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Chlamydia is one of the most common and potentially dangerous sexually transmitted diseases (STD). It exists in several forms, which may also cause chlamydia conjunctivitis, a leading cause of blindness that is also the most easily cured by prompt antibiotic treatment. As well, certain types can result in lung infections causing pneumonia.
In most cases, chlamydia is undetected by those affected. There are a few symptoms that may be present. These include in women pain in the stomach, pain during intercourse, frequent urination, and vaginal bleeding or discharge. Men may also have discomfort during urination or a frequent urge to urinate. As well, men may note that their testicles are swollen or red, or that there is penile discharge.
For women, untreated chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, the fallopian tubes may become scarred, and the uterus or ovaries may become infected. Lack of treatment may lead to infertility. Chlamydia in pregnant women causes risk to the newborn, who may be born with birth defects, or the condition can result in miscarriage or pre-term labor. As well, the newborn may get conjunctivitis from passage through the birth canal resulting in blindness.
In men, chlamydia can infect the reproductive system and cause permanent infertility. A rare disorder called Reiter’s Syndrome results from about 15,000 cases of chlamydia in men a year. Reiter’s causes severe arthritis and especially young men are at risk for the disease.
Chlamydia is known as a "silent" disease because the majority of infected people have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they usually appear within 1 to 3 weeks after exposure.
In women, the bacteria initially infect the cervix and the urethra (urine canal). Women who have symptoms might have an abnormal vaginal discharge or a burning sensation when urinating. If the infection spreads from the cervix to the fallopian tubes (tubes that carry fertilized eggs from the ovaries to the uterus), some women still have no signs or symptoms; others have lower abdominal pain, low back pain, nausea, fever, pain during intercourse, or bleeding between menstrual periods. Chlamydial infection of the cervix can spread to the rectum.
Men with signs or symptoms might have a discharge from their penis or a burning sensation when urinating. Men might also have burning and itching around the opening of the penis. Pain and swelling in the testicles are uncommon.
Men or women who have immoral anal intercourse may acquire chlamydial infection in the rectum, which can cause rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding. Chlamydia can also be found in the throats of women and men having immoral oral sex with an infected partner.
Chlamydia is usually treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics are very effective for treating chlamydia. More than 95 out of 100 people with chlamydia will be cured if they take their antibiotics correctly.
The two most commonly prescribed antibiotics to treat chlamydia are:
azithromycin (single dose)
doxycycline (a longer course, usually two capsules a day for a week)
Your doctor may give you different antibiotics if you have an allergy, or are pregnant. A longer course of antibiotics may be used if your doctor is concerned about complications of chlamydia. Other common antibiotics are ofloxacin and erythromycin.
If there is a high chance that you have been infected with chlamydia you might be started on treatment before you get your test results.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, as this will affect the type of antibiotic you can be given. Azithromycin, amoxicillin and erythromycin are all safe for pregnant women to take.