Chlamydia , a sexually transmitted disease, rarely causes symptoms, which means it can go undettected for a long time.- Left untreated, chlamydia can cause long-term complications, including infertility in women.
- Getting tested frequently if you're
sex ually active and practicing safe sex are the best ways to prevent contracting chlamydia.
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. It is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis.
Symptoms of chlamydia can include discharge from the vagina or penis, discomfort while urinating, and pain in the pelvic region. However, less than 30% of people infected with chlamydia show symptoms. It is referred to as a "silent" infection because most people who have it tend to be asymptomatic.
Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics. "If left untreated, it can cause serious long-term complications," says Krishna Kakani, MD, who has her own OB/GYN practice in Huntsville, Alabama. So getting tested regularly and seeking treatment if you have chlamydia are super important even if you aren't having symptoms.
Here's what you need to know about chlamydia and how to treat it.
How do you know if you have chlamydia?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you can get chlamydia via unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex with someone who has it.
"It's entirely possible to have chlamydia and not know it, because most people are asymptomatic. Even if you do have symptoms, they may not appear until several weeks after your sexual encounter," says Kakani. The symptoms may persist or disappear in a few days, but that may not mean the infection has gone. The infection can still harm you if you are asymptomatic.
The symptoms of chlamydia can vary among women and men.
If you have a vagina, you may experience symptoms such as:
- Vaginal discharge or bleeding in between menstrual periods
- Pain or a burning sensation while urinating
- Abdominal pain
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Increased frequency of urination
- Rectal discharge or bleeding
If you have a penis, you may experience symptoms such as:
- Unusual discharge from the penis
- Pain or a burning sensation while urinating
- Pain or swelling in the genitals
- Increased frequency of urination
- Rectal discharge or bleeding
You can also get chlamydia in the throat, which can give you a sore throat; however, it often doesn't cause any symptoms at all.
While all sexually active people could get chlamydia, it is especially common among women between the ages of 15 and 24, according to the CDC. The CDC recommends that you get tested for chlamydia every year, especially if you are:
- A woman below the age of 25 who is sexually active.
- A woman above the age of 25 with multiple sexual partners, or if you or your partner have had an STI before.
- A man who has male sexual partners.
"Chlamydia tests are typically urine tests that require you to provide a urine sample. Your doctor may also do a swab test, by using a cotton swab to obtain a fluid sample from the infected area," says Kakani.
How do you treat chlamydia?
Chlamydia is easily treatable with antibiotics. Your doctor may prescribe a single dose, or a seven-day course depending on certain factors like your age, which parts of your body are affected, and whether or not you're pregnant. Your symptoms should clear up within a few days; however it is recommended that you complete the course and abstain from sexual activity for a minimum of seven days, to avoid passing the infection on to your partner.
If your symptoms don't clear up within a week, you should see your doctor again. You should also get tested again in three months, because reinfection is common when it comes to chlamydia. Reinfection can happen if, for example, you have been tested and treated for chlamydia but your partner hasn't been. Having multiple instances of chlamydia can result in serious long-term complications, for people with vaginas especially.
A chlamydia infection can persist for several months if it's not treated. Failure to treat it in the early stages can raise your risk of long-term complications.
The only 100% effective way to avoid sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia is to refrain from sexual activity. However, if you are sexually active, you can lower your risk of getting the infection by:
- Using condoms
- Limiting your sexual partners
- Avoiding douching, since it eliminates some of the healthy bacteria in your vagina and can increase your risk of getting infections like chlamydia
What happens if you have chlamydia for too long?
The long-term complications that can result from chlamydia include:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease, in people with vaginas: The infection could spread upward through your reproductive system and cause permanent damage to your uterus or fallopian tubes. Apart from being very painful, pelvic inflammatory disease can also make it difficult for you to conceive, or result in pregnancies outside the womb, which can be life-threatening. Chlamydia doesn't usually cause infertility in people with penises.
- Pregnancy complications, if you are already pregnant: Chlamydia could cause your baby to arrive early. It could also cause pneumonia and conjunctivitis in your newborn.
- HIV: Having chlamydia can raise your risk of getting HIV.
- Reactive arthritis: The chlamydia infection can trigger an arthritic reaction in your body.
It's important to note that while antibiotic medication can treat the infection and its symptoms, it cannot undo any of the other damage the infection has caused.
Insider's takeaway
Chlamydia is a common infection that can be treated easily: however, since it often doesn't show any symptoms, you may not realize you have it. Left untreated, chlamydia can result in serious
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