Chlamydia may go away on its own, but you have no way of knowing whether your infection will clear. According to Merck Manual, “Without treatment, symptoms of chlamydia lessen within 4 weeks in about two-thirds of people. However, chlamydia can have serious long-term consequences for women, so detecting and treating the infection are important”.
Understanding Chlamydia
The Chlamydia Trachomatis bacteria causes chlamydia. It is a sexually transmitted infection spread by vaginal, anal, or oral sex, and is the most common STI (sexually transmitted infection) reported in the US. Chlamydia bacteria can affect the mouth, eyes, reproductive organs, the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body), and the rectum. A common site of infection for women is the cervix (the opening to the uterus).
Both men and women can get chlamydia. If you are under 25, you are at higher risk of infection. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), having a new sex partner, having more than one sex partner, not using condoms, and having sex with someone with an STI all put you at higher risk.
Chlamydia Symptoms
Can you have chlamydia and not have symptoms? Unfortunately, yes! Women with infections usually have few or no symptoms. If they do have symptoms, they are often mild and easy to overlook. The symptoms may include the frequent urge to urinate, pain when urinating, pelvic pain, yellow pus discharge from the vagina, and painful intercourse.
In men, chlamydia symptoms often include a mild burning sensation during urination, clear or cloudy discharge from the penis, and possibly swelling in one or both testicles.
In both men and women, chlamydia infection of the rectum may present as pain, tenderness, and a yellow discharge of pus or mucus from the rectum.
Chlamydia can also be spread through oral sex and cause infection of the throat. Those infections usually have no symptoms. An eye infection (Trachoma) can also be caused by chlamydia and can be serious, possibly leading to blindness.
Risks of Untreated Chlamydia
Several complications can happen if chlamydia goes untreated. They include:
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). PID is an infection of the female reproductive organs. If the infection is severe, you may need to be hospitalized. PID can damage the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and uterus.
- Ectopic pregnancy. This is when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, often in the fallopian tube. The egg must be removed to prevent serious complications such as a burst fallopian tube. A chlamydia infection increases the risk of an ectopic pregnancy.
- Infertility. Chlamydia infections can cause scarring and possibly obstruction in the fallopian tubes, potentially leading to infertility.
- Infections near the testicles. The coiled tube beside each testicle (the epididymis) can become infected, with symptoms including fever, scrotal pain, and swelling.
- Prostate gland infection. This is rare, but it can cause pain during and after sex, fever, chills, painful urination, and lower back pain.
- Untreated chlamydia may also increase your risk of getting or giving HIV.
What if you are pregnant? Are there special risks? Yes! Chlamydia has been linked to pregnancy problems such as preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes surrounding the baby in the uterus, and low birth weight. If chlamydia is untreated when you give birth, the baby can get pneumonia or a serious eye infection. First- and third-trimester testing is very important to prevent these pregnancy problems and newborn infections.
Chlamydia Treatment
Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics, and the infection usually clears in a week or two. Doxycycline for seven days is the usual treatment. If you are pregnant, Azithromycin given as a single dose is the first choice. Be sure any partners are tested and, if positive, treated as well. Make sure you take all the antibiotics, and don’t have sex until you and your partner(s) have been treated for at least a week.
You can get chlamydia again if you have sex with an infected partner. The only 100% sure way to prevent a sexually transmitted infection is abstinence.
Chlamydia Testing
Because Chlamydia often is silent with no symptoms, testing is important. Particularly, if you are a woman under age 25 and sexually active, annual screening is recommended. Testing can be from a urine sample or a fluid swab of the vagina or cervix.
Where can you go to get tested? Alternatives Care Centers offers confidential STI testing and education in a judgment-free environment. If you have questions about chlamydia, STI testing, or your sexual health, our team is here to help. Contact us today to learn more or schedule an appointment.
