The Facts About Chlamydia

Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and is the most frequently reported sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States.

In 2020, more than 1.5 million cases of chlamydia were reported in the U.S. This number was 13 percent lower than 2019, but this has been attributed more to a lack of in-person visits and an overall general reluctance to leave the house for medical help stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. It's assumed that although the number of reported infections fell in 2020, it's unlikely the reduction is because of an actual decline in new infections.

It's also estimated that many cases go unreported because people with the infection often present no symptoms. Statistics indicate as many as 70 percent of women don't notice any symptoms. However, even if no symptoms are present, it should be noted the chlamydia infection can still be passed through unprotected anal, oral or vaginal sex.

Chlamydia is a common STD that can cause infection in all individuals, though it's most prevalent in young women.

Bacteria are typically spread through sexual activity or contact with infected genital fluids, such as semen or vaginal fluids. The infection can also be passed from a pregnant person to their child.

As a bacterial infection, chlamydia can be cleared up with antibiotics. However, you must be aware of the problem before the problem can be cured. That's why STD testing is vital, so you can treat infections like chlamydia as soon as possible regardless of symptoms. Left untreated, it can cause more severe problems and complications in the future.

Chlamydia is spread through unprotected sexual contact; not just vaginal sex but oral and anal sex, too. Chlamydia can be present in semen and vaginal fluids, and it may affect the anus, cervix, penis, urethra and vagina, as well as the eyes and throat. Chlamydia can be spread from a pregnant person to their child during pregnancy.

Although rare, you can catch chlamydia if you have infected fluids on your hands and you touch your eyes. Sharing sex toys that are not cleaned in between use or covered with a condom can be a way to spread chlamydia, too.

The big takeaway is you don't have to have penetrative sex to spread STDs. If your genitals come into contact with your partner's genitals, that's enough for transmission of the infection to take place.

Please note, though, that you can't catch chlamydia through casual contact such as hugging, kissing, sharing food or drinks, or holding hands.

You are more at risk of contracting chlamydia if you are sexually active and younger than age 25, or you have multiple sexual partners, unprotected sex or a history of STDs.

Many people believe oral sex is completely safe, but you can still contract a sexually transmitted disease during oral sex.

It's important to remember that although you may be monogamous and have only one sexual partner, your partner may not be monogamous. If you suspect or know your partner is having sexual contact with other people, it's vital to use protection and ensure you have regular tests for STD infection.

One of the biggest challenges with chlamydia is you don't always have symptoms. If you do experience symptoms, they could be so mild you don't realize you have an STD. Chlamydia is often referred to as the "silent infection."

If you develop symptoms of chlamydia, they may include:

• Abnormal bleeding or discharge from the anus
• Abnormal penile discharge (it could be like pus, or watery or milky)
• Abnormal vaginal discharge (may be yellowish and have a strong odor)
• Bleeding after sex
• Bleeding between periods
• Burning sensation or pain during urination
• Eye redness, pain and discharge (if infected genital fluids get into the eyes)
• Lower abdominal pain
• Pain during sex
• Rectal pain
• Swelling or pain in the testicles

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.

If a person is infected with chlamydia, they carry it in their genital fluids (semen or vaginal fluids). The bacterium is then passed from person to person through unprotected sex and other sexual contact.

There are several ways to protect yourself from chlamydia:

• Abstain from sex
• Don't share sex toys
• Have sex with only one partner who is also monogamous and doesn't have an STD (and you've both been tested to confirm you are STD-free)
• Wear a condom or use a dental dam every time you have anal, oral and vaginal sex
• Use a dental dam to cover the female genitals during oral sex
• Use a dental dam when rubbing female genitals together

Most people don't show signs or symptoms if they have chlamydia, which means if you've had unprotected sex, you may be at risk of chlamydia even if you feel fine. The only way to find out for sure is to get tested.

Getting tested for chlamydia is quick and painless.

You should get tested if you have had:

• A partner who has chlamydia or another STD
• A partner who has unprotected sex with other people
• Actual symptoms of chlamydia or another STD
• Multiple sexual partners
• Sex without using a condom or barrier

As a rule of thumb, if you are younger than 25 and sexually active, you should get an STD test at least once a year.

The test involves rubbing your urethra, vagina, cervix or anus with a swab, or simply urinating in a cup. The swab or urine is then sent to a laboratory to be tested for the bacterium that causes chlamydia.

There are many locations where you can easily get tested, including your healthcare provider, a community health or sexual health clinic, or a Planned Parenthood center. After online consultation, there are at-home tests you can do in the comfort of your own home.

Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics, and it's been noted that 95 percent of people with chlamydia can be cured by taking the prescribed antibiotics correctly and finishing the full course.

It's important not to have sex when taking your medication. Usually, you are advised to wait a full seven days after your treatment has finished before having sex again.

If both you and your partner have chlamydia, both of you need to be treated with separate courses of antibiotics or you run the risk of passing the infection back and forth. It's wise to get another STD test about three months after your final treatment to ensure you are 100 percent free from infection.

Antibiotics treat chlamydia, but it's a one-time treatment: It cannot prevent you from catching the infection again. Continue to use condoms and/or dental dams during all sexual activity to prevent reinfection.

Although you may not have symptoms of chlamydia even if you are infected, it can cause long-term problems if left untreated.

These complications may include:

• Inflammation of the testicles
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in people with a uterus, which can lead to infertility or ectopic pregnancy
• Pregnancy problems such as passing chlamydia to the baby, premature labor and birth, and low birth weight
• Reactive arthritis

As mentioned, if left untreated, chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease. PID can happen when chlamydia spreads to the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. The symptoms of PID and chlamydia are similar: pain during sex, pain during urination, bleeding between periods and bleeding after sex.

If left untreated, pelvic inflammatory disease can lead to a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy, difficulty getting pregnant, infertility and chronic pelvic pain. It can be treated with a two-week course of antibiotics, and the earlier PID is treated, the lower the risk of long-term fertility problems.

Although less common, chlamydia can sometimes lead to infertility in people with testes, too. It can cause the testicles and epididymis—the tube that carries sperm from each testicle—to become inflamed. If this happens and the inflammation is not treated, it can lead to fertility problems.

Chlamydia may not cause fertility problems in men as often as in women, but it can result in erectile dysfunction (ED).

ED can happen if the infection reaches a man's prostate gland and causes prostatitis, the medical name for swelling of the prostate. Swelling of the prostate gland can restrict the blood flow to the penis, leading to ED.

The infection can be treated with antibiotics. If this is the only cause of a man's erectile dysfunction, then it will likely resolve when the antibiotics have worked.

It's important to take your full course of antibiotics even if you feel better or don't have symptoms. If you stop the medication early, the antibiotics won't take full effect.

Depending on the type of antibiotic prescribed, you need to take the medication for around five to 10 days. Most clinicians advise you to abstain from sex both during treatment and for another seven days after finishing the course to ensure that you're in the clear.

Communicating openly with your partner is a positive way to ensure you both stay free from chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Having chlamydia is nothing to be ashamed of, and if you do know you have the STD, you should immediately tell your partner so they can be tested to avoid any long-term complications.

If you are unsure how to talk to your partner about chlamydia, you can always speak to a healthcare provider together. They can answer any questions either of you may have. It may be awkward but telling your partner(s) about STDs is the right thing to do, especially since an infection may give you symptoms but present none to your partner.

What causes chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. This bacterium can be passed from person to person during unprotected anal, oral and vaginal sex. It can also be passed through genitals touching, because it is carried in semen and vaginal fluids. Sharing sex toys with someone who is infected with chlamydia is another way of spreading the infection.

It is also possible for pregnant women to pass the chlamydia infection on to their child.

How can I tell if I have chlamydia?

You can't always tell if you have chlamydia, as many people don't show any signs or symptoms. The only way to know for sure is to have an STD test.

You should get tested if you have unprotected sex or multiple sexual partners, or you present symptoms. It is advised you get tested on an annual basis if you are sexually active and younger than the age of 25.

Common symptoms of chlamydia may include anal, penile or vaginal discharge, pain during sex, a burning sensation when passing urine, bleeding after sex, bleeding in between periods, and swollen or painful testicles.

How is chlamydia treated?

Chlamydia is easily treated with a course of antibiotics. Most courses last five to 10 days, and you need to abstain from sex during the treatment and for an additional seven days after finishing the entire course of antibiotics.

The cure is one-time only and does not prevent you from catching the infection again.