Can You Live With Chlamydia and Not Know It

Overview

Microscopic illustration of Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium. — Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium.

What is chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that'due south caused past a bacteria chosen chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis). In one case a person'due south infected, they can spread chlamydia to their partners through intercourse, anal sex or oral sexual practice. Infections tin can also occur when partners share sex activity toys that have become contaminated with the bacteria responsible for chlamydia.

Chlamydia infections are treatable and curable. But information technology'due south of import to receive handling equally soon as possible. Left untreated, chlamydia can lead to serious complications.

Who does chlamydia affect?

Anyone who's sexually active can get chlamydia. The bacteria that causes chlamydia gets transmitted through vaginal fluid and semen, which means that people of all genders who have sex tin become infected with chlamydia and infect their partners, also. If you're pregnant and accept chlamydia, you tin pass information technology on to your newborn.

How common is chlamydia?

Chlamydia is the most common STI caused by bacteria. Most 2 million cases of chlamydia were reported to the CDC in 2019. The number of infections is likely even higher. When compared to previous years, 2019 infection rates increased among people of all genders, all races and ethnicities, and in every region of the U.S. About cases of chlamydia are asymptomatic, which means there are no signs or symptoms of an infection. Many of these cases likely go unreported.

Certain demographic characteristics (like age, gender and race) may brand you lot more than probable to go diagnosed with chlamydia. You lot're more likely to get diagnosed if y'all're:

A teen or young adult anile fifteen to 24. More than than half of all diagnosed chlamydia cases in the U.Due south. occur in this age group.
A cisgender adult female aged fifteen to 24. Young women in this historic period group are targeted for chlamydia screenings, and the rate of infection amongst those who are tested is high.
A man who has sex with men (MSM). Chlamydia infections disproportionately affect men who take sex with men.
Black and non-Hispanic. Chlamydia infections unduly affect non-Hispanic Black populations.

College rates of manual amongst certain groups are less about sexual behavior and more about networks and lack of admission to STI prevention resources. For instance, chlamydia is more probable to spread from person to person within communities that have higher infection rates. And it'south more likely to spread among groups that don't have easy access to sexual practice instruction or barriers to STIs like condoms and dental dams.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes chlamydia?

Chlamydia infections spread through sexual contact, when vaginal fluid or semen containing the leaner that causes chlamydia travels from one person to another. Sexual contact includes all kinds of sex, including sex that doesn't involve penetration or ejaculation. At that place are lots of ways that the fluids from i person'south genitals can transmit the bacteria that causes chlamydia.

Intercourse. Bacteria laissez passer from one person'southward penis to their partner'south vagina or vice versa.
Anal sex activity. Leaner passes from one person'southward penis to their partner's anus or vice versa.
Oral sex. Bacteria passes from ane person'due south mouth to their partner's penis, vagina, or anus, or vice versa.
Sex involving toys. Bacteria laissez passer from a toy with the bacteria to a person's mouth, penis, vagina or anus.
Manual stimulation of the genitals or anus. Less commonly, infected vaginal fluid or semen can come in contact with a person's middle, causing an infection called conjunctivitis. For case, this can happen if you touch the genitals of an infected person then rub your eyes without washing your hands offset.

What doesn't cause chlamydia?

Not all situations involving an commutation of body fluids or intimacy cause chlamydia. You tin can't get chlamydia from:

Kissing.
Sharing food or drinks.
Hugging or holding hands.
Using a toilet after someone else.
Inhaling aerosol after someone coughs or sneezes.

How long can you have Chlamydia without knowing?

Chlamydia is sometimes called a silent infection considering the majority of people who have chlamydia — regardless of gender — never notice symptoms. People who do notice symptoms oft don't recognize the signs that they accept chlamydia until a few weeks after they've been infected. Because chlamydia cases are often asymptomatic, it's piece of cake to spread chlamydia to someone else without realizing information technology. And it's easy to miss out on receiving the treatment needed to prevent the serious complications that can event from chlamydia.

What are the symptoms of Chlamydia?

If you exercise find symptoms, you'll likely experience them differently based on your reproductive beefcake. Many of the symptoms that cisgender women feel can also impact transgender men and nonbinary individuals with vaginas. Many of the symptoms that cisgender men notice can bear on transgender women and nonbinary individuals with penises, as well.

Signs of chlamydia if you have a vagina

Chlamydia leaner frequently cause symptoms that are similar to cervicitis or a urinary tract infection (UTI). You may notice:

White, xanthous or greyness discharge from your vagina that may exist smelly.
Pus in your urine (pyuria).
Increased need to pee.
Pain or a called-for sensation when you pee (dysuria).
Bleeding in between periods.
Painful periods.
Painful intercourse (dyspareunia).
Itching or burning in and effectually your vagina.
Dull pain in the lower part of your abdomen.

Signs of chlamydia if y'all have a penis

Chlamydia bacteria virtually often infect your urethra, causing symptoms that are similar to nongonococcal urethritis. You may notice:

Mucus-similar or articulate, watery belch from your penis.
Pain or a burning sensation when you pee (dysuria).

Signs of chlamydia that all genders may notice

Chlamydia can affect parts of your body other than your reproductive organs, such every bit your:

Anus. Y'all may observe hurting, discomfort, bleeding or a mucus-like belch from your bottom.
Throat. Yous may have a sore pharynx, but you ordinarily won't notice symptoms if the bacteria's in your throat.
Eyes. Yous may notice symptoms of conjunctivitis if C. trachomatis leaner gets in your middle. Symptoms include redness, hurting and discharge.

See your healthcare provider immediately if you notice any of these symptoms.

Diagnosis and Tests

How is Chlamydia diagnosed?

The most mutual test for chlamydia is called a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). Your provider takes a sample of fluid by doing a vaginal/cervical swab or collecting a urine sample. And so, they send the sample off to a lab to check for the bacteria that causes chlamydia. Your provider may do the test in an office, or they may ask you to practise an at-home chlamydia examination. Follow your provider's instructions carefully to ensure you get accurate test results.

Because well-nigh chlamydia cases are asymptomatic, information technology'due south important to get screened for chlamydia even if yous don't find any signs of infection. The CDC recommends that sexually agile cisgender women who are high-risk for chlamydia go screened regularly. Women, more so than men, experience the most severe complications from chlamydia. Transgender men and nonbinary individuals with vaginas should be screened regularly, too, every bit they can experience the aforementioned complications of chlamydia.

You're considered high-risk if you:

Are under 25.
Are pregnant.
Have a new partner.
Have multiple partners.
Take had chlamydia infections previously.

Cisgender men, or trans and nonbinary individuals with penises, should be screened for chlamydia if:

They alive in a setting where chlamydia spreads ofttimes, like correctional facilities, boyish clinics and sexual health clinics.
They have sex with other men.

Regardless of your historic period, reproductive beefcake, or other take chances factors — you should discuss your sexual history and sexual activeness with your healthcare provider. Your provider is your all-time resource for offer guidance on how often you lot should be tested for chlamydia and other STIs.

Management and Treatment

How is chlamydia treated?

Chlamydia tin be cleared upward with antibiotics in near a week or two. Just don't stop taking your medication just because your symptoms amend. Ask your provider about what follow-upwardly is needed to be certain your infection is gone after you've finished taking your medicine.

Office of your treatment should too include avoiding sexual activities that could cause yous to get re-infected and ensuring that whatever sexual partners who may exist infected also go handling. You should:

Abstain from sex until your infection has cleared up. Starting treatment doesn't hateful that you're in the articulate. Accept all your medication as your provider directs, and avoid all sexual contact in the meantime.
Contact all sexual partners. Tell any sexual partners from the last 3 months that you're infected so that they can get tested, too.
Go tested for other STIs ( HIV/AIDS , syphilis , herpes , gonorrhea ). Information technology's mutual to have multiple STIs, and it's important to receive treatment that's tailored to each infection.

Antibiotics can become rid of your infection, but they tin't contrary whatsoever impairment the bacteria may take acquired to your body earlier treatment. This is why it's so important to get screened regularly for chlamydia, to run across your provider at the showtime sign of symptoms, and get treatment immediately if yous're infected.

What medications are used to get rid of chlamydia?

The most common antibiotics used to treat chlamydia infections are:

Azithromycin. Usually taken equally a unmarried dose.
Doxycycline. Unremarkably taken over 7 days.

Make sure yous only have antibiotics prescribed by your provider, and take all medications until they're gone, fifty-fifty if your symptoms improve.

Can chlamydia be cured?

Yes. Chlamydia can be treated and cured. Some sexually transmitted bacterial infections are starting to become resistant to antibiotics, though, and this makes them harder to care for. With this in mind, the best way to fight chlamydia is to preclude infections from spreading.

What tin happen if chlamydia isn't treated?

Untreated chlamydia can put your health at risk. Make an date with your provider immediately if you notice any symptoms of chlamydia, and go regular STI screenings to avoid complications later.

Complications of chlamydia for people with vaginas

Untreated chlamydia can cause:

Pelvic inflammatory illness (PID). PID is a serious condition that requires hospitalization. Information technology can occur when an untreated STI, similar chlamydia, damages your reproductive organs. PID tin can lead to infertility and chronic pelvic pain. It tin can also crusade an ectopic pregnancy, which is life-threatening for the fetus and potentially mortiferous for the female parent or gestational parent, too.
Pregnancy complications. An untreated infection tin can lead to pre-term delivery. Besides, if you're pregnant and have chlamydia, yous can pass the infection on to your newborn. Babies built-in with chlamydia may have pneumonia or conjunctivitis that could lead to blindness if non treated.

Complications of chlamydia for people with penises

Untreated chlamydia can crusade:

Epididymitis. Infection can spread to the testicles and the tube that carries sperm to your testicles (epididymis), causing symptoms similar pain, swelling and tenderness in your testicles.
Reduced fertility. Chlamydia tin harm your sperm, negatively impacting your ability to conceive.

Complications of chlamydia that can affect all genders

Untreated chlamydia can:

Increase your risk of getting reactive arthritis, which causes your joints to swell and experience painful.
Increase your chances of contracting HIV.

How soon after handling will I feel better?

Yous should start to experience better inside a week after you begin taking antibiotics. Be sure to continue taking your antibiotics until they're gone, even if your symptoms amend.

Prevention

How can I protect myself from chlamydia?

The merely way to avoid getting chlamydia is to abstain from having vaginal, anal or oral sexual practice with someone who has a chlamydia infection. And be certain that sex toys that carry the bacteria don't come in contact with your genitals.

It'south not e'er possible to know if a current or potential partner has chlamydia, though, especially since many people with chlamydia never notice symptoms. With prevention in mind, it'south a good idea to make safer sex practices a regular part of your sex life:

Apply condoms during intercourse, anal sex and oral sex activity.
Use dental dams during oral sex or vagina-to-vagina contact.
Don't share sexual practice toys, but if you practice, launder them subsequently each apply and embrace toys used for penetration with a condom.
Have sex with but i partner, who only has sex with y'all.

Outlook / Prognosis

How long does chlamydia concluding?

With handling, chlamydia should become away within a calendar week or 2. It's important to take all antibiotics to fight the infection. Don't have sexual practice during treatment, or you could become reinfected.

Does chlamydia get abroad on its own?

Yous should never await for chlamydia to get away on its own. Left untreated, chlamydia can cause serious impairment to your health. If you are sexually active, you run the take a chance of infecting others, putting them at risk of experiencing astringent complications likewise.

Living With

When should I run into my healthcare provider?

When it comes to chlamydia, information technology'southward a good idea to be proactive. Speak with your healthcare provider near your risks of infection. Make a program to get screened regularly for STIs based on your provider's recommendations for how oftentimes yous should exist tested. Make an date with your healthcare provider if your partner tests positive for chlamydia or if you find any signs or symptoms that you may exist infected.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the first symptoms of chlamydia?

About people who have chlamydia never notice symptoms. But an unusual discharge from your vagina or penis may be a sign that you have a chlamydia infection. Pain, bleeding or a discharge from your bottom can also be a sign of chlamydia.

Does chlamydia have a olfactory property?

Chlamydia doesn't always accept a aroma. But one of the symptoms of chlamydia is an unusual vaginal discharge that has an unpleasant odor.

How did I get chlamydia if I didn't cheat?

Yous can go chlamydia if your partner had vaginal, oral or anal sex with someone who was infected and and then had sex with you. People in relationships may accept different ideas about what kinds of sexual contact counts equally "cheating," and this miscommunication can lead to infections. Communicate honestly with your partner most what sex you lot're having and what sex they're having. Do safer sex to reduce your hazard of communicable chlamydia, and get regularly screened to be sure.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

It can be embarrassing to talk nigh anything sex-related with your healthcare provider, including STI prevention. But your sex life is an important part of your health that your provider needs to know about to care for you. Not getting the treatment you lot demand for chlamydia can pose serious risks to your health. Speak with your provider about getting regularly screened for chlamydia and other STIs to reduce your risks of complications. Practice safer sex to prevent the spread of chlamydia.

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Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4023-chlamydia