How Quickly Do Symptoms Show
In many cases, chlamydia symptoms do not show up at all, making it possible for the infection to lie dormant in the body and cause long-term side effects when not treated.
If someone with chlamydia does experience symptoms, the time it takes for them to show up may vary.
For most people, though, it takes about 7-21 days after having unprotected sex with an infected partner. However, it can take longer.
Is Chlamydia Of The Throat Common
Although chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial STI in the United States, chlamydia of the throat is uncommon.
A small 2021 study involving 140 men who have sex with men found that 1.4% of the participants had chlamydia of the throat.
Other research has shown that extra-genital chlamydia is as common in women as it is in MSM.
Engaging in sex with people who carry the bacteria without using barrier protection can contribute to the spread of the infection.
What Happens If Chlamydia Isn`t Treated
Not all people with Chlamydia will experience any complications. If the infection gets treatment early, it won`t probably cause any long-term damages. Still, with no treatment Chlamydia will spread to other body parts. The more times you get infected with it, the more like it is for you to experience complications.
- In men this condition may lead to an infection of the testicles and maybe even infertility.
- In women this infection may lead to inflammation and pain around the liver. With proper treatment, this usually gets better in time.
- In women this medical condition may spread to other important body organs leading to PID. In turn, this may lead to long-term damages, such as ectopic pregnancy, pelvic pain, infertility and blocked fallopian tubes.
- In both man and women More rarely, this infection may lead to joint inflammation. This is also known as SARA and it`s on occasion accompanied by eye and urethral inflammation. It occurs more rarely in women than men.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Chlamydia In The Throat
Often, chlamydia is an asymptomatic infection. This means it shows no symptoms so you could have chlamydia and not know.
Early chlamydia in the throat will often present as a sore throat. However, this is often dismissed as a common cold or viral. A sore throat is often accompanied by other symptoms of chlamydia.
Other symptoms of chlamydia in the throat can include:
- Redness, pain or inflammation around the mouth and throat
- Sores around the mouth and lips
How Typical Is Chlamydia
In 2017, greater than 1.7 million situations of chlamydia were reported to the Centers for Disease Control as well as Prevention . However, many situations go unreported, so the genuine number of chlamydia infections annually may be closer to 3 million.
Males and female can both obtain the infection, yet more situations in ladies are reported.
Infection prices are highest among younger females, with the greatest prices of infection happening in females between ages 15 and 24.
The CDC suggests that all sexually active females ages 25 years and younger obtain screened for chlamydia each year, in addition to older ladies with risk variables like numerous or brand-new partners.
Statistically, a person is more likely to get an STI if they have actually had sex with more than a single person. Various other danger factors include having had an STI in the past, or currently have an infection because this can lower resistance.
Rates for chlamydia and various other STIs have actually been climbing up over the last few years.
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What’s The Treatment For Chlamydia
Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. If you take the treatment according to instructions, its over 95% effective at treating chlamydia.
- Youll be given a course of antibiotics for 3 or 7 days or sometimes up to two weeks.
- If theres a high chance you have chlamydia, treatment may be started before the results of the test are back. Youll always be given treatment if a sexual partner is found to have chlamydia.
- You may also need other treatment if complications have occurred.
- Tell the doctor or nurse if youre pregnant, or think you might be, or youre breastfeeding. This may affect the type of antibiotic youre given.
- Complementary therapies cant cure chlamydia.
How Common Is Chlamydia
Chlamydia is the most common STI caused by bacteria. Nearly 2 million cases of chlamydia were reported to the CDC in 2019. The number of infections is likely even higher. When compared to previous years, 2019 infection rates increased among people of all genders, all races and ethnicities, and in every region of the U.S. Most cases of chlamydia are asymptomatic, which means there are no signs or symptoms of an infection. Many of these cases likely go unreported.
Certain demographic characteristics may make you more likely to get diagnosed with chlamydia. Youre more likely to get diagnosed if youre:
- A teen or young adult aged 15 to 24. More than half of all diagnosed chlamydia cases in the U.S. occur in this age group.
- A cisgender woman aged 15 to 24. Young women in this age group are targeted for chlamydia screenings, and the rate of infection among those who are tested is high.
- A man who has sex with men . Chlamydia infections disproportionately affect men who have sex with men.
- Black and non-Hispanic. Chlamydia infections disproportionately affect non-Hispanic Black populations.
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You Can Catch Chlamydia If Youve Only Had Sex Once
You may have heard that its not possible to get chlamydia from a single sex act. If youve had sex with someone who has the infection, you could get it, too. One encounter is all it takes to pass on the bacteria, so get tested.
In up to 15 percent of women with untreated chlamydia, the infection spreads to the uterus and uterine tubes, leading to symptomatic pelvic inflammatory disease.
If youve had unprotected sex and are worried that you might have chlamydia, get tested. The test is easy and painless. Your doctor could take a sample of your cells with a cotton swab or ask you to pee in a cup. The sample is tested for chlamydia bacteria. If your doctor says you have chlamydia, dont worry. Its treatable.
Exactly How Is Chlamydia Spread Can Chlamydia Go Away By Itself
You can get chlamydia by having genital, rectal, or foreplay with someone that has chlamydia.
If youve had chlamydia and also were treated in the past, you can still obtain infected once again. This can occur if you have vulnerable sex with a person that has chlamydia.
If you are expectant, you can give chlamydia to your child during childbirth.
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Your Partner Didnt Get Treated
If you have a consistent sexual partner, its important to tell them about your infection so they can get treatment, too. Once youve both gotten treated, you have to wait until the treatment has had time to work before you start having sex again .
Without taking these important steps, it is possible for the two of you to end up passing the STD back and forth.
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How Long Does Chlamydia Of The Throat Take To Show Up
Most people who have chlamydia of the throat will not experience any symptoms. If symptoms do develop, they typically appear 13 weeks after sexual contact with the individual who has the infection.
It is important to note that chlamydia can still transmit from a person who does not experience any symptoms of the disease.
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Youre Not Immune To Chlamydia Once Youve Had It
Once youve had some diseases, you cant catch them again. Unfortunately, this isnt true for chlamydia. Repeat chlamydia infections are common.
If youve had chlamydia in the past, you have no immunity against the infection. If youre sexually active with somebody who has the infection, you could catch it again. Since reinfection is common, you should get tested for chlamydia about three months after being treated for the infection.
A Word From Same Day Std Testing
Sadly, lots of people refuse to get tested for STDs because they feel uncertain or nervous about the testing process. At Same Day, our goal is to take the fear out of STD testing. Our facilities are designed to ensure discretion and protect your privacy. Plus, you can always call one of our team members here and well be happy to answer any questions you may have about STDs, STD testing, and our policies. Schedule an appointment now, or else, find a lab near you and get tested today!
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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:
How Do You Know If Your Chlamydia Is Gone
When will the signs and symptoms go away? Discharge or pain when you urinate should improve within a week. Bleeding between periods or heavier periods should improve by your next period. Pelvic pain and pain in the testicles should start to improve quickly but may take up to two weeks to go away.
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How Can I Prevent Catching Oral Chlamydia
There are risk factors that increase your chances of getting chlamydia. These include:
- Being sexually active and under age 25
- Having multiple sexual partners
- Having a history of sexually transmitted infection
There are certain steps you can take to prevent catching oral chlamydia including:
- Talking to your sexual partner about their sexual health
- Using barrier methods, such as condoms, during each encounter
- Having a regular sexual health check or STI tests, especially if you have unprotected sex with a new partner
The recurrence rate of chlamydia is particularly high. This makes it even more important to practice safe oral sex and prevent future infections.
What Happens If I Get Chlamydia When Im Pregnant
- Chlamydia during pregnancy has been associated in very rare cases with problems such as premature birth, and infection of the uterus lining after the birth.
- It can be passed to the baby during the birth and before the baby is born. This can cause inflammation and discharge in the babys eye and/or pneumonia.
- You may be offered a chlamydia test as part of your antenatal care.
- Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics when youre pregnant and when youre breastfeeding. The antibiotics wont harm the baby, but do tell the doctor or nurse that youre pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Youll be advised to have another test after you complete your treatment.
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Is Chlamydia Serious
Although chlamydia does not usually cause any symptoms and can normally be treated with a short course of antibiotics, it can be serious if it’s not treated early on.
If left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of your body and lead to long-term health problems, especially in women.
In women, untreated chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease , ectopic pregnancy and infertility.
In men, in rare cases, chlamydia can spread to the testicles and epididymis , causing them to become painful and swollen. This is known as epididymitis or epididymo-orchitis .
It can also sometimes cause reactive arthritis in men and women.
This is why it’s important to get tested and treated as soon as possible if you think you might have chlamydia.
Testing for chlamydia is done with a urine test or a swab test.
You do not always need a physical examination by a nurse or doctor.
Anyone can get a free and confidential chlamydia test at a sexual health clinic, a genitourinary medicine clinic or a GP surgery.
In England, if you’re a woman under 25 years old, you may be offered a chlamydia test when you visit some health services, for example a pharmacy or GP. This offer is part of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme .
If you’re offered a chlamydia test you should consider taking it.
If you’re a woman, sexually active and under 25 in England, it’s recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year, and when you have sex with new or casual partners.
How Do You Get It
Throat chlamydia is contracted by giving oral sex to a person who is infected with chlamydia. You cannot get oral chlamydia from kissing someone else who has chlamydia in their throat.
By the same token, if you receive oral sex from a person with oral chlamydia, you are at high risk of developing genital chlamydia.
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Am I At Risk For Chlamydia
If you are sexually active, have an honest and open talk with your healthcare provider. Ask them if you should get tested for chlamydia or other STDs. Gay or bisexual men and pregnant people should also get tested for chlamydia. If you are a sexually active woman, you should get tested for chlamydia every year if you are:
- Younger than 25 years old.
- 25 years and older with risk factors, such as new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection.
Im Pregnant How Does Chlamydia Affect My Baby
If you are pregnant and have chlamydia, you can pass the infection to your baby during delivery. This could cause an eye infection or pneumonia in your newborn. Having chlamydia may also make it more likely to deliver your baby too early.
If you are pregnant, you should get tested for chlamydia at your first prenatal visit. Testing and treatment are the best ways to prevent health problems.
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Can Chlamydia Go Away By Itself
Chlamydia is a typical STD that can infect both males and females. It can cause severe, irreversible damage to a females reproductive system. Can Chlamydia Go Away By Itself
This can make it tough or difficult for her to get expecting later on. Chlamydia can also cause a potentially deadly ectopic maternity a pregnancy that occurs outside the womb.
What Happens If Chlamydia Goes Untreated
If a person is not treated for chlamydia, complications may occur. Women frequently develop pelvic inflammatory disease . PID can cause infertility , chronic pelvic pain, tubal pregnancies, and the continued spread of the disease. In men, untreated chlamydia can cause urethral infection and complications such as swollen and tender testicles. Chlamydia infection during pregnancy may result in premature rupture of membranes, preterm delivery and possible tubal pregnancy in a small percent of women. In addition, chlamydia can cause conjunctival and pneumonic infection in the newborn. Persons with a chlamydia infection have an increased chance of getting other infections such as gonorrhea or HIV.
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Chlamydia Is A Serious Infection
Chlamydia is Americas most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection. Every year, an estimated 2.86 million infections occur. Since its so common, you may assume that its no big deal. However, chlamydia can be a very serious infection.
Chlamydia is very common, but that doesnt mean it cant have a serious impact on your health. The infection can cause a number of long-term complications. In up to 15 percent of women with untreated chlamydia, the infection spreads to the uterus and uterine tubes, leading to symptomatic pelvic inflammatory disease. In addition, some women experience subclinical inflammation of the upper genital tract. This can cause permanent damage to the affected tissues.
How Quickly Following Infection Will Chlamydia Symptoms Appear
The time it takes chlamydia symptoms to develop can vary, and as already noted, they may not even necessarily develop at all.
The Family Planning Association notes that in many cases where symptoms are present, they will develop within one to three weeks of infection. However, its possible for them not to manifest until several months following transmission.
In other cases, the condition may go completely unnoticed until it has progressed to different areas of the body. Left untreated, chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women, and testicular infections in men both of which can have a detrimental effect on fertility.
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Exactly How Typical Is Chlamydia
In 2017, greater than 1.7 million instances of chlamydia were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and also Prevention . Numerous situations go unreported, so the real number of chlamydia infections every year might be closer to 3 million.
Men and women can both obtain the infection, however much more cases in females are reported.
Infection rates are greatest amongst younger ladies, with the greatest prices of infection happening in ladies between ages 15 and also 24.
The CDC advises that all sexually active women ages 25 years as well as younger obtain evaluated for chlamydia each year, in addition to older women with threat elements like several or brand-new companions.
Statistically, a person is more probable to get an STI if theyve made love with more than someone. Other danger variables consist of having had an STI in the past, or presently have an infection because this can lower resistance.
Rates for chlamydia as well as other STIs have actually been climbing up in the last few years.