Chlamydia
Treatment Duration
30
Suggested Sessions
2-3 times/year
One of the most common sexually transmitted infections is chlamydia. Chlamydia, the "silent" bacterial infection as it is often called, because it largely causes no symptoms, infects men and women and very often remains undiagnosed, which leads to problems in a woman's reproductive health.
What is Chlamydia?
When we talk about chlamydia, it is a group of bacteria that attack the body's cells and grow inside them.
Chlamydia infection is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases affecting sexually active men and women, but it is more often found in young people. Chlamydia infections in a large percentage that can even reach 50% for men and 70% for women do not show symptoms. Thus, regular chlamydia screenings significantly contribute to limiting the spread of the disease.
Chlamydia are divided into 2 categories:
- Chlamydia
- Chlamydophila
«Chlamydia in women is considered a silent disease, since the infection is often asymptomatic, while if not treated it can lead to salpingitis or infertility»
Who does Chlamydia affect?
Chlamydia infection concerns every sexually active person with an emphasis on the younger ages, while if she is sick or pregnant she can transmit chlamydia, through normal delivery to the newborn, causing eye infection or pneumonia.
In theory any sexually active person who has unprotected sex can become infected with chlamydia, and there appears to be a clear upward trend towards the ages of 18 to 24, with a higher rate in women.
Modes of Transmission
The bacterium that causes chlamydia can be spread by:
- Vaginal sex
- Anal sex
- Oral sex
- Through the use of sex toys
More rarely, chlamydia can also be transmitted through contaminated fluids (e.g. by touching the eye).
Also, the pregnant woman who is infected can transmit chlamydia to the baby during delivery.
The incubation period from the time of transmission to the onset of symptoms ranges from 1 to 3 weeks.
Chlamydia is not transmitted:
- With the kiss
- With the hug
- By sharing food or drink
- By using the toilet after someone else
- With the use of a swimming pool
- With droplets from coughing or sneezing
Chlamydophila (pneumonia, psittacosis) are transmitted by droplets spread during speech.
The bacterial infection from this genus of chlamydia can cause pharyngitis, bronchitis, but also pneumonia, while sexual intercourse is not required for its transmission.
Chlamydia & Risk Factors
The chances of contracting chlamydia increase:
- Conversely depending on age and in young ages under 24.
- When you have multiple sexual partners.
- When the condom is not used correctly.
«Young people with chlamydia have higher rates because they are more likely to have more risk factors»
Chlamydia Symptoms
Chlamydia infection in a large percentage of cases does not cause symptoms. Even when it causes it is not intense for this reason it is often underestimated.
Chlamydia usually have mild symptoms, even none. When symptoms occur, they are located where the bacterial infection originated (genitals, anus, mouth).
Thus, preventive type regular checks become particularly important.
Symptoms that can occur in men and women from chlamydia include:
- Pain during urination.
- Vaginal discharge.
- Pain during intercourse in women.
- Vaginal bleeding between periods and during sex.
- Discharge from the penis.
- Testicular pain for men.
Chlamydia infection can also infect:
- The eyes, where it can cause conjunctivitis, with redness and irritation of the eyelids.
- The throat, causing a sore throat.
- The anus, where pain, discharge or blood loss may occur.
Women
- Vaginal discharge
- Pain in sex
- Bleeding after sex
- Fever
- Vaginitis
- Salpingitis
- Cervicitis
- Pain in the lower abdomen
Men
- Pain in testicles, penis, urethra
- Swelling in the testicles
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Pain in the urethra
- Burning sensation (tingling) when urinating
- Discharge of a milky or yellow fluid from the urethra
These symptoms usually appear 1-3 weeks after the transmission of the bacteria.
«Chlamydia causes no symptoms in 80% of women and 50% of men who contract the infection»
Diagnosis
Chlamydia infection can be diagnosed in women with laboratory tests on a urine sample or a vaginal swab taken from the vagina, mouth, throat, rectum, or the area around the cervix. The test can be done during the scheduled Pap test.
In men, the diagnosis is made with a urine test.
The doctor can also take a cotton swab sample from both the throat and the anus.
Chlamydia is diagnosed based on symptoms, when present.
Samples are taken:
- Intraurethrally
- Intracervical
- From the pharynx
- From the anal
- From vaginal discharge
- From the skin of the penis
These samples are processed by various methods to detect the chlamydia bacteria.
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«Women aged 17-25 should be examinated for chlamydia more often, as they have more sensitive cervical epithelium, so they can get infected easily»
You have just been diagnosed… with Chlamydia
Chlamydia infection will be treated with the antibiotic your doctor will give you. Until then you should avoid sexual contact and inform your partner(s) of the last three months so that they can be examined themselves and, if deemed necessary, receive treatment.
In this way you protect your partner's health as well as yours from possible re-infection.
In addition, if you are diagnosed with chlamydia, it is good to be tested for other sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea, syphilis or HIV.
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«A recheck should be done in 3 months to confirm treatment and definitive eradication of the chlamydia infection»
Chlamydia Treatment
Chlamydia can be cured, as it is a bacteria, so it is treated with an antibiotic.Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotic drugs that your doctor will recommend. Note that you should follow the treatment exactly as prescribed by the doctor and do not stop if you notice a reduction in symptoms.
However, the same treatment should be followed by the partner of the person infected with chlamydia.
The majority of sufferers achieve complete recovery in the first stages of treatment, but treatment should not be stopped until the bacterium is completely eradicated from the body.
In cases of pregnancy, the treatment is subject to a corresponding modification and of course it is necessary to complete it consistently.
In most cases the infection clears up in 1 to 2 weeks, but you can still spread chlamydia, so you should avoid sexual activity until you finish treatment, as should your sexual partner(s).
«During the entire period of taking the medication, or for the time prescribed by the doctor, there must be abstinence from any kind of sexual contact»
Chlamydia Complications
Chlamydia infection, whether symptomatic or not, can cause complications with significant effects on reproductive health, especially for women, such as pelvic inflammatory disease and salpingitis, which can lead to infertility, while also increasing the chances of an ectopic pregnancy.
In men, chlamydia infection, which is left untreated, can cause epididymitis as well as infertility problems.
If not treated early, chlamydia can cause:
Chlamydia trachomatis
- Salpingitis
- Cervicitis
- Urethritis
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Proctitis
- Infertility
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Sterility
- Epididymitis
Χλαμυδόφιλα
Eyes
- conjunctivitis
- trachoma
- blindness
Mouth
- Pneumonia
Prevention
Prevention of chlamydia infection is essentially linked to abstinence from sexual life. However, you can reduce your chances of contracting the infection if you:
- Use a latex condom correctly every time you have sex.
You are mutually monogamous or limiting your sexual partners
Do regular checks
By talking to your doctor, you will be informed about the program of regular checks that you should do according to the risks of chlamydia infection that you face.
Frequent Questions
How do chlamydia go away?
Chlamydia is treated with antibiotic drugs. which will rid you of the infection, but not of the damage it may have caused before treatment.
How is chlamydia infection transmitted?
Chlamydia infections are transmitted through unprotected sexual, vaginal, anal or oral contact. You can also get infected again if you have sex with an infected person while you are being treated
How is the chlamydia test done?
The test in women is done with a sample of urine or vaginal fluid and in men with a sample of urine or a sample from the urethra taken with a cotton swab.
If I get chlamydia and treat it, will I be immune to the bacteria?
No. Chlamydia, precisely because they are bacteria, can cause reinfection multiple times in the same person when there is contact with the responsible bacteria.
In addition, it is recommended to check 3 months after receiving the treatment, as there is a possibility of recurrence.
In addition, it is recommended to check 3 months after receiving the treatment, as there is a possibility of recurrence.
How did I get chlamydia when my partner doesn't have it?
Symptoms of chlamydia infection are slow to appear. So you may have been infected by a previous sexual partner and not know it.
Are women more vulnerable to chlamydia infection?
No. Only those who use condoms correctly in every contact can be considered safe from chlamydia bacteria infection. The difference between men and women is that men show symptoms more often than women, so they treat it before it can cause unpleasant complications.
How do I know when and from whom I contracted chlamydia?
Chlamydia symptoms appear approximately 1-3 weeks after contact with the responsible bacteria.
But if there are no symptoms at all, then we cannot know exactly when the infection occurred.
The only way is a regular preventive check-up by the competent doctor.
But if there are no symptoms at all, then we cannot know exactly when the infection occurred.
The only way is a regular preventive check-up by the competent doctor.
Bibliography
- https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/chlamydia/facts
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537286/#article-19431.s3
- https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/chlamydia-gonorrhea-and-syphilis