many ways it is, but lets be real it isnt always. Especially when the person youre having sex with throws you a curve ball with a line like, But sex doesnt feel as good with a condom.

Coming back from those kinds of lines can be hard and negotiating to have safe sex in those situations or in the heat of the moment can be tricky. Whether its a playful conversation or a more serious one, having a chat with your partner about condoms and getting regular STI testing is key to taking the worry out of sex and getting on with the fun stuff. Some of these conversation starters may help.

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How Long After Treatment Can I Have Sex Again

You should avoid being sexually active during treatment for chlamydia because you can still pass the infection to your sex partner during this time, even if you have no symptoms.

How long you should wait to have sex depends on the antibiotic you take.

If your doctor prescribes a single dose of antibiotics, wait until seven days after taking it. If you take a multi-dose antibiotic, wait until youve taken the full course of medication .

Because it is somewhat common to get a repeat infection of chlamydia, its a good idea to be tested for it again about three months after treatment.

What Complications Can Result From Chlamydial Infection

The initial damage that chlamydia causes often goes unnoticed. However, chlamydial infections can lead to serious health problems with both short- and long-term consequences.

In women, untreated chlamydia can spread into the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease . Symptomatic PID occurs in about 10 to 15 percent of women with untreated chlamydia.30,31 However, chlamydia can also cause subclinical inflammation of the upper genital tract . Both acute and subclinical PID can cause permanent damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus, and surrounding tissues. The damage can lead to chronic pelvic pain, tubal factor infertility, and potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy.32,33

Some patients with chlamydial PID develop perihepatitis, or Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome, an inflammation of the liver capsule and surrounding peritoneum, which is associated with right upper quadrant pain.

In pregnant women, untreated chlamydia has been associated with pre-term delivery,34 as well as ophthalmia neonatorum and pneumonia in the newborn.

Reactive arthritis can occur in men and women following symptomatic or asymptomatic chlamydial infection, sometimes as part of a triad of symptoms formerly referred to as Reiters Syndrome.35

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