Chlamydia is a difficult to detect sexually transmitted disease. Its effects are far reaching and can even affect fertility if it is left untreated. Since it's difficult to detect and easy to spread, it can quickly get out of hand unless you pay attention to the symptoms and visit your doctor immediately if you suspect you may be infected.
Key Points
- Chlamydia symptoms can include pain when urinating, discharge, and pain during sex.
- It's important to talk to your doctor as soon as possible if you think you might have chlamydia.
- Take care to practice safe sex with partners you aren't fluid-bonded with.
Chlamydia Symptoms
Chlamydia symptoms usually begin one to three weeks after being infected with chlamydia, since it has a one to three week incubation period. You may be infectious for part of this incubation period as well. Since the symptoms are usually mild and tend to go away, you may not even suspect you have an infection. This means you can pass it on even if you haven't exhibited any symptoms.
Some of the most noticeable chlamydia symptoms are painful urination and lower abdominal pain. These symptoms affect men and women equally. The painful urination can resemble a burning sensation. This is common symptom for many ailments, so if you have painful urination, you should seek medical advice. Painful urination alone doesn't mean you have chlamydia.
Women may experience chlamydia symptoms that men do not. Women may experience vaginal discharge. This discharge will be out of the ordinary and may give you an indication that you are infected. Women may also experience pain during sexual intercourse. Again, these symptoms are not always an indication of chlamydia. Other issues, such as a yeast infection or vaginismus, can cause discharge and difficulty having sexual intercourse, respectively.
Men may also experience chlamydia symptoms that women do not. Men may develop penile discharge. Since penile discharge is abnormal, if you have a discharge from your penis you need to seek medical advice. Men may also experience testicular pain.
If you think you might be infected with chlamydia or if you are experiencing chlamydia symptoms, then you should seek medical advise as soon as possible.
What is the Prognosis for Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is treatable with antibiotics. If taken correctly, antibiotics have a 95% success rate. You may experience stomach aches, diarrhea, or a general feeling of malaise while taking these antibiotics. Women may experience thrush. You should not have sex while on chlamydia antibiotics without talking to your doctor first. This includes oral and anal sex.
It's important that you take steps to protect yourself from chlamydia. If you have multiple sexual partners or are otherwise not fluid-bonded with one person, get tested every 3-6 months. Use protection with partners you are not fluid-bonded with.
If left untreated, chlamydia can cause additional infections and infertility. If you're experiencing symptoms, or if you think you may have contracted the disease, it's important to talk to your doctor. Don't ignore your symptoms. Remember, though, that the symptoms of chlamydia can be indicative of other issues, too. If you have unusual vaginal discharge or pain when urinating, don't immediately assume you have chlamydia. However, you should still talk to your doctor.
Do not take the content of this article as professional medical advice. It's important to exercise due diligence when obtaining relevant information in matters pertaining to your health. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any medical decisions.