What is chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a sexual transmitted infection (STI) that can have serious health implications if it is not treated. Research has shown that it is the most common STI in the US. The reason is mainly because there are often no symptoms, and is easily and unknowingly passed to sexual partners.
It occurs in both men and women, and is mostly spread by unprotected sex, whether it be vaginal, anal, or even oral.
Studies have also estimated that about 70% of infections in women have no symptoms, and the same applies to 50% of men who are infected.
Symptoms which are likely to occur
After at least 3 weeks after being infected, there are some symptoms which may occur. The symptoms differ between men and women, but both will need medical attention to establish that it is a chlamydia infection.
Possible symptoms in men:
- Pain or a burning sensation when urinating.
- Tenderness or pain in or around the testicles.
- A cloudy, whitish discharge from the tip of the penis.
- Pain in the rectum, and rectal bleeding or discharge.
- A bacterial throat infection.
Symptoms in women may include:
- A vaginal discharge with an unpleasant smell.
- Bleeding between periods, as well as painful periods.
- Painful sexual intercourse.
- Some abdominal pain with a fever.
- Vaginal itching or burning.
Some of these symptoms may relate to other medical issues as well as chlamydia. A visit to the doctor will determine what the problem actually is.
The tests and diagnosis
- You will be required to provide a urine sample in the doctor’s rooms for the lab to give the most accurate result.
- The doctor will also take a swab from the urethra in men, or the cervix in women, and send to the lab for analysis.
- Should you have been indulging in oral or anal sex, a swab may also be taken from the rectum or the throat, to see if the infection has spread to those areas.
If chlamydia is found to be present, you will be treated with antibiotics, and the doctor might suggest your partner also be tested to prevent further spread of the disease. The infection should clear up after just one course of antibiotics which must be completed – even if you feel better.
Complications
If chlamydia is not treated, there could be some serious repercussions. The fertility of both men and women may be negatively affected.
Women run the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease that may lead to damage of the fallopian tubes which may hinder them carrying the egg to the uterus for fertilization. Chlamydia is known to cause premature births, or if the infection is passed from mother to child during childbirth, it may cause serious eye problems or pneumonia in the new born.
Chlamydia can cause a bad case of painful inflammation in the urethra of a man, or infection of the epididymis, the tube which carries sperm away from the testes for ejaculation – resulting in a low sperm count which may affect fertility.
There is another issue which may arise when chlamydia is not treated that can affect both sexes. Proctitis is inflammation of the inner tissue of the rectum, which makes the passing of stool very painful and uncomfortable.
Doctors recommend that because there often no symptoms, you should go into a preventative mode and consider having regular tests for chlamydia, especially if you have more than one sex partner.
We can help
As always, it is important that you abstain from sex until follow-up tests reveal that the infection has cleared up. This may be a bit of a knock to your libido if you have been idle for a while, and also been on medication.
Herbal Remedies International have taken some of the best herbal ingredients, backed by science, and developed powerful formulas to combat low libido, and enhance the sexual experience of men and women.
Our products are safe to take and do not need a doctor’s script.
Visit us at www.herbalremedies.co.za to view the wide range of issues we cover, and see how we can help you.
