31/08/2022
CHLAMYDIA INFECTION – CAUSES, TREATMENT, AND PREVENTION.
Chlamydia is a common s*xually transmitted disease. Chlamydial infection, caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, it can infect both men and women. Women can get chlamydia in the cervix, re**um, or throat. Men can get chlamydia in the urethra (inside the p***s), re**um, or throat.
WHAT CAUSES CHLAMYDIA?
It’s caused by bacteria (tiny, living cells) called Chlamydia trachomatis.
They can live in the uterus (womb), va**na and cervix (entrance to the womb), the urethra (tube where urine comes out), the re**um (back passage), and sometimes the throat and eyes.
Anyone who’s s*xually active can get it and pass it on. You don’t need to have lots of s*xual partners.
TRANSMISSION OF CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS
Chlamydia is usually passed from one person to another through s*xual contact. You can get the infection if you come into contact with the semen (cum or pre-cum) or va**nal fluids of someone who has chlamydia.
CHLAMYDIA IS MOST COMMONLY SPREAD THROUGH:
(1) Unprotected (without a condom) va**nal or a**l s*x
(2) Sharing s*x toys that aren’t washed or covered with a new condom each time they’re used.
(3) It can be spread by giving or receiving oral s*x (going down, giving head) with someone who has chlamydia. The risk can be lowered by using a condom or dam (latex or soft Plastic Square) to cover the ge****ls.
(4) If infected semen or va**nal fluid comes into contact with the eye (for example if it’s transferred from the ge****ls to the eye by the fingers) it can cause conjunctivitis (infection or irritation of the eye).
(5) Chlamydia can be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby.
(6) You can’t get chlamydia from kissing, hugging, sharing baths or towels, swimming pools, toilet seats or from sharing cups, plates or cutlery
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
More than two in three women and one in two men with chlamydia won’t have any obvious signs or symptoms, or will have symptoms so mild they’re not noticed. Signs and symptoms can show up 1–3 weeks after coming into contact with chlamydia, many months later, or not until the infection spreads to other parts of your body.
You might notice:
WOMEN
(1) Bleeding between periods and/or heavier periods (including women who are using hormonal contraception)
(2) Bleeding after s*x
(3) Pain and/or bleeding when you have s*x
(4) Lower abdominal pain (pelvic pain)
(5) An unusual va**nal discharge
(6) Pain when passing urine
(7) If the infection spreads, you might get lower abdominal pain, pain during s*x, nausea, or fever.
Men
(1) A white/cloudy or watery discharge from the tip of the p***s
(2) Pain when passing urine
(3) Pain in the testicles
MEN AND WOMEN
There are rarely any symptoms if the infection is in the re**um (back passage) but it may cause discomfort and discharge.
Infection in the eyes can cause pain, swelling, irritation and/or discharge.
Infection in the throat is uncommon and usually has no symptoms
RISK FACTORS THAT LEADS TO CHLAMYDIA INFECTION
YOU ARE MOST AT RISK IF:
Having s*x without a condom, or s*x with a condom that has ripped or come off
Had more than one s*xual partner in the last 12 months
You or your partner(s) have another STI (many other STIs also have no other symptoms)
You are under 25.
COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS INFECTION
WOMEN
In women, an untreated infection can spread to your uterus and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can cause permanent damage to your reproductive system. This can lead to long-term pelvic pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy.
Women who have had chlamydia infections more than once are at higher risk of serious reproductive health complications.
Men
Men often don’t have health problems from chlamydia. Sometimes it can infect the epididymis (the tube that carries s***m). This can cause pain, fever, and, rarely, infertility.
Both men and women can develop reactive arthritis because of a chlamydia infection. Reactive arthritis is a type of arthritis that happens as a “reaction” to an infection in the body. Babies born to infected mothers can get eye infections and pneumonia from chlamydia. It may also make it more likely for your baby to be born too early. Untreated chlamydia may also increase your chances of getting or giving HIV/AIDS.
DIAGNOSING OF CHLAMYDIA INFECTION IN MEN AND WOMEN
Screening And Diagnosis Of Chlamydia Is Relatively Simple. Tests Include:
A URINE TEST.
A sample of your urine a**lyzed in the laboratory may indicate the presence of this infection.
A SWAB.
For women, your doctor takes a swab of the discharge from your cervix for culture or antigen testing for chlamydia. This can be done during a routine Pap test. Some women prefer to swab their va**nas themselves, which has been shown to be as diagnostic as doctor-obtained swabs.
For men, your doctor inserts a slim swab into the end of your p***s to get a sample from the urethra. In some cases, your doctor may swab the a**s.
Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are the most sensitive tests for detecting
chlamydia and gonococcal infections. NAATs can be performed on endocervical, urethral, va**nal, pharyngeal, re**al, or urine samples (first-void is preferred). The accuracy of NAATs on urine samples has been found to be nearly identical to that of samples obtained directly from the cervix or urethra.
TREATING OF CHLAMYDIA INFECTION
Chlamydia can be easily cured with antibiotic therapy. Antibiotics may be given as a single dose or a 7-day course.
Women should abstain from s*xual in*******se during the 7-day course of antibiotics or for 7 days after the single dose treatment to avoid spreading the infection to others.
Azithromycin and doxycycline are antibiotics commonly used to treat chlamydia infection, but other antibiotics may be successfully used as well.
Pregnant women may be safely treated for chlamydia infection with antibiotics (for example, azithromycin, amoxicillin, and erythromycin ethylsuccinate, but not doxycycline).
S*x partners of a person diagnosed with chlamydia should also be tested and treated if necessary, to avoid reinfection and further spread.
HOW TO PREVENT CHLAMYDIA?
These steps will also help protect you from getting or passing on an infection without knowing it.
(1) Use condoms (male or female) every time you have va**nal or a**l s*x
(2) If you have oral s*x (going down, giving head), use a condom to cover the p***s, or a latex or polyurethane (soft plastic) square to cover the female ge****ls or male or female a**s
(3) If you’re a woman and rub your v***a against a female partner’s v***a one of you should cover the ge****ls with a latex or polyurethane square
If you’re not sure how to use condoms correctly
Avoid sharing s*x toys. If you do share them, wash them or cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them.
HEALTH IS LIFE
HEALTH IS WEALTH
Follow Joechris
