{"id":2639,"date":"2019-01-20T09:35:14","date_gmt":"2019-01-20T09:35:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=2639"},"modified":"2021-05-24T14:21:33","modified_gmt":"2021-05-24T14:21:33","slug":"15-symptoms-of-chlamydia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/15-symptoms-of-chlamydia\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Symptoms of Chlamydia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the United States, with over 1.4-million cases reported each year. The CDC recommends annual screening for the disease in all sexually active individuals under the age of 25-years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis, is responsible for the infection. Chlamydia resides in the semen of men and vaginal secretions of women and spreads through sexual contact with the penis, vagina, anus, or mouth. This disease is dangerous for pregnant women, and they may pass it onto their unborn child and experience complications with the pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically, symptoms of chlamydia begin to show up two to three weeks after initial infection. Doctors treat chlamydia infection with antibiotics, and the infection usually clears up reasonably quickly.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are eight symptoms of chlamydia. If you notice any of them, arrange an STI screen with your physician for diagnosis of infection and treatment of the disease.
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1.    No Symptoms <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chlamydia <\/a>is a \u201csleeper STI,\u201d meaning that in 75 to 90-percent of all cases, the infection presents no symptoms to the infected individual. Most people with chlamydia feel normal, and they might carry the disease for years, infecting multiple partners before detection. This stealth characteristic makes chlamydia challenging to spot without professional medical assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chlamydia is highly infectious, spreading through sexual contact with the penis, vagina, anus, or mouth. The lack of symptoms in infected individuals does not mean that you are resistant to the disease, or it doesn\u2019t affect you like others. If left untreated, chlamydia can cause complications with your sexual health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Complications include infertility and PID, (pelvic inflammatory disease.) A lack of screening in sexually active individuals means that you have a high risk of contracting the infection if you have unprotected sex, especially if you are under 26-years of age. If you have had unprotected sex, arrange an STI screen with your doctor.
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2.    Vaginal or Penile Discharge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Individuals infected with the Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium, experience the onset of symptoms between one to three weeks after contracting the STI. Vaginal or penile discharge is one of the first symptoms to show up in both men and women. This discharge <\/a>is typically yellow or greenish in color and has a thickened consistency compared to normal semen, sperm, or vaginal fluids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, a foul smell can accompany the discharge, which can be highly concerning for anyone suffering from the infection. In many cases, infected individuals confuse this discharge with gonorrhea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s vital that you don\u2019t attempt to hide your condition from your partner or your doctor. Many infected individuals feel embarrassed by admitting they have an STI, but it won\u2019t go away on their own without medical treatment. Don\u2019t attempt to self-diagnose yourself, or use black-market medications to treat the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit your doctor for a blood screen and trust their diagnosis. Your physician will prescribe a course of antibiotics to clear the infection and return you to good sexual health.
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3.    Pain During Urination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chlamydia bacterium causes inflammation of the urinary tract that leads to a burning or painful sensation when urinating. This symptom occurs in both men and women and is most noticeable during the first trip to the bathroom in the morning after the urinary tract <\/a>has had time to rest overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pain during urination, also known as \u201cdysuria,\u201d occurs due to inflammation of the urethra, the tube that runs from the bladder and excretes urine. In some cases, chlamydia infection increases urinary frequency, resulting in more trips to the bathroom during the day. Many people confuse these symptoms with a UTI, (urinary tract infection,) which is a common disorder that typically clears up on its own after a few days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, chlamydia infection will not go away by itself and requires antibiotics to kill off the invading bacteria. If you notice a burning or painful sensation during urination and have had an unprotected sexual encounter recently, you may have chlamydia.
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4.    Pain, Itching, and Swelling in the Vulva or Penis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another common symptom of chlamydia involves swelling of the vulva in women, as well as the tip of the penis in men around the opening of the urethra. Women may notice heightened sensitivity in the vulva <\/a>a few days after contracting the disease, with itching symptoms showing up a few days later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Men may first experience pain during urination before noticing that the tip of their penis becomes irritable and itchy. As the bacteria work their way down the urethra, they eventually reach the tip of the penis and present itching symptoms. Uncircumcised men may experience itching over the entire area of the head of the penis, as the bacteria colonize under the skin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors treat itching symptoms by prescribing antibiotic medications to kill the bacteria. Your physician may also issue a topical corticosteroid cream to soothe the inflammation and stop itching symptoms on the penis or vulva. Symptoms will begin to subside a few days after starting treatment for the disease.
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5.    Pain Intercourse and Ejaculation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Women infected with chlamydia will notice pain during intercourse<\/a>. The most common infection site for women, is the cervix, with 75-percent of cases involving this region of the reproductive system. This condition is also known as, \u201cdyspareunia,\u201d and symptoms feel like an uncomfortable stretching of the vaginal canal, or pain in the pelvic area, during sexual intercourse, especially with deep penetration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, men may find they experience pain symptoms during ejaculation when the inflammation of the urethra makes it uncomfortable to pass semen through the tube due to swelling of the urethra by the chlamydia bacterium. In some cases, thickened semen may cause discomfort during ejaculation, as the fluid irritates the inflamed urethra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Infected individuals are advised to remain abstinent from sexual intercourse until treatment clears the infection and the inflammation of the penis and vulva begin to subside. Further sexual intercourse should always include the use of protective measures, such as condoms, to prevent reinfection with chlamydia bacterium.
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6.    Bleeding During Intercourse or Between Periods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This symptom only affects women infected with the chlamydia bacterium. Since the cervix is the site for the majority of infections in women, the inflammation of this region first leads to pain during intercourse, and further inflammation results in bleeding or \u201cspotting\u201d between periods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some women may confuse this sign of chlamydia infection with pregnancy<\/a>, as spotting is a common occurrence during the early stages of pregnancy. However, women may find that this spotting occurs between the regular dates for their period. The unexpected arrival of blood may also be a signal of cervix infection by the chlamydia bacterium. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some women fear the worst after seeing blood after intercourse, if this happens to you, it\u2019s vital that you keep a clear head and seek medical assistance. If left untreated, the infection can cause infertility, so it\u2019s best to arrange an appointment with your doctor for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible to avoid complications arising.
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7.    Pelvic and Abdominal Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms of swelling and abdominal pain are typically signs that the chlamydia infection has spread deep into the reproductive system after initial symptoms fail to appear or go unnoticed and untreated by the infected individual. Chlamydia infections risk developing into PID, (pelvic inflammatory disease, where women experience the spread of the bacteria from their vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes, and the ovaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms of PID include sharp pain in your pelvis and lower abdomen, as well as fever. In advanced cases of PID, the infected individual may also notice signs of nausea<\/a>. If left untreated, the condition may develop into a tube-ovarian abscess, where pus collects in the ovaries and uterine tube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to note that just because the infection has become widespread in your reproductive system \u2013 there is still time to receive treatment to avoid infertility complications with the disease. Arrange a consultation with your doctor, they will treat the infection with antibiotics, and you should experience relief from your symptoms within 48-hours after starting treatment.
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8.    Swelling and Pain in the Testes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Men that don\u2019t notice the initial symptoms of chlamydia infection sometimes experience swelling and pain in the testes as the bacteria travels up the urethra and into the epididymis. This condition is known as, \u201cepididymitis<\/a>.\u201d In some cases, one or both of the testicles may start to swell, a condition known as, \u201cepididymal-orchitis.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This inflammatory condition alters the skin color of the scrotum, turning it red in color. Infected individuals may notice a pain in the testicles that comes on gradually over the course of a few weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scrotal swelling and pain when touching the testes occur for a multitude of different reasons. If you notice any of the signs of chlamydia infection and have had unprotected sex recently, it’s best that you visit your medical practitioner for diagnosis and treatment to prevent the further spread of the disease in your body, and limit potential reinfection or infection of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Eye Infection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Do you realize how often you unconsciously touch your face? If you want to find out, handle a few chili peppers \u2013 then see how long it takes for your eyes to start burning from the number of times you unconsciously rub your eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This same behavior applies to people infected with Chlamydia. Since Chlamydia is a bacterial infection, it presents a risk of spreading to other areas of the body through the skin to skin transmission. For instance, you go to the bathroom and touch your face before washing your hands. This circumstance may lead to you inadvertently spreading the bacteria to your eyes, producing symptoms of dry eyes <\/a>and swelling in the eyelids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice any signs of swelling in your eyes, you may be suffering from chlamydia cross-contamination. It\u2019s a painful and irritating condition to live with, so it\u2019s best you seek medical help right away. Visit your medical health professional for a diagnosis and treatment with a course of antibiotics.
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10. Infection with Other STI\u2019s<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The presence of a sexually transmitted disease<\/a> is one of the most significant risk factors for contracting another STI. Infected individuals have a weakened immune system due to their current infection. Therefore, the body has a slower and weaker response to fighting off any new diseases or parasites. People with one STI typically have others they are unaware of as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most common ancillary infections to Chlamydia are gonorrhea, syphilis, and trich. All of these STI\u2019s present similar symptoms to chlamydia and you may not realize that you\u2019re dealing with multiple infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit your doctor and ask for a full STI panel to uncover the truth about your health condition. If your doctor discovers signs of an STI, they will recommend treatment and counseling to clear the infection. However, if you have more than one STI, and are unaware of your infection, you may confuse the symptoms with other diseases.
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11. Confusing Chlamydia with Gonorrhea <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The signs and symptoms of chlamydia and gonorrhea <\/a>are very similar. It\u2019s due to this fact that infected individuals often confuse the two diseases. People infected with chlamydia experience discharge, pain with urination, and irritation around the genitals that causes discomfort. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gonorrhea also presents all of these symptoms, so confusing the one for the other is a common theme. Unfortunately, many people infected with gonorrhea don\u2019t receive the treatment they need in the hope that the disease will clear up on its own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, gonorrhea can clear by itself if the infected individual has a healthy immune system. However, this is the exception more than the rule, and most people affected by either disease will typically have a weakened immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s best to seek medical help as soon as possible if you notice symptoms of either disease. Doctors test your blood for the STI and write a script for the appropriate antibiotic treatment.
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12. Throat Soreness and Oral Thrush<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chlamydia spreads through contact with an infected individual\u2019s bodily fluids, including saliva. Many people think that oral sex is virtually risk-free, with next to no chance of contracting an STI if they choose not to wear protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this is not the case. Unprotected oral sex can be just as dangerous as unprotected penetrative sex. Infected individuals that engage in oral sex run the risk of spreading the disease from the genitals <\/a>to the mouth and the throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chlamydia bacteria may exit the tip of the urethra, entering the mouth and throat during oral sex. This infection leads to the development of soreness and redness in the back of the throat, accompanied by the development of a white film as the bacteria spread.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors can clear up this infection using the same type of antibiotics that they use to treat infection around the genital area. You should notice the disease begins to clear a few days after starting treatment.
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13. Pelvic Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chlamydia infection can spread from the urethra up into the urinary tract, into the bladder <\/a>and kidneys. This inflammation creates sensations of pain in the pelvic region. Infected individuals report that the discomfort starts slowly and builds over the course of a few days until it becomes noticeable that\u2019s something not right with the pelvic region.
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PID, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, is a serious concern for both men and women, but women experience more complications with the condition. Chlamydia infection creates inflammation in the walls of the vagina, before spreading to the uterus, the fallopian tubes, and finally the ovaries. PID is a severe reproductive concern for women that wish to remain fertile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Failure to recognize the signs and symptoms of STI related PID due to chlamydia infection can render a woman infertile if she does not receive treatment in time to reduce the inflammation. Doctors treat the condition with antibiotics, as well as oral or suppository anti-inflammatory medications.
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14. Pain During Ejaculation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Men infected with the chlamydia bacterium, experience a wide range of symptoms, including none at all. However, one of the more common symptoms of the advanced stages of the infection is pain during ejaculation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This symptom occurs when the tiny coiled tube that connects the urethra to the testicles <\/a>experiences a blockage, due to infection with the chlamydia bacterium as they travel down towards the testes. As the blockage increases in size, it becomes more painful for men to ejaculate. The severity of the pain increases from when it’s first noticed until treatment starts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This sign of chlamydia is often associated with infection by the \u201cTrichomonas\u201d parasite as well. Since \u201cTrich,\u201d is the most common form of STI in the United States, your doctor will most likely screen you for this disease during your blood work tests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Men will notice symptoms subside a few days to a week after starting treatment.
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15. Malaise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Malaise <\/a>is a medical term describing feelings of uncertainty and dread about the future. The condition occurs in patients who are consciously or subconsciously aware of a health problem, but have not as of yet, received a medical diagnosis. This feeling of uncertainty can grow into anxiety and fear if the patient does not seek treatment for their susceptive infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some medical professionals suggest that the disorder occurs due to our natural tendency to expect the worst from the unknown. If we think we have a life-threatening disease, we may not want to visit the doctor for fear of what they might find. Symptoms of malaise include uncertainty, fear, anxiety, frustration, and depression. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Men and women experiencing symptoms with their reproductive system may have a fear of discovering they have a severe problem with their reproductive organs. Feelings of malaise typically lift almost immediately after diagnosis with a positive outcome.
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