Chlamydia Overview
Chlamydia is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. The rate with which this STD is spreading it has created an alarming situation. As per the CDC, every year, 2.86 million cases of Chlamydia are reported in the country. The primary reason behind the havoc is the symptoms of the diseases which are either very mild or completely absent in some people.
Symptoms of Chlamydia
Once a person encounters with the bacterium, the symptoms start to appear between 1-3 weeks. The symptoms vary between men and women.
Women show the following symptoms:
- Abnormal vaginal discharge
- Pain or burning sensation while urination
- Abdominal and pelvic pain
- Fever
- Nausea
- Bleeding between periods
- Pain during sex
- Symptoms among men include the following:
- Painful burning sensation during urination
- Unusual discharge from the penis
- One may also experience rectal infection, which will lead to rectal pain and bleeding.
- What causes Chlamydia
Unprotected sex is the primary reason behind Chlamydia. It is contracted through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Since the cervixes of young women and teenage girls are not fully matured, they are more susceptible to the disease. The chances of infection are more severe in them. Other than this, the virus also passes from an infected mother to the infant during vaginal childbirth.
Chlamydia testing
If you are in doubt of getting the infection, Nucleic Acid Amplification (NAA) Chlamydia Test could confirm the same. NAA Test is a simple urine test. You may take it between 1 to 5 days of exposure to the bacterium. The test is highly accurate and is recommended by the CDC for endowing precision in diagnosis.
Other than the individual test of Chlamydia, you may also take an All-inclusive 10 Test panel test, which will test for all the common STDs. It is FDA approved and highly reliable.
Where to take the test
STDcheck.com could become your one-stop destination for taking different tests of STDs. With more than 4,500 testing centers throughout the United States, you may access the center nearest to your locality. It can be done by entering your zip code in the STD test center location page and get the list of nearby centers.
Apart from this, you may also call at 1-800-456-2323 or use the live chat feature on the home page to clear your doubts, if any. A certified health specialist will assist you with the same.
Cure of Chlamydia
Antibiotics are the remedy for Chlamydia. It is essential to completely cure the disease because the chances of re-infection are very high. Also, it is critical to abstain from sex for at least seven days so that antibiotics work properly and cure the infection. The sexually involved partner also requires equal treatment to nullify the chances of infection completely.
It is essential to re-test yourself as well as your partner around 21 to 28 days after the treatment. It will make sure that both the partners are entirely free from the infection and will not have any long-term complications.
Untreated Chlamydia
Chlamydia, if left untreated, may cause severe health complications. Among women, chronic pelvic pain and prenatal complications increase due to this disease. Serious reproductive issues like complications during pregnancy and infertility are common due to Chlamydia. When the severity increases, the risk of contracting HIV enhance among women. On the other hand, in men, untreated Chlamydia may lead to male sterility.
Therefore, it is always advised to have protected sex and a monogamous relationship. Using condoms or dental dams is the best way to keep the disease at bay. Besides, it is essential to take the Chlamydia test after regular intervals and ensure your well-being.