Chlamydia is an infection caused by sexual intercourse. It is the common infection in the United States and worldwide. Due to the absence of symptoms, it often goes unnoticed. It is the reason why many people do not receive treatment for it because they are not aware that they have chlamydia. In men, it is impossible to detect symptoms while in women, untreated infection leads to pelvic inflammatory disease that causes infertility.
The reason for the infection is due to the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. The bacterium spreads through various forms of sexual acts. About 2.5 million people a year are victims of the disease in the US alone, and there is an increase in numbers.
Chlamydia is silent sexually transmitted disease. The reason for the name is that there are no visible symptoms that help an individual identify him quickly. However, people who develop symptoms usually take them at least a few weeks after exposure to the bacteria. The following are the symptoms:
- Vaginal discharge in women
- Nausea
- Fever
- Pain when urinating (in women)
- Bleeding During Periods (In Women)
- Penis Discharge
- Itching sensation during penis opening
- Swelling of the testicles
Meeting the condition as early as possible is necessary to avoid serious complications. In women, treatment of chlamydia is essential to prevent the development of pelvic inflammatory disease that eventually leads to infertility. In men, when left untreated, bacteria develop conditions such as prostate inflammation, prostatitis, and inflammation of the internally wound tube.
Chlamydia Diagnosis
Since chlamydia has no visible signs, you should go to your sexual health clinic to test it. The doctor or nurse uses a cotton swab to collect cells in the genital area to analyze the presence of the bacteria. The procedure creates discomfort. However, you have the option of choosing the urine test which provides accurate results. It takes about a week to receive the result.
Is chlamydia curable?
If the results are positive, the doctor will provide the necessary treatment. Fortunately, chlamydia cure is possible with medications. It requires that you follow the medication as properly prescribed to notice the changes. Oral antibiotics help in curing the disease. The most commonly used antibiotics are azithromycin, erythromycin and doxycycline.
During the period of treatment, it is necessary to avoid participation in any form of sexual activity. The average treatment period is one week. You have to consult your doctor upon completion of the course to ensure there are no signs of the infection and you are disease free. To prevent the recurrence of the disease, it is essential to test sexual partners or partners.
For pregnant women, it is essential to screen for chlamydia and receive treatment to ensure that they do not pass the bacteria to the baby during childbirth. Chlamydia testing during the first prenatal visit is preferable.
Chlamydia Prevention
The only action to prevent chlamydia is to practice safer sex. Includes condom use, testing once a year, testing before starting a new relationship, and abstaining from multiple partners. Regular screenings are helpful in identifying the presence of the bacteria at an early stage and receiving treatment accordingly.
Reducing the risk of chlamydia
If you are active in sex life then the chance of having chlamydia is high. The only way to prevent a sexually transmitted disease from occurring is to not participate in sex. However, you can reduce the risk by maintaining a long-term monogamous relationship with a partner who is negative for the infection.
Read too:
Eu sou o Dr. Ruby Crowder e sou especialista em medicina pulmonar e cuidados intensivos. Eu me formei na Universidade da Califórnia, em San Francisco. Eu trabalho no Hospital Geral de São Francisco e Centro de Trauma de Zuckerberg. Eu também sou professor associado de medicina na Universidade da Califórnia, em San Francisco.
Eu pesquisei a epidemiologia e o manejo da tuberculose em países de alta incidência e publiquei muitos remédios e artigos relacionados à saúde sobre o Exenin e em outras revistas médicas.
Finalmente, gosto de viajar, mergulhar e andar de mochila.