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.
What Are The Symptoms Of Chlamydia In Men
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection/disease caused by a bacteria . This means that it is spread by having sex or sexual contact with somebody who has already caught it. Chlamydia symptoms in women can include pelvic pain, discomfort when passing urine and vaginal discharge- infection can cause serious illness and severe fertility problems, as well as increasing the risk of ectopic pregnancy . But what are the symptoms of Chlamydia in men?
Effects Of The Disease
Chlamydia can cause infertility if it is not treated. It damages sperm and scars the reproductive tract. It also damages your sperm in ways that can make birth defects prevalent.
Chlamydia can also affect you in non-sexual ways. You can get recurring pink eye, reactive arthritis and rheumatological conditions.
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Chlamydia In Male Genitals
- inflammation,
- pain, and discomfort.
The most prevalent sign of chlamydia infection is penile discharge. A white and clear penile discharge after sexualintercourse or arousal is completely normal. However, if the penile dischargecontains pus or is cloudy and bleeding, it could be a sign of chlamydia. Thistype of discharge is often accompanied by a strong itching sensation and couldbe painful.
The picture below depicts a cloudy and watery discharge emerging from the tip of the penis. In this particular example, the discharge is the result of a chlamydia infection, but in many cases, it could be a sign of any other STI or bacterial infection.
Aside from discharge, chlamydia can cause swollen testicles, as depicted in the image below. In this particular example, the left side of the image shows a healthy testicle, while the right side depicts an inflamed testicle and epididymis. Here, chlamydia has manifested in the male genitals and has resulted in painful inflammation.
Should You Get Tested
If you are experiencing symptoms of an STD, its important to get tested. Untreated STDs can cause serious health complications, and having sex could spread your STD to other partners. Most STDs are easily curable or treatable when detected early.
Even if you arent experiencing symptoms, you cant tell for sure if you have an STD or not. Its common for STDs to show no symptoms or have symptoms that go unnoticed.
Regular STD testing is important if you have sex, whether you seem healthy or not. Getting tested is the only way to know if you have an STD, and its an important part of looking out for your health and being responsible.
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Preventing The Spread Of Infection
It is absolutely necessary to inform the partner if you get a positive test for Chlamydia. The sooner the partner is told the more effective and simple the treatment can be. Make sure your partner gets tested and receives the treatment as well and abstain from the intercourse until the treatment of both you and the partner is finished.
How Do You Get Chlamydia
Chlamydia is usually passed on through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex.
Chlamydia can be passed on through genital contact. This means you can get chlamydia from someone who has the infection if your genitals touch, even if you dont have sex or ejaculate .
You can also get chlamydia if you come into contact with infected semen or vaginal fluid, or get them in your eye.
Chlamydia cant be passed on through kissing, hugging, sharing towels or using the same toilet as someone with the infection.
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Chlamydia Symptoms In Men
Chlamydia is one of the most common STDs in men and women. Its caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis and can be spread through oral, vaginal, or anal sex. Most men who have a chlamydia infection show no obvious signs, though some develop symptoms within several weeks of infection.
According to the CDC, if a man experiences chlamydia symptoms, they typically are due to one of two complications:1
- Urethritis An infection causing inflammation of the urethra, the tube that allows urine and semen to exit the penis.
- Symptoms include:
- Tenderness or swelling of the testicle
How Long Can You Have Chlamydia Without Knowing
If youve had intercourse with an infected man or woman, chlamydia symptoms may appear between 1 3 weeks after contact.
However, you may still be asymptomatic after a chlamydia infection. This is because chlamydia can be silent or dormant for months and years without showing symptoms.
In men, about 50 70 percent will show symptoms of chlamydia while only 30 50 percent of women will be symptomatic. Absent symptoms of chlamydia do not mean absent infection. You should take chlamydia test to confirm if you have the infection or not.
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If I Havent Got Any Symptoms Of Chlamydia Why Should I Bother Treating It
3 main reasons:
- You might get symptoms at any time and theyre pretty nasty
- It can cause you to be infertile if left untreated
- You can spread it to partners and it can be an extremely serious condition in women
If youre concerned about chlamydia symptoms or other sexually transmitted infections, speak to your doctor. There are also some further quality available online.
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
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What Is Chlamydia And What Causes It
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection that affect about 10 percent of women under 24 years old. It is contacted by vaginal, anal and oral intercourse. It caused by Chlamydia trachomatis.
Women that practice unsafe sexual intercourse are more likely have the disease. Sexual contact is the commonest mode of transmission. However, it could be transmitted during childbirth and women with poor hygiene.
It is often recommended that women who are sexually active conduct yearly testing for the disease. This is more important for women that are pregnant. This is because in pregnancy chlamydia can cause miscarriage, preterm babies, and ectopic pregnancy.
What Can Happen If Chlamydia Isnt Treated
Untreated chlamydia can put your health at risk. Make an appointment with your provider immediately if you notice any symptoms of chlamydia, and get regular STI screenings to avoid complications later.
Complications of chlamydia for people with vaginas
Untreated chlamydia can cause:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease . PID is a serious condition that requires hospitalization. It can occur when an untreated STI, like chlamydia, damages your reproductive organs. PID can lead to infertility and chronic pelvic pain. It can also cause an ectopic pregnancy,which is life-threatening for the fetus and potentially deadly for the mother or gestational parent, too.
- Pregnancy complications. An untreated infection can lead to pre-term delivery. Also, if youre pregnant and have chlamydia, you can pass the infection on to your newborn. Babies born with chlamydia may have pneumonia or conjunctivitis that could lead to blindness if not treated.
Complications of chlamydia for people with penises
Untreated chlamydia can cause:
- Epididymitis. Infection can spread to the testicles and the tube that carries sperm to your testicles , causing symptoms like pain, swelling and tenderness in your testicles.
- Reduced fertility. Chlamydia can harm your sperm, negatively impacting your ability to conceive.
Complications of chlamydia that can affect all genders
Untreated chlamydia can:
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Complications Of Chlamydia In Males
When left untreated chlamydia can lead to other conditions and symptoms. In men, chlamydia infection can lead to the inflammation of the testicles and the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles . If you develop this complication you may experience:
- Swelling or a lump in the testicle
- Discharge from the penis
- Difficulty urinating or needing to urinate more often
- Later on, problems with fertility
Untreated chlamydia can also cause sexually acquired reactive arthritis , which can lead to:
- Pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints
- Pain and redness in the eyes
- Pain when urinating
Inflammation of the testicles and epididymis can usually be treated with antibiotics. SARA cannot be cured, it normally clears up on its own within a few months, but it is prone to recurrences. SARA occurs 10 times more frequently in men than women.
The Key Questions About Chlamydia In Men
According to 2018 figures from Public Health England, a higher percentage of young men tested positive for chlamydia compared to women. Despite this, the number of young men getting tested was half of the number of women getting testing. Weve created this article, focussing specifically on chlamydia in men, to answer the key questions surrounding the STI.
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Ways To Prevent Chlamydia Infection
In case if you are infected with Chlamydia then it is important to take preventive steps to stop spreading it further to other sex partners. Always prefer to follow these tips for prevention:
Any genital chlamydia symptoms in men like burning sensation at the time of urination or discharge can cause unusual rashes or sore. It is the right symptom to stop sexual contact and visit your doctor immediately. In case your doctor immediately identifies presence of Chlamydia in your body then it is good to start treatment from the same day.
Let your past partners know about this disease and ask them to have test fast at a trusted medical clinic. As Chlamydia symptoms are rarely noticeable so it is important to stay aware and protected with proper Chlamydia cure.
Penicillin And Other Natural Antibiotics
Observations about the growth of some microorganisms inhibiting the growth of other microorganisms have been reported since the late 19th century. These observations of antibiosis between microorganisms led to the discovery of natural antibacterials. observed, “if we could intervene in the antagonism observed between some bacteria, it would offer perhaps the greatest hopes for therapeutics”.
In 1874, physician Sir noted that cultures of the mold that is used in the making of some types of did not display bacterial contamination. In 1876, physicist also contributed to this field.
In 1895 , Italian physician, published a paper on the antibacterial power of some extracts of mold.
In 1928, Sir postulated the existence of , a molecule produced by certain molds that kills or stops the growth of certain kinds of bacteria. Fleming was working on a culture of bacteria when he noticed the of a green mold, , in one of his . He observed that the presence of the mold killed or prevented the growth of the bacteria. Fleming postulated that the mold must secrete an antibacterial substance, which he named penicillin in 1928. Fleming believed that its antibacterial properties could be exploited for chemotherapy. He initially characterized some of its biological properties, and attempted to use a crude preparation to treat some infections, but he was unable to pursue its further development without the aid of trained chemists.
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Get Checked At Urgent Care
If you or your partner show any signs of chlamydia, you should seek medical care, especially if youre pregnant and this goes for any STD!
At GoHealth Urgent Care, STD testing includes a physical exam, as well as blood and urine tests. In some cases, the doctor will use a swab to collect a sample from the affected area.
Even if youre not experiencing symptoms of an STD, you should get tested if youve had unprotected sex or if youre sexually active and not in a mutually monogamous relationship.
Women under 25 are especially vulnerable to chlamydia, so its important for them to get checked annually at their well-woman visit. Pregnant women should be tested for chlamydia regardless of their sexual history.
Is It Possible To Prevent Chlamydia
Since most people who have the infection do not have symptoms and may not be aware they are infected, it is commonly spread, and it can be difficult to prevent the infection. Male condoms can reduce the risk of spreading or acquiring the infection. Having a mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested or treated also reduces the risk of contracting chlamydia infection.
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Letting Partners Know You Have Chlamydia
Sexual partners may be infected too. If you have chlamydia, anyone you have had sex with from the last 6 months needs to be informed, tested and treated.
If they dont know, they could reinfect you or infect someone else if they are not treated. dont receive treatment.
Most people will appreciate being told they may have an infection and it is an important step in preventing further infection in the community.
Your local GP and sexual health centre can help you inform your partners and let them know that they need a test. This process is called partner notification. It can be done anonymously, and your confidentiality is always respected.
You can also anonymously notify your sexual partners of the need to get tested and treated for chlamydia via the Let Them Know website if you feel unable to speak to them personally.
There are also nurses who can help you anonymously notify your partners. They can be contacted on .
Common Symptoms Of Syphilis
Syphilis has four different phases:
- primary
- latent
- tertiary
Each phase has its own set of symptoms. The symptoms of primary syphilis in men and people with a penis may include:
- a very small, firm, and painless sore where the bacteria entered the body, usually on the penis, anus, or lips that can be easily missed
- swollen lymph nodes in the area near the sore
Symptoms of secondary syphilis may include:
- a skin rash that doesnt itch, commonly found over the body that includes the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- tiredness
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In Men Untreated Chlamydia Can Lead To:
- Epididymitis painful inflammation of the inner structures of the testicles, which may cause reduced fertility or sterility. A rare complication of Epididymitisis reactive arthritis, which causes pain in the inflamed joints that can be disabling
- Prostatitis
- Occasionally, Reiters syndrome
- Urethritis inflammation of the urethra with a yellow discharge appearing at the tip of the penis. Untreated urethritis results in narrowing of the urethra which leads to painful urinating and can cause kidney problems
Signs And Symptoms Of Chlamydia
Chlamydia is known as one of the silent diseases which can produce no symptoms for a long period of time. Approximately 7095 percent of women and 50 percent of men with chlamydia do not observe chlamydia symptoms at all. The symptoms can also be mild and almost unnoticeable.
Another reason why symptoms are not the best way to determine the infection is that it is often confused with gonorrhea as the symptoms are very much alike. Asymptomatic nature of chlamydia makes it difficult to estimate how long a person remains infectious and this period is commonly believed to last until full recovery.
Chlamydia symptoms show up between 1 and 3 weeks after the contraction.
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Chlamydia Signs In Females And Males
Chlamydia is often called the silent infection and fora good reason. 70% to 80% of those infected experience no signs of bacterialinfection. 50% to 70% of females will not develop any signs despite beingexposed to the bacteria for a long time. The same applies to men since 50% of them wont experience any signs at all.
The bacteria can linger in the system for years ormonths on end before its finally diagnosed. But, by then, there is a 50%chance the infection will cause abdominal pain, abnormal and unusual discharge,and bleeding from the reproductive organs, fever, and more.
There are exceptions, and some people do develop signs that can help with early detection.
If not properly managed, it can be transmitted to asexual partner through oral, vaginal, anal sex. It can also infect the eyes andthroat if they come in contact with the infected vaginal fluid or semen.
If you do ignore the signs, however, it can haveserious health consequences. This infection can reduce fertility in men, causeinfertility, chronic pelvic pain, and ectopic pregnancy in women. This has madechlamydia a serious issue for those who dont know they carry it.