What is chlamydia?
Chlamydia
is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI).
It is caused by the bacteria chlamydia trachomatis and can infect
the penis, vagina, cervix, anus, urethra, or eye. Because the signs
of chlamydia often go unnoticed, an individual can develop serious
health complications before they recognize that they are infected.
Is it common?
There
are approximately 3 million cases of chlamydia in the US each year
and 3 out of every 4 cases reported were in individuals under the
age of 25. Though the disease is easily treatable, it can be present
without showing any symptoms and individuals can go a long time
without knowing they are infected. Because individuals don't always
know they are infected, the number of chlamydia infections is significantly
underreported.
How is it transmitted?
Chlamydia
can be transmitted during vaginal, anal, or oral sex and can be
transmitted even if there are no signs or symptoms of infection.
Chlamydia can also be passed from an infected mother to her newborn
during vaginal childbirth.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms
for men may include:
Painful,
burning sensation during urination
Watery
or milky discharge from the penis
Inflammation
of the urinary opening
Pain
or swelling in the testicles.
The symptoms
for women may include:
Vaginal
irritation or itching
Abnormal
vaginal discharge
Irregular
vaginal bleeding
Pelvic
pain
Nausea
Fever
Pain
during intercourse
Painful
urination or a frequent need to urinate.
However,
about 75% of women and 50% of men infected with chlamydia don't
have symptoms. Many women only discover they have chlamydia when
they have a pelvic exam or when a partner develops symptoms. Because
women can have chlamydia and not have any symptoms, they can have
the infection for a long time before they receive treatment. Infection
can spread from the cervix to the uterus and cause pelvic inflammatory
disease (PID). If PID is not treated, it can cause scarring and
sterility.
If you
experience any of the symptoms above or think you might have been
exposed to chlamydia, you should stop having sex and consult a medical
provider immediately.
How soon after exposure to chlamydia will
symptoms appear?
If you
are infected with chlamydia you might not have symptoms, but if
symptoms do occur, they usually surface within 1 to 3 weeks of exposure.
How is it diagnosed?
Your medical
provider will take a swab of the vaginal, rectal or urethral opening
and this will be analyzed by a lab test. You can make an appointment
with Health Services or you can contact another testing site in
Providence. Click here
to see a listing of local STI test sites. If you choose to get tested
at Health Services, you can ask your medical provider about testing
costs and when you can expect your results back during your appointment.
How is it treated?
Chlamydia
infections are usually treated with antibiotics. It is important
to take the entire course of medication to make sure the infection
is gone. If you are tested at Health Services, you can pick up your
antibiotic prescription at the pharmacy.
If you
find out that you are infected with chlamydia, you should also notify
all of your recent sex partner(s) so that they can be treated, even
if they don't have symptoms. This will reduce the risk of your partner(s)
experiencing complications from an infection and will reduce your
risk of being re-infected. You should not have sex with your partner(s)
until you complete your treatment, and your partner(s) are tested
and complete their treatment.
Can chlamydia infections be dangerous?
Chlamydia
infections can create serious health threats if gone undiagnosed
and untreated, especially for women. In women, chlamydia can cause
pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can scar and block the fallopian
tubes and prevent fertilized eggs from reaching the uterus. If fertilized
eggs develop in the tubes, this is called an ectopic pregnancy --
a dangerous situation that requires emergency surgery.
In men, chlamydia can cause sterility. It can spread from the urethra
to the testicles where a condition called epididymitis (inflammation
of a duct in the testicles) can develop. Also in men, chlamydia
can cause Reiter's syndrome -- a condition with symptoms including:
Urethritis
Lesions
that form hard crusts on the penis
Ulcers
in the mouth or throat
Conjunctivitis
Arthritis
Links you can use
For more
information about chlamydia, you can visit:
Disclaimer: Health Education is part of Health Services at Brown University. Health Education maintains this site as a resource for Brown students. This site is not intended to replace consultation with your medical providers. No site can replace real conversation. Health Education offers no endorsement of and assumes no liability for the currency, accuracy, or availability of the information on the sites we link to or the care provided by the resources listed. Health Services staff are available to treat and give medical advice to Brown University students only. If you are not a Brown student, but are in need of medical assistance please call your own health care provider or in case of an emergency, dial 911. Please contact us if you have comments, questions or suggestions.
