Chlamydia is a common bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is transmitted through sexual, anal, or oral sex. Chlamydia infection usually has no specific symptoms, so most people with this disease do not know it exists and infect others unknowingly.

Every year, a large number of men and women suffer serious problems due to sexually transmitted diseases.. Chlamydia infection is one of the most common diseases that can occur in men and women.. This disease affects about 86.2 million Americans in the United States annually..

People with chlamydia disease go to the doctor late because they don't have specific symptoms, and this issue may prolong the treatment process... So in this article from GCORP LLC magazine, we will first examine what chlamydia is?.... Then we will share with you the ways to treat it.

You can also contact Urology and Gynecologist GCORP LLC online for further advice and guidance.

What is chlamydia disease?

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection that is easily treated with prescription antibiotics.... This disease is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and is spread to sexual partners through sexual, anal and oral intercourse.. If the genital area, semen and vagina are infected with chlamydia bacteria, a person will get this disease.

Chlamydia infection can affect the male penis, vagina, anus, cervix, throat and eyes. Most people who have chlamydia do not show any symptoms, but this does not mean that they should not be tested. If chlamydia is not treated, it can cause irreparable damage to the reproductive system or even cause infertility.

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What people are at risk?

Anyone who is sexually active can contract chlamydia, especially through unprotected sex....However, certain groups of people are at increased risk due to behavioral and biological factors....Chlamydia is especially common in young people aged 15 to 24, who account for nearly two-thirds of cases.

Women are more likely to get STDs due to their anatomy. The thin and delicate skin of the vagina is easier for bacteria to penetrate compared to the skin of the male penis.

Many people with chlamydia have no noticeable symptoms...Chlamydia symptoms usually appear 1 to 3 weeks after exposure to the bacteria.

Symptoms in women

Chlamydia infection in women is very similar to UTI or urinary tract infection...

• gray, white or yellow vaginal discharge
• Vaginal swelling
• Feeling of burning and itching inside and around the vagina
• Pain during sex
• Pain or burning during urination
• Frequent need to urinate
Bleeding between periods or after sex
• Painful menstruation
• A vague pain in the lower abdomen

If the infection spreads in women, pelvic pain, fever, nausea, intermenstrual bleeding and pain during intercourse may begin.

Symptoms in men

The onset of symptoms in men is associated with symptoms similar to non-gonococcal urethritis (inflammation of the urinary tract).

• Watery/milky or purulent secretions from the penis
• Pain or burning during urination
• pain or itching in the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body)
• Pain and swelling in one or both testicles

If necessary, you can consult an infectious disease doctor online and you can also visit an infectious disease specialist in person.

Chlamydia symptoms common to all genders

Chlamydia infection can occur in other parts of the body besides the genitals... Below you will learn more about these areas and how they can be infected:

• Anus: Symptoms of the disease in this area are associated with pain, discomfort, bleeding, diarrhea and secretions.
• Throat: Symptoms of chlamydia infection in the throat are usually not obvious, but some people have a sore throat, redness in this area, swollen lymph nodes, or fever.

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• Eye: If bacteria enters the eye, you will get conjunctivitis, the symptoms of which are redness, pain, itching and discharge.

If you or your sexual partner have any of these symptoms, you should stop having oral, vaginal, or anal sex until you are tested. See an infectious disease doctor or get tested at a local testing center.

The cause of chlamydia disease

The most important factor in the transmission of chlamydia infection is sexual contact.... If the semen and vagina are infected with this bacteria, the disease is transmitted from person to person.

• Sexual intercourse: Chlamydia bacteria is transferred from the vagina to the male penis or vice versa.
• Anal intercourse: Chlamydia bacteria is transferred from the penis of a person to the anus of a sexual partner.
• Oral contact: The bacteria is transferred from the mouth of a sexual partner to the penis, anus or vagina of another person.
• Sex toys: If the sex toys are contaminated, the disease is transmitted to the person's mouth, penis, anus or vagina.
• Manual stimulation of the genital system: If you touch the genitals infected with chlamydia and direct hand-to-eye contact, there is a possibility of an eye infection called conjunctivitis... This happens when you sit with your hands after touching the sexual partner's genitals and vaginal fluid or contaminated semen hits your eyes.

In addition, chlamydia is also transmitted from mother to baby during vaginal delivery, causing pneumonia and damage to the baby's eyes. Screening and treating chlamydia in pregnant women is the best way to prevent chlamydia in babies.

How is chlamydia not transmitted?

Body fluids do not transmit this infection in all conditions....in fact, it can be said that chlamydia is not transmitted through intimate situations and daily life events....

• kissing
• Eat or drink together
• hugging
• They hold each other's hands
• Using a shared toilet
• Contact with droplets from a person's cough and sneeze

Chlamydia diagnosis

The first way to diagnose chlamydia is that the specialist doctor takes a history from you about the existing symptoms... If there are symptoms, a physical examination is performed to check for sores, discharge or unusual symptoms of the disease..

The best test to diagnose chlamydia infection is vaginal sampling of women and urine sampling of men. The result of the test is usually known after a few days and you should show it to the gynecologist, urologist or infectious diseases specialist.

How often should you test for chlamydia?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends screening at least once a year for the following:

• Women under 25
• Women over 25 years old if they have risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners
• Sexual relationship with a person suffering from a sexually transmitted disease

CDC also recommends testing for pregnant women.... All pregnant women should be screened for chlamydia at their first prenatal visit.... Retesting in the third trimester is recommended for pregnant women under 25.

Chlamydia disease prevention

The best solution to prevent this bacterial infection is to avoid vaginal, anal and oral sex.. because chlamydia disease starts without any symptoms in most people and your sexual partner probably does not know that he has been infected for a long time.. Therefore, it can be said that safe sexual activity protects you from getting chlamydia disease.

The surest way to prevent this disease is:

• Use a latex condom or an oral condom during oral, vaginal or anal intercourse.
• Have a monogamous relationship.
• Limit the number of sexual partners.
• Do not share sex toys and do not wash them before each use.
• Avoid douching, as it can reduce the good bacteria in the vagina and increase the risk of infection.

Chlamydia side effects

Chlamydia can lead to chronic and serious problems if not treated, even if there are no symptoms. Therefore, if you see symptoms of the disease, be sure to see a specialist doctor to avoid the complications caused by chlamydia.. Regular screening test will protect you from further complications of this disease.

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The consequences of not treating the disease in women

• uterine infection
• Cervical infection
Urinary tract infection
• Infection of fallopian tubes and ovaries
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Infertility
• Damage to reproductive organs
• Chronic hip pain
• Damage to the fetus and dangerous pregnancy

Complications of untreated men

• creating an ulcer in the urethra
Urinary tract infection
• Inflammation and sensitivity of the testicles
Prostate food infection
• Non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU)
• Epididymitis (infection of the testicles and the tube that carries the sperm to the testicle)
• reduction of fertility

Common risks between all genders

• Increases the risk of reactive arthritis and causes swelling of the joints (knees, ankles, heels, thumbs and back) with severe pain.. For treatment, you should see a rheumatologist.
• Increases the possibility of contracting HIV disease.

Chlamydia treatment

If you also want to know if chlamydia can be treated or not, we must say yes, this infection can be treated.... Some bacterial infections are resistant to drugs and this can make the treatment process longer and more difficult.... So be patient and follow the doctor's recommendations carefully.... Chlamydia treatment is possible in two ways and in most cases both methods should be used in combination.

Lifestyle change

Part of treatment includes lifestyle changes that include:

• Avoid sex until the infection clears.
• Notify all sexual partners you have had contact with in the past three months to get tested.
• Test for other sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and herpes.

Drug therapy

The best medicine to treat this disease is to use antibiotics for one or two weeks.... The most common antibiotics that should be used with a doctor's prescription are:

• Azithromycin
• Doxycycline

Concluding remarks

Chlamydia disease is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections caused by bacterial transmission. This infection is common among men and women, and due to the lack of specific symptoms, infected people do not know about their disease for a long time.

Usually, the severity of the disease is not annoying, but the treatment of chlamydia should not be underestimated... In this article from GCORP LLC magazine, while investigating what chlamydia is, we introduced its symptoms, complications and treatment solutions... You can also share your opinions and experiences with us.

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Source: stdcheck | my.clevelandclinic | health line