Chlamydia and its symptoms
Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It may transmit from one person to another while having unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex. The disease is also called as silent STD because its symptoms are very mild and sometimes wholly absent. However, if the symptoms appear, they take 1 to 3 weeks to become prominent after the exposure.
The little symptoms of Chlamydia have made it very common among individuals. Most of the time, people don’t even know that they have Chlamydia. They acknowledge it only after experiencing severe problems. This is another reason why it is essential to take the annual screening.
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Chlamydia in women
Young women and teenage girls are more susceptible to Chlamydia. It has become the most frequently reported STD in the country. As per the reports from the CDC, 1 out of 15 sexually active teenage girls is said to have a Chlamydia infection. Most of the time, it passes to the partner unknowingly due to the absence of any prominent symptom. Therefore every sexually active woman must take the test after regular intervals.
How it infects women
Chlamydia transmits through sexual contact. The bacterium targets the moist mucous membrane of the vagina that is the cervix. It is the passageway joining the vagina and the uterus. Once the bacterium invades, it develops the symptoms like vaginal discharge, pain during urination, bleeding between periods along with stomach pain. With the severity of the infection, the bacterium may invade the urethra and reach the uterus. It passes through the fallopian tube that carries fertilized eggs.
If the infection is left untreated, it leads to Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases. Complications during pregnancy and other issues like infertility, ectopic pregnancy are common when the women have Chlamydia.
Symptoms of Chlamydia in women
Most of the time, the symptoms of Chlamydia remain silent. However, few indications which point towards the presence of the disease include the following:
- Abnormal vaginal discharge with odor
- Painful urination
- Pain in the rectum along with discharge and bleeding
- Inflamed eye
Other than these, there are few symptoms which are less common but often experienced by many women. These are:
- Bleeding between menstrual cycles
- Lower belly and back pain
- Nausea
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Painful sensation during sex
Chlamydia in men
Men also rarely experience any symptoms of Chlamydia, just like women. This is the reason why it passes from one person to another unknowingly. The silent nature of the disease is the reason for it being more prevalent. Thick yellow-white milky and watery discharge is the first symptom men experience with Chlamydia. Pain and burning sensation during urination are also experienced.
If Chlamydia in men is left untreated, it may lead to more severe issues like nongonococcal urethritis (NGU). NGU is an infection of the urethra and epididymitis, an infection of the epididymis which occurs in the severity of Chlamydia. Therefore sexually active men must take annual chlamydia testing.
Symptoms of Chlamydia in men
50% of men with Chlamydia do not experience any sign of the disease. However, a few significant symptoms include the following:
- Abnormal penile discharge which is thick, yellow-white or milky and watery
- Painful urination
- Pain in the rectum, discharge, and bleeding
- Inflamed eye
- Few less common symptoms are:
- Sore throat
- Itching and burning sensation around the opening of the penis
- Pain in the testicle and swelling
Since both men and women experience a different level of symptoms when infected with Chlamydia, taking annual screening becomes vital. There are many health complications associated with it, which is the primary reason to take the test and remain safe and secure.