How To Prevent Chlamydia And Gonorrhea
Practicing abstinence can eliminate your risk of getting either disease, but practicing safe sex is often a more sustainable preventive measure.
To prevent the spread of these infections during sex, use latex condoms correctly. Condoms have other benefits too, including reducing the risk of other STIs and unplanned pregnancy.
How Are Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Treated
Since they are caused by different bacteria, chlamydia and gonorrhea require different treatment plans. Chlamydia is usually treated with one of the following medications:
- Azithromycin : a single pill or course of daily pills taken over approximately one week.
- Doxycycline : Two pills daily for approximately one week.
Since gonorrhea invades the cells, it requires a more aggressive treatment approach. You will usually receive both of the following treatments:
- Ceftriaxon injection.
- Azithromycin : a single pill or course of daily pills taken over approximately one week.
No matter which condition you have, you should follow your medical teams advice carefully to resolve it. Take the full course of medications prescribed, even if you start feeling better, to ensure the infection is totally gone. If you dont complete the antibiotics you may also develop an antibiotic resistance. This can make treating the condition difficult if you catch it again in the future.
You should also postpone sex until your infection has totally cleared up as you can still pass it on to your sexual partners, even if you arent showing symptoms anymore. They can then pass it back to you. If you follow your medical teams treatment plan, both gonorrhea and chlamydia should clear up in one to two weeks.
Chlamydia Vs Gonorrhea: Knowing The Difference
by Michelle | Nov 30, 2018 | STD
Here in the 21st century the need to practice safe sex is more important than ever, and especially when youre choosing to have intimacy with a person who you dont know very well. Casual sex has been going on for as long as humans have been existence, but these days the risk of being exposed to STDs sexually transmitting diseases is far too high, and really quite scary.
With those warnings out of the way and a quick mention of the advisability of using a condom if you want to prevent transmission of STDs well now switch to discussing the 2 most common STDs that are contracted by people in America and how the symptoms of each can be used to identify one or the other. Do keep in mind that you should not skip a physicians consultation in favour of self-diagnosis if you feel you have contracted an STD, you must see a physician as soon as possible.
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Home Remedies For Chlamydia
Chlamydia is caused by a bacterial infection. The only true cure for this type of infection is antibiotics.
But some alternative treatments may help ease symptoms. Its important to remember that untreated chlamydia can lead to long-term complications, including fertility problems and chronic inflammation.
Home remedies for chlamydia that may be effective include:
- Goldenseal.This medicinal plant may limit symptoms during an infection by reducing inflammation.
- Echinacea. This plant has been widely used to boost the immune system in order to help people overcome infections of many types, from the common cold to skin wounds. It may help reduce symptoms of chlamydia.
Although compounds in these plants might help to ease inflammation and infection in general, there arent any quality studies that show theyre effective specifically for chlamydia symptoms.
Can Chlamydia Turn Into Gonorrhea
No, chlamydia on its own cannot turn into gonorrhea as they are caused by two different bacteria.
It does happen that people contract and carry both chlamydia and gonorrhea bacteria, so you can have them at the same time. Also, having one increases your likelihood of contracting another thus, it is always important to be treated for both.
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Why Am I Being Asked To Get Tested For Gonorrhea And Chlamydia During My Pregnancy
In the past, all babies were automatically treated with antibiotic eye drops in case their mother had untreated gonorrhea. Silver nitrate drops are not used anymore because they caused irritation to a babys eyes. The antibiotic ointment that is now used in Canada is called erythromycin ointment. Because many bacteria are now resistant to erythromycin, it may not work as well as the silver nitrate did and can sometimes irritate the eyes.Instead of treating all babies with the ointment, a better way of preventing these types of conjunctivitis is for all pregnant women to be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia infections at their first prenatal visit. If they are infected, they need to be treated before the baby is born. This helps the mother as well as the baby. Most women with gonorrhea or chlamydia have no symptoms. Their partners may also not have symptoms. The only way to diagnose all cases is to test all pregnant women.If you were not tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia during your pregnancy, you should be tested at the time of delivery or before you take your baby home. To be tested, you need to either have a swab of your cervix done or provide a urine sample.
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What Happens If Gonorrhea Is Not Treated
Untreated gonorrhea can cause several long-term health problems.
In women, untreated gonorrhea can:
- Spread to other reproductive organs, including the uterus and fallopian tubes, and cause pelvic inflammatory disease. PID can cause infertility and tubal pregnancies, which can be life-threatening to the mother and the baby.
- Cause eye problems in infants born to untreated mothers, leading to blindness.
- Spread to other parts of the body, causing swollen and painful joints, liver inflammation, and heart valve and brain damage.
In men, untreated gonorrhea can cause:
- Scars in the urethra.
- Prostate pain and inflammation.
- Other problems if it spreads throughout the body, including swollen and painful joints, liver inflammation, and heart valve and brain damage.
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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of An Std
The signs and symptoms of STD dont show up during the early stages and the infected person can be walking around with STD for several without evening knowing about it. Usually, the signs appear in the second week since the contraction of the disease. The most common symptoms of STDs are
- Abnormal vaginal/penile discharge
How Do I Recognize The Signs
Chlamydia, like most STIs, is often asymptomatic that means most people wont experience any signs of the infection. If the signs do appear, both women and men will be equally affected. Even though these signs can affect different areas in the body, both sexes will experience them in a similar way.
Here are the most typical signs for women:
- Pain during menstruation
- Fever with pain in the abdomen
- Excessive vaginal discharge often with a bad odor
- Pain during intercourse
Dont have an ob-gyn? Search for doctors near you.
FAQ071
Copyright 2021 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. All rights reserved. Read copyright and permissions information.
This information is designed as an educational aid for the public. It offers current information and opinions related to womens health. It is not intended as a statement of the standard of care. It does not explain all of the proper treatments or methods of care. It is not a substitute for the advice of a physician. Read ACOGs complete disclaimer.
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Telling A Sexual Partner About A Gonorrhea Diagnosis
If you donât feel comfortable telling a sexual partner directly, services like Partner Notification Services may help.
This program works with local and state health departments and helps find and notify partners to anonymously advise them of their exposure to STIs. They then help provide testing and referrals to other services.
You can learn more about the program, including how to contact your local health department, here.
Symptoms Of Gonorrhea And Chlamydia In Females
Chlamydia is an usual STD that can contaminate both men and women. It can trigger major, permanent damages to a womans reproductive system. Symptoms Of Gonorrhea And Chlamydia In Females
This can make it challenging or impossible for her to get expecting later. Chlamydia can additionally create a potentially deadly ectopic maternity a pregnancy that takes place outside the womb.
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Can Gonorrhea Be Cured After 2 Years
Yes, gonorrhea can be cured with the right treatment. It is important that you take all of the medication your doctor prescribes to cure your infection. Medication for gonorrhea should not be shared with anyone. Although medication will stop the infection, it will not undo any permanent damage caused by the disease.
Danger Factors For Getting Gonorrhea And Chlamydia Are Frequently Indistinguishable And Include:
- Having numerous sex partners. Youre bound to be presented to somebody with an explicitly sent contamination if you have numerous sex partners.
- Unprotected sex. Condom utilization during sex generously decreases the danger of getting a sexually transmitted infection, so your danger is higher if you have unprotected sex.
- Having different STIs: If you as of now have a sexually transmitted infection, you can be at a more serious danger of getting another STI. For instance, if you contract chlamydia, you could be bound to contract gonorrhea.
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It Is Easy To Get Tested For Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection that can affect both men and women. While both genders can be affected, the specific effects and method of diagnosis for the bacterial infection differs between male patients and female patients. We looked at the methods used to assist in the diagnosis of chlamydia among men in this post, as well as some particular factors that are unique to a male patient with this condition.
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How Gonorrhoea Is Spread
Gonorrhoea is easily passed between people through:
- sharing vibrators or other sex toys that have not been washed or covered with a new condom each time they’re used
The bacteria can infect the entrance to the womb , the tube that passes urine out of the body , the rectum and, less commonly, the throat or eyes.
The infection can also be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby. If you’re pregnant and may have gonorrhoea, it’s important to get tested and treated before your baby is born.
Without treatment, gonorrhoea can cause permanent blindness in a newborn baby.
Gonorrhoea is not spread by kissing, hugging, swimming pools, toilet seats or sharing baths, towels, cups, plates or cutlery. The bacteria cannot survive outside the human body for long.
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Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Symptoms
The symptoms of chlamydia and gonorrhea overlap, so it can be difficult to differentiate between the two unless you visit your healthcare provider or take a test for chlamydia or gonorrhea.
The overlapping symptoms for chlamydia and gonorrhea in men and women include:
- A burning sensation during urination
- Abnormal genital or rectal discharge
- Pain in the rectum
With both chlamydia or gonococcal infections , men might also experience swelling and pain in the testicles and/or scrotum.
In women, both a gonorrhea and chlamydia infection might be mistaken for a yeast infection. Women may also experience painful periods, bleeding between periods, pain during sex, or abdominal pain.
Although the symptoms overlap, the discharge caused by chlamydia vs. gonorrhea can vary slightly. For a chlamydia infection, a womanâs vaginal discharge might have a strong odor and yellowish tint. Men might have a cloudy or clear discharge. With gonorrhea, both women and men may experience green, yellow, or white discharge.
If youâre a woman experiencing abnormal vaginal discharge or a man with abnormal penile discharge, be sure to consult your healthcare provider as soon as possible as this is a common sign of an infection.
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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.
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Female Complications Of Untreated Chlamydia
Some women develop PID, an infection that can damage the uterus, cervix, and ovaries. PID is a painful disease that often requires hospital treatment.
Infertility is also possible if chlamydia is left untreated because the fallopian tubes may become scarred.
During pregnancy, the infection can to babies during birth, which can cause eye infections and pneumonia in newborns.
When To See A Healthcare Provider
Its important to talk to your healthcare provider if you have any signs or symptoms of chlamydia, any other symptoms that concern you, or if you know or think youve been exposed to the infection.
According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, women 25 and under and those who are sexually active should be screened for chlamydia every year, as should older women who have an increased risk of infection.
Screening for other STIs/STDs is important as well, as the risk factors for chlamydia also increase the likelihood of contracting these other infections. If you are treated for chlamydia, be sure to tell your healthcare provider if any symptoms persist.
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Facts On Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Sexually transmitted diseases are infections that can be transferred from one person to another through any type of sexual contact. STDs are sometimes referred to as sexually transmitted infections since they involve the transmission of a disease-causing organism from one person to another during sexual activity. It is important to realize that sexual contact includes more than just sexual intercourse . Sexual contact includes kissing, oral-genital contact, and the use of sexual âtoys,â such as vibrators. STDs probably have been around for thousands of years, but the most dangerous of these conditions, the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , has only been recognized since 1984.
Many STDs are treatable, but effective cures are lacking for others, such as HIV, HPV, and hepatitis B and C. Even gonorrhea, once easily cured, has become resistant to many of the older traditional antibiotics. Many STDs can be present in, and spread by, people who do not have any symptoms of the condition and have not yet been diagnosed with an STD. Therefore, public awareness and education about these infections and the methods of preventing them is important.
Chlamydia is very destructive to the Fallopian tubes. It can also cause severe pelvic infection. If untreated, some women with chlamydia will develop pelvic inflammatory disease. Symptoms of pelvic infection include:
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Why Is This Medication Prescribed
Ceftriaxone injection is used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria such as gonorrhea , pelvic inflammatory disease , meningitis , and infections of the lungs, ears, skin, urinary tract, blood, bones, joints, and abdomen. Ceftriaxone injection is also sometimes given before certain types of surgery to prevent infections that may develop after the operation. Ceftriaxone injection is in a class of medications called cephalosporin antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria.
Antibiotics such as ceftriaxone injection will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections.Using antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.
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When To Contact A Doctor
If you have any of the symptoms described, you should go see a doctor. In general, if you are sexually active and have any usual discharge, burning sensations, or pain while having sex you may have an STD and should get tested.
Additionally, if you are a woman, you should contact a doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms as they can be a sign of a serious complication of chlamydia called pelvic inflammatory disease:
- Fainting or signs of shock
- Serious lower abdominal pain
- Temperature that is higher than 101 F
Should any of these symptoms arise or if you suspect you may have an STD, it is very important to get tested.
Even if you have no symptoms as do the vast majority of those with chlamydia but are sexually active, you should be getting tested regularly, so you do not unknowingly spread the disease.
You can make an appointment with your primary care physician or order STD testing online here.
Is There A Cure
Yes. Gonorrhea can be cured with antibiotics. Important: Do not treat yourself! Using the wrong kind or dose of medicine, or sharing someone elses medicine, may hide the signs of your infection and create new health problems. If you think you have gonorrhea, go to your health care provider or a clinic. Any medicine you take should be ordered for you and only for you.
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