What is it?

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. It is caused by a bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis.

It is an infection of the reproductive and/or urinary tracts (and sometimes of the throat or rectum). It is possible to have other infections, such as gonorrhea, along with it. Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics.

How is it spread?

Chlamydia is spread by having unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex with an infected person. A person remains infectious until they have finished their treatment, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms.

What are the symptoms?

Most women (80 per cent) and many men (50 per cent) have chlamydia without any symptoms, therefore they can pass the infection without knowing it.

Women with symptoms could have unusual vaginal discharge, unusual odour, itching, bleeding with sexual intercourse, painful sexual intercourse, lower abdominal pain, heavier menstrual periods and/or pain/burning with urination.

Men with symptoms might notice a discharge from their penis, burning or itching around the opening of the penis, urination that is painful/burning and/or inflammation of the testicles.

How is it diagnosed?

Chlamydia is diagnosed by taking a swab (sample) of the discharge from the cervix in women and from the urethra (opening of the penis), or by a urine sample in men. Men should not urinate (pee) two hours before their test. Men have a lot of false negative tests because it is harder to get a good sample of the discharge for testing. This can mean that they have chlamydia but the test says they do not. Chlamydia is not easily diagnosed in the throat or rectum.

What are the complications?

In women, untreated chlamydia can cause a serious infection of the uterus and fallopian tubes called pelvic inflammatory disease (P.I.D.), increased risk of ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy in the fallopian tube), and/or miscarriage and infertility. In men, untreated chlamydia can cause infertility, arthritis and epididymitis (inflammation of the testicles). In infants, it can cause pneumonia and eye infection. It can cause an eye infection in adults if the infected discharge touches the eye.

How is it treated?

Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics (Doxycycline, Erythromycin, Azithromycin). It is important that you take all the pills as directed even if the symptoms have disappeared. Pregnant women can be treated with erythromycin which is safe during pregnancy. P.I.D. and epididymitis may need hospitalization and treatment with intravenous antibiotics.

What about my sexual partners?

All sexual partners within the past three months should be examined and treated. They should be treated even if their test result is negative. If you have not had sex in the past three months, your last partner(s) should be examined and treated. Inform your partner(s) that not having symptoms does not mean that they do not have chlamydia.

Follow-up

It is a good idea to have a follow up test two weeks after you have finished all of your treatment to make sure that you are not still infected. Do not have oral, vaginal or anal sex (even with a condom) while you and your sexual partner(s) are being treated. If your partner(s) is/are not treated, there is a high risk that you will be reinfected.

Prevention

Using condoms (male or female) every time you have sex will greatly reduce your chances of getting chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases.