What does it feel like to be infected with Chlamydia? I recently came across a valid opinion from an X user. “I’m convinced that Sex on Fire is a song about chlamydia,” ThexyBeatht_2 wrote in a recent post. That made me laugh out loud. Some of the words in Kings of Leon’s Sex on Fire are “Consumed, hot as a fever, and but it’s not forever.” Some of the lyrics, I believe, explained Chlamydia in a few words.
The World Health Organization reports that the global prevalence of Chlamydia “occurred worldwide among adults aged 15 to 49 years. The global prevalence among people aged 15–49 years was estimated to be 4.0% for women and 2.5% for men in 2020.”
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection that causes no symptoms at first and affects both men and women. It is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. If this infection fails to be addressed properly, it may give rise to major health problems. In this article we look at transmission, symptoms, causes and treatment of Chlamydia.
Mode of Transmission
Similar to numerous other sexually transmitted infections, chlamydia impacts the male and female genitals. It is vital to remember that even after contact, this sexually transmitted infection does not show any symptoms. Because most people don’t realize they have chlamydia, transmitting the infection is therefore as easy as turning on a light switch.
Unprotected sexual contact with an infected person is how chlamydia is transmitted. It can occur during oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Body fluids like semen, vaginal secretions, and mucus from an infected person’s mouth are home to Chlamydia trachomatis. During intercourse, chlamydia is spread when any of these body fluids come into contact with an uninfected person.
Symptoms of Chlamydia
Given its asymptomatic nature, Chlamydia is known as a silent STI. Gonorrhea is another infection that is asymptomatic (has no symptoms).
Individuals with infected body fluids can infect others even if they do not have visible chlamydia symptoms. Other infected people, on the other hand, can develop chlamydia symptoms which appear between 1-3 weeks after a person has been in contact with infected bodily fluids.
Chlamydia Symptoms In Men
Chlamydia symptoms differ between males and women. In men, the infection affects the urethra, which is a tube-like organ that passes through the penis, producing a pathway for urine and sperm.
Chlamydia symptoms in men include:
- Penis discharge
- A scorching sensation that causes painful urinating
- Pain or swelling in one or both testicles
- Itching of the urethral hole near the tip of the penis
Chlamydia Symptoms In Women
Additionally, some women have symptoms of chlamydia that impact the fallopian tubes, cervix, and urethra.
Among these signs are:
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Painful urination
- Bleeding between menstrual cycle
- Cervical inflammation
Causes of Chlamydia
Chlamydia trachomatis is the bacterium that causes chlamydia. Aside from the core cause, there are two basic causes of this sexually transmitted infection.
- Sexual contact without protection (with a single infected person or multiple infected people)
- Mother-to-child transmission
According to the Centers for Disease Control, “untreated chlamydial infection has been linked to problems during pregnancy, including preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, and low birth weight.” If the mother has chlamydia, the newborn is at risk of getting it.
Chlamydia Treatment
As a common STI, chlamydia is also treatable. Since chlamydia is caused by bacteria, the most effective medication for treating it is an antibiotic. An antibiotic’s function is to specifically target bacteria causing an infection and prevent those bacteria from growing further.
When treating chlamydia in both men and women, azithromycin or doxycycline are the most often given medications. A medical professional who prescribes this will also go over the medication’s dosage with you. In order to prevent the growth of Chlamydia trachomatis, the antibiotic dosage must be completed.
Furthermore, it is recommended that you refrain from engaging in any sexual activities until the treatment is completed. This is done to prevent the infection from spreading from person to person.
Summary/Takeaway
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection that causes no symptoms at first and affects both men and women. It is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. If this infection fails to be addressed properly, it may give rise to major health problems.
Unprotected sexual contact with an infected person is how chlamydia is transmitted. It can occur during oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Given its asymptomatic nature, Chlamydia is known as a silent STI.
Individuals with infected body fluids can infect others even if they do not have visible chlamydia symptoms. Aside from the core cause, there are two basic causes of this sexually transmitted infection: sexual contact without protection (with a single infected person or multiple infected people), and mother-to-child transmission.
As a common STI, chlamydia is also treatable. Since chlamydia is caused by bacteria, the most effective medication for treating it is an antibiotic.
