Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, which can affect both men and women. Sometimes this infection can be asymptomatic, but it is also common to cause symptoms such as altered vaginal discharge or burning while urinating, for example.
The infection may appear after unprotected sexual contact and therefore, in men, it is more frequent that infection arises in the urethra, rectum or throat, while in women, the most affected sites are the cervix, rectum or throat.
The disease can be identified only with the evaluation of the symptoms presented, but there are also tests that help confirm the diagnosis. So whenever there is suspicion of having chlamydia it is very important to go to the general practitioner or an infectious disease to confirm the diagnosis and start the appropriate treatment, which is usually done with antibiotics.
How To Get Chlamydia
The main way to get a chlamydia infection is through intimate, non-condom contact with an infected person, whether oral, vaginal or anal. In this way, people who have several sexual partners, are at greater risk of having the disease.
In addition, chlamydia can also pass from mother to child during childbirth, when the pregnant woman has the infection and did not receive adequate treatment.
Chlamydia risks in pregnancy
Chlamydia infection during pregnancy can lead to premature labor, low birth weight, fetal death and endometritis. As this disease can pass to the baby during normal delivery, it is important to perform tests that can diagnose this disease during the prenatal period and follow the treatment indicated by the obstetrician.
The affected baby during childbirth may have complications such as conjunctivitis or chlamydial pneumonia and these diseases can also be treated with antibiotics indicated by the pediatrician.
How to know if I have chlamydia
Chlamydia symptoms may take up to a few weeks to appear after unprotected intimate contact, and in some cases may not even appear. However, even without symptoms, the person can spread the disease to their partners if they have some kind of unprotected sexual activity.
When they do appear, the symptoms may vary slightly between women and men, but in both cases it is common to see:
- Burning sensation when urinating;
- Pain during intimate contact;
- Itching in the intimate region.
Check out a more complete list of symptoms that can occur in both men and women.
How to confirm the diagnosis
When chlamydia causes symptoms, the infection can be identified by the urologist or gynecologist only with the evaluation of these symptoms. However, laboratory tests may also be done with a small smear of the inner region, or a urinalysis, to identify the presence of the bacteria.
Since chlamydia does not cause symptoms in some cases, it is advised that people over the age of 25, with an active sex life, and with more than 1 partner take the test regularly. After getting pregnant, it is also advised to take the test to avoid transmitting the bacteria to the baby during childbirth.
Is Chlamydia Healing?
Chlamydia can be easily cured with antibiotics for 7 days. However, to ensure healing, during this time it is advised to avoid unprotected intimate contact.
Even in people with HIV, the infection can be cured in the same way, and there is no need for another type of treatment or hospitalization.
How is the treatment done?
Treatment to treat chlamydia is done with the use of antibiotics prescribed by the doctor, such as azithromycin as a single dose or Doxycycline for 7 days, or as directed by your doctor. Learn more about treatment.
With proper treatment it is possible to completely eradicate the bacteria, but if other complications arise such as pelvic inflammatory disease or infertility, they can be permanent. Understand how chlamydia causes infertility.
