Everything you need to know about chlamydia
Lifestyle FashionChlamydia is a very common STD, so much so that it is more common than syphilis and gonorrhea. Chlamydia trachomatis is the bacterium that causes the disease and ends up damaging the female reproductive organs. This infection is transmitted during sexual contact, mainly vaginal and anal sexual contact, but there are also risks of infection from oral sex.
The most serious thing about chlamydia is that the symptoms are often mild or absent, and therefore many people may pass it on without knowing it. It can lead to serious complications, some of which lead to irreversible damage, such as infertility. By the time symptoms start to show, the damage has already been done and it is therefore advisable to get tested for chlamydia from time to time so that you can receive the right treatment or have the peace of mind that all is well. .
Symptoms
Although a large number of people do not experience any symptoms when infected with chlamydia, those who do experience symptoms may notice some of the following signs a few days after becoming infected.
Women
abnormal vaginal discharge
belly bread
painful intercourse
Vaginal or anal swelling
frequent urge to urinate
bleeding after intercourse
Burning sensation or pain when urinating
Bleeding between menstrual cycles
low fever
A yellow cervical discharge that could be smelly
Men
Milky or watery or pus from the penis
Burning sensation or pain when urinating
Tender or swollen testicles
Anal swelling
Chlamydia can also affect the eyes causing itching and redness or the throat causing pain. Chlamydia symptoms usually appear during the morning hours, especially in men, and can be mild, making it difficult for people to realize they are infected.
Chlamydia complications
When left untreated for a long time, this infection can cause serious health problems. Pelvic inflammatory disease and epididymitis, which lead to infertility in women and men, respectively, are some of the serious complications.
Considering that most of the symptoms are absent, it is helpful for you to take the initiative to get tested so that you can get the right treatment. You can see your health care provider to get tested or visit a reputable STD testing center. Cell samples are taken from the anus, urethra, penis, and cervix with a swab for analysis, and you may also have a urinalysis.
Treatment
The good news about chlamydia is that it can be treated. After you receive treatment and the infection is diagnosed, antibiotics will most likely be prescribed. The treatment advice you receive will determine how many doses you will take, some require just one dose and others up to seven doses. It is important that your sexual partner or partners are also treated before having sex again. Your health care provider may recommend a new test after a few months, and you’d better be sure to get tested again as a simple way to confirm that treatment was successful. The treatment can be continued in case the results are not effective.
reduce infection
To reduce the chances of infection, it is very important to abstain from sexual intercourse or use a condom, especially if you do not have a stable sexual partner. There are female condoms today that women can use to reduce infection. It is also advisable to alert all your partners in case you have tested positive for chlamydia so that they can receive the necessary treatment before having sex again and avoid the possibility of infecting others. It is also advisable to have periodic check-ups to detect this sexually transmitted disease and reduce the number of partners to reduce the risks of infection.