Chlamydia and the Importance of Diagnosis

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections

It's passed on through unprotected sex (sex without a condom) and is particularly common in sexually active teenagers and young adults.

Symptoms of chlamydia?

Most people with chlamydia do not notice any symptoms and do not know they have it.

If you do develop symptoms, you may experience: pain when urinating, unusual discharge from the vagina, penis, or bottom in women, pain in the tummy, bleeding after sex, and bleeding between periods in men, pain, and swelling in the testicles

If you think you're at risk of having a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or have any symptoms of chlamydia, visit a GP, contraceptive service or local genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic to get tested. There are places you can go.

How do you get chlamydia? Chlamydia is a bacterial infection. The bacteria are usually spread through sex or contact with infected genital fluids (semen or vaginal fluid).

You can get chlamydia through unprotected Sex

Chlamydia cannot be passed on through casual contacts, such as kissing and hugging, or from sharing baths, towels, swimming pools, toilet seats, or cutlery.

Is chlamydia serious?

Although chlamydia does not usually cause any symptoms and can normally be treated with a short course of antibiotics, it can be serious if it's not treated early on.

If left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of your body and lead to long-term health problems, especially in women.

In women, untreated chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy, and infertility.

In men, in rare cases, chlamydia can spread to the testicles and epididymis (tubes that carry sperm from the testicles), causing them to become painful and swollen. This is known as epididymitis or epididymis-orchitis (inflammation of the testicles).

It can also sometimes cause reactive arthritis in men and women.

This is why it's important to get tested and treated as soon as possible if you think you might have chlamydia.

Testing for chlamydia is done with a urine test or a swab test.

You do not always need a physical examination by a nurse or doctor.

Anyone can get a confidential chlamydia test at a sexual health clinic, a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic, or a GP surgery.

If you're offered a chlamydia test you should consider taking it.

I hope this helps

Carole Astin?

Medical Professional, Content Writer, Health blogger & Founder Member of Qatar Expat Women

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