Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection. It is among the most common STIs in the world.
In Canada, the majority of cases are aged 15-24, and more than twice as many reported cases are from women than men. Early data from 2004 shows that the rate of Chlamydia infection rose more than 74% from 1997-2004.
Saskatoon currently has the highest rate of Chlamydia infection in Canada.
Transmission
Chlamydia can be spread through unprotected oral, anal, or vaginal sex.
Prevention
Using condoms can help to prevent the spread of Chlamydia. Condoms and dental dams can also be used for protection during oral sex.
Symptoms
Chlamydia bacteria can infect the cervix, rectum, or the urethra. Sometimes it can also infect the throat after performing oral sex. Infection may spread to the eyes after touching an infected area and then touching the eye. In places where treatment isn't available, these eye infections can be serious, even causing blindness. Most people infected with Chlamydia won't have symptoms. For those who do have them, they usually appear between 2 days and 2 weeks after contracting the infection, but it can take longer. Chlamydia is typically more serious for women than for men, though women are less likely than men to have symptoms. Symptoms for women:
- burning while urinating
- vaginal discharge or a change in normal discharge
- bleeding between menstrual cycles, or during/after intercourse
- increase in pain during menstruation or during intercourse
- abdominal or lower back pain
- occasionally causes fever and chills
- itching of the penis
- pain while urinating
- discharge from the penis
- in some cases, there may also be pain or swelling of the testicles
- about half of men will have no symptoms and many will have only mild symptoms
- discharge
- redness
- painful bowel movements
- itchiness
Testing and Treatment
Getting tested for Chlamydia requires just a urine sample.
A healthcare professional may ask for the contact information of recent sexual partners or ask that you inform them that they need testing.
A Chlamydia infection can be cured with antibiotics, usually with a single dose.
Impact if not treated
In women, Chlamydia can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, which means that the infection has spread to the reproductive organs. This can cause infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and ectopic pregnancy. Symptoms of PID can include foul-smelling discharge from the vagina, high-fever or muscle-aches. Chlamydia can also cause problems getting pregnant or during pregnancy.
For men, Chlamydia can sometimes cause prostate swelling and inflammation of the urethra and Epididymis. In very rare cases, it can cause infertility in men.
In rare cases it can also cause Reiter's Syndrome, which causes symptoms like rashes, sores, and arthritis-like joint pain. Chlamydia infection can also increase the chance of transmitting HIV.
What do I tell my partner?
Like many STIs, many infected individuals will have no symptoms and will be unaware they are, in fact, infected.
For this reason it is important to be honest with your partner, and also to be honest with your healthcare provider about your sexual history. Chlamydia is curable with antibiotics, but it can cause long-term damage.
Explain to your partner what testing and treatment involves, and you can offer to accompany them for support.
When can I have sex again?
Ask your healthcare provider. It's generally safe to have sex one week after both you and your partner have finished the entire duration of antibiotic treatments. However, you can reacquire Chlamydia immediately after your infection has been cured.
Remember that your sexual partners have to be tested. If they are also infected, you will need to wait until they have finished treatment and been completely cured before having sex.
It is always a good idea to use condoms to prevent STIs, but they are particularly important after you or a partner has been treated for an STI.