As one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the UK. More than 200,000 people have had STD tests carried out and tested positive for the infection in England alone. Almost 7 in every 10 people diagnosed with it, were under the age of 25. If you think you have contracted chlamydia then it’s important to book a discrete and confidential appointment at Broadgate GP. Although the infection is usually asymptotic; meaning it shows no sign or symptoms there are cases where symptoms do not show. Symptoms can come and go, meaning you mightn’t even associate a particular sign with the infection. Although there are some shared symptoms, the symptoms can differ between both men and women.
What Is Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the country. The disease is caused by bacteria known as Chlamydia trachomatis and it can infect both men and women. Women who contract the infection can suffer from it in the cervix, rectum, and throat. Men, on the other hand, will usually suffer from the infection in the urethra, rectum or throat. As one of the most common diseases to be transmitted sexually, Chlamydia is said to of infect around 131 million worldwide each year. In the UK around 200,000 people test positive each year and 7 in 10 people are under the age of 25.
How Do You Catch Chlamydia?
The most common ways to catch chlamydia are through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex. It is also possible to become infected if you share sex toys with someone and they aren’t protected during use or cleaned after use. If a woman is pregnant when she contacts the sexually transmitted infection then she is likely to pass the infection on to her baby during childbirth.
It is still unclear whether the infection can be spread through touching or rubbing another person’s genitals. Chlamydia can’t be caught through kissing or sharing things such as the toilet. If you think you might have come into sexual contact with a person or toys that are or might be infected, then be sure to get tested.
Private GP & Walk-In Centre London – Make An Appointment
Whether you’re a walk-in patient or you book an appointment with us, our team will provide a friendly service and we’ll ensure you receive some of the highest standard of private health services in the London area.
What Should I Do If I Think I Might Have Chlamydia?
If you think you might have contracted chlamydia then the first thing you should do is visit a GP, sexual health clinic or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic. Here you can be tested for this and a range of other types of sexually transmitted diseases.
In most cases, the disease will show no symptoms and you mightn’t even know that you have it. People who are sexually active or have recently had unprotected sex should go and have regular testing carried out to ensure they are clear from infection.
As one of the most common diseases to be spread sexually, Chlamydia is also one of the easiest to treat. You’ll usually be prescribed a course of antibiotics and be advised to avoid all sexual contact for at least 7 days or until you’ve completed your treatment. Leaving the disease untreated can lead to long-term health problems for both men and women. It’s also important to receive treatment before dating or entering a new relationship.
Chlamydia in Men – The Facts
While chlamydia can be difficult to spot in men, which is due to the fact that not all men have the same symptoms, a lot of men won’t have any symptoms at all. More common symptoms include a discharge from the penis, pain during urination and swollen testicles. If you think there’s a chance you might have chlamydia, it’s essential that you get tested early as it’s important and so is avoiding spreading it to others. If your chlamydia is not treated, it can also affect the testicles and tubes that transport sperm, which can affect fertility in the long term. Chlamydia treatment normally will involve an antibiotic treatment that’s easily obtainable from your local GP surgery or GUM clinic.
Chlamydia in Women – The Facts
It can be difficult for a woman to tell if she has chlamydia, around only 30% of women with chlamydia will notice any signs of their chlamydia infection. The most common symptoms of chlamydia are vaginal discharge and pain when urinating if you think there’s a chance you have chlamydia, even if you do not have symptoms, you should get tested. If it’s left untreated, chlamydia in women can cause infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, cervicitis is also known as inflammation of the cervix, and bartholinitis, this is an inflammation of the Bartholin’s glands which are behind the labia, as well as a risk of infecting partners. It’s important to get tested for chlamydia by visiting your local GP or GUM clinic before the infection spreads.
Complications Of Chlamydia
When chlamydia is left untreated it can lead to a number of health complications and even long-term health issues. Broadgate GP always recommends seeking treatment as early as possible to avoid further issues developing, and to always tell sexual partners both past and current about your diagnosis so they can seek treatment for themselves. There are a number of complications that both men and women can suffer from.
Complications Of Chlamydia In Men
Inflammation Of The Testicles
When chlamydia is left untreated the infection can spread to the testicles and epididymis; which is the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles. This will lead to the testicles becoming inflamed, swollen and painful; this will be diagnosed by doctors as epididymitis or epididymal-orchitis.
Men suffering from inflammation of the testicles can usually be treated by taking a full course of antibiotics. When it is left untreated, it can lead to men suffering from fertility problems and possibly even infertility.
Reactive Arthritis
One of the most common causes of sexually acquired reactive arthritis (SARA) is chlamydia. SARA is where your joints, eyes or urethra (the tube urine passes through to exit the body) become inflamed. This will usually happen within the first few weeks of men contracting chlamydia.
However, women can also suffer from reactive arthritis but it is much more common in men. There isn’t currently a cure for sexually acquired reactive arthritis but most people will recover on their own within a few months. Anti-inflammatory drugs and ibuprofen can help to relieve the symptoms of SARA.lp to relive the symptoms of SARA.
Complications of Chlamydia in Women
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
When women suffer from chlamydia it is possible for it to spread to the womb, ovaries and even the fallopian tubes. This will then lead to a condition that is known as pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID). PID can lead to serious problems such as difficulty getting pregnant, persistent pelvic pain, increased chance of ectopic pregnancies and possibly infertility.
Many of the symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease are similar to those of chlamydia such as pain during sex or urination and bleeding between period or after sex. Most cases of PID will be treated with a 2-week course of antibiotics. The sooner you have been treated the less impact it will have on your fertility.
Pregnancy Complications
It is still possible to catch chlamydia whilst you’re pregnant and there’s a chance that the infection can also be passed onto your baby. When this happens, it can lead to things such as the baby developing eye infections and lung infections.
If babies show these symptoms when born your midwife or GP will arrange for a test to be carried out to check for chlamydia; antibiotics will be used to treat the infection. Pregnant women who have left the infection untreated are at risk of the baby being born prematurely or underweight. It is also possible for women to suffer from miscarriages and potentially even stillbirth.
What Happens if a Man Doesn’t Treat Chlamydia?
If chlamydia is left untreated, it can become a more severe infection, it’s also possible for it to have long term effects, including on fertility. Chlamydia can affect the whole of the male reproductive system, this will cause inflammation in the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles as well as the testicles themselves and the prostate gland. If the inflammation isn’t treated then it can lead to scarring which will have an effect on fertility.
There’s been studies that have shown that the infection itself can affect sperm from being produced properly, the evidence around this isn’t conclusive at the moment. Chlamydia can also cause a condition called reactive arthritis, this is when there’s inflammation that affects the eyes, joints and the urethra, the tube that carries urine from your bladder through your penis. The knees, feet, toes, hips and ankles are known for being affected. It’s not clear exactly why this happens but it may be related to the body overreacting to the infection. The symptoms can take months to recover, you should treat this with anti-inflammatory medicines.
Treating chlamydia ia also very important as it can easily be passed onto partners, even if you don’t have symptoms.
What Happens if a Women Doesn’t Treat Chlamydia?
Frequently Asked Questions About Chlamydia
Is chlamydia curable?
Yes! It is curable for both men and women and it is one of the common diseases to be passed on sexually. The hardest thing is noticing the infection itself as it remains symptomless so it can be difficult to realise you have it in the first place.
How do you develop chlamydia?
It’s unclear whether chlamydia can be spread through just touching another person’s genitals. In most cases, it is usually caught through unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex. It is also possible to catch the infection through unprotected or uncleaned shared toys.
Can you get chlamydia in the mouth?
If you have unprotected oral sex with someone who has chlamydia then it is possible to catch the infection in your throat. Most people don’t realise the importance of using protection during oral intercourse.
How do you know if you have chlamydia?
Chlamydia generally remains asymptomatic and even when symptoms develop they can be confused with infections. Symptoms will typically start to show several weeks after you’ve first become infected with the infection.
Can the body heal itself from chlamydia?
It isn’t impossible for the body to get rid of the infection on its own. It’s a myth many people believe and it can be dangerous as people as a complication can develop when chlamydia is left untreated. When detected early most cases of chlamydia can be treated through a course of oral antibiotics.
Do I need to go to a GP for a test?
No. Whilst the first place many people head to for testing is a GP they can also be carried out by your local sexual health or GUM clinic.
What antibiotics can treat chlamydia?
The two most common antibiotics used to treat chlamydia are azithromycin and doxycycline. However, people might be prescribed different antibiotics depending on if they have any allergies to certain types of ingredients used in the medication.
How long does it take to show signs of chlamydia?
Most people don’t show signs of the infection and it rare for people to recognise symptoms as the infection. If you do get symptoms of the sexually transmitted disease then they usually appear one to three weeks after having unprotected sex with an infected person. It is possible for symptoms to develop months after the initial infection and symptoms can come and go.
Can you get chlamydia in the eye?
Yes! Chlamydial conjunctivitis is redness and swelling of the clear membrane that lines the inside of your eyelids and covers the white of your eyes. In some cases the infection when in the eye is known as pink eye. Although relatively harmless in adults, eye infection in newborn babies can lead to blindness.
Do the symptoms come and go?
It’s estimated that about 80% of women and 50% of men won’t show sign of having the sexually transmitted infection. With the infection it is possible for symptoms to come and go and they can often be confused with symptoms of other illnesses.
Can chlamydia go undetected for 10 years?
In most cases chlamydia will be asymptomatic; however, symptoms will become noticeable around 1-3 weeks after you’ve had sex with an infected person. It is possible for symptoms to develop months or even years after being infected. Especially if people have suffered from complications such as PID or epididymitis.
