What is chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection of the genital
tract caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis that
is spread through sexual contact. It is often called a “silent” disease
because about 75 % of women and more than 50 % of men infected
show no signs
or symptoms. Chlamydia is most commonly transmitted through
vaginal, anal or oral sex. It can also be passed to a newborn
during vaginal childbirth.
Chlamydia affects both women and
men, though reported cases for women greatly surpass those
for men. This is important to know because some MSM
also have sex with women. Because this disease
can lead to serious medical problems, there has been increased attention
to screening in recent years.
Factors known to increase
the risk of contracting the disease include:
- Age: because the cervix of teen girls and young women is
not fully developed and is more easily infected by chlamydia,
they have the highest risk of infection through sexual contact
- Sexual activity: women and men who routinely have unprotected
sex and/or multiple sex partners
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What are the symptoms of chlamydia?
Symptoms can develop within one to three weeks of
exposure. Signs to look for include abnormal discharge from
the penis, burning sensation during urination, lower abdominal
and back pain, fever, and inflammation of the rectum.
Untreated cases of chlamydia can cause tender or swollen testicles
which may lead to an infection inside the penis called urethritis.
For women, consequences can be even more severe. The disease
can trigger pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
which can damage the fallopian tubes, ovaries and cervix ultimately
causing infertility. It can also cause an ectopic
or tubal pregnancy—where the fertilized egg develops
outside the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy can be a potentially
fatal condition. that can cause the organs to rupture.
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Why get tested?
Testing is easy and safe. By getting tested regularly
(every 6 months) you can get treatment before chlamydia spreads
up the genital tract. You’ll also be protecting your
sexual partners and the Boston community.
There are a couple of testing options:
- Visit a testing
site for free or low-cost testing
- Get tested at your own health care provider's office or
health center
Diagnosis of chlamydia can be determined by several tests, including
a urine sample test and a culture test sampling discharge
of the penis. Depending upon your sexual behaviors, you may need
additional cultures of your throat or anus.
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How is chlamydia treated?
Chlamydia is curable. Antibiotics are the standard
treatment for this disease and usually given orally. Pills
may be given in one dose or over the period of a week. Pregnant
women may also be treated with antibiotics without harming
the fetus.
If you are HIV-positive or
your immune system is compromised for any reason, you should
see your doctor regularly.
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How can I protect myself and my partners from chlamydia?
If you are sexually active, make STD
testing part of your routine. In addition, use condoms,
consider limiting the number of sexual partners and know each
partner’s sexual history.
If you are infected, you should abstain from sex until you are
completely cured. All your current sexual partners need
to be tested and treated if exposed – it’s easy to
be reinfected.
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What do I need to know about chlamydia and HIV?
It’s important for everyone to know that chlamydia
makes it much more likely to acquire or transmit HIV infection.
If you are HIV-positive and think you’ve been exposed,
you should get
tested and get treatment right away.
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