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Check up on Chlamydia |
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What is it?
Chlamydia is one of the most common Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). It is caused by a
bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis.
How is it spread?
Chlamydia is spread through unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex with an infected person. It can take
2 to 6 weeks or longer for symptoms to appear. Sometimes, chlamydia can be spread to the eyes by
hands or direct contact with the infected fluids. It can also be passed from an infected mother to her
baby during birth. A person remains infectious until he or she is properly treated. Untreated chlamydia
can live in the body for months or years.
What are the symptoms?
More than 75% of women and 50% of men infected with chlamydia have no symptoms. They can
unknowingly pass the infection on to their sexual partner(s).
Many women may have increased vaginal discharge or irritation. Other symptoms may include pain
during urination, bleeding during or after sexual intercourse, pain in the lower abdomen and pain
during sexual intercourse.
Men may have discharge and itching around the urethra (opening in the penis). They may also have
burning when they urinate, or pain and swelling in the testicles. These symptoms may come and go.
How is it diagnosed?
A health professional can test women for chlamydia by taking a swab from the cervix. The cervix is
the opening to the womb or uterus. Sometimes a swab may also be taken from a woman's urethra; or a
urine test may be used to test for chlamydia. Men can be tested with a urine test for chlamydia. Men
should not urinate for 1 hour before this test. A swab can also be taken from the urethra in men.
Chlamydia can be found in the throat or rectum using a swab.
What are the complications?
Untreated chlamydia in women may lead to a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). It is
a serious infection of the lining of the womb or uterus, the fallopian tubes and the ovaries. Sometimes
the fallopian tubes of a woman with PID are blocked by scar tissue and her eggs cannot pass through.
When this happens, she may not be able to get pregnant. If the fallopian tubes are only partly blocked
so that sperm can pass through, she may have a pregnancy inside the fallopian tube. This is called an
ectopic or tubal pregnancy. This is a medical emergency and the woman needs to go to hospital for
treatment. Women with untreated chlamydia may also have miscarriages. Some women will continue
to have chronic pelvic pain.
Men with untreated chlamydia may become sterile when the tubes carrying the sperm are blocked by scar
tissue. They may have swelling and pain in their testicles. This is a condition called epididymitis. Infants
who are born to mothers with untreated chlamydia may become ill with pneumonia or eye infections.
How is it treated?
Chlamydia is treated with antibiotic pills. Some of the commonly used antibiotics include
Azithromycin, Doxycycline, Erythromycin, or Amoxicillin. It is important that a person diagnosed
with chlamydia and their partners complete the treatment as directed by their doctor or clinic. Even if
the symptoms have disappeared all pills should be taken to make sure that the infection is cured. The
person with chlamydia and their partners should not have sex, even with a condom, for 7 days after
they have finished taking all of their medication.
What about sexual partners?
All sexual partners within the past 90 days should be examined and treated. If a person with
chlamydia has not had sex in the past 3 months, then their last sexual partner should be examined and
treated. Sexual partner(s) need to be told that having no symptoms does not mean there is no
infection. A public health nurse can notify partner(s) for you. The name of the person with chlamydia
will be kept confidential.
Is follow-up important?
In some cases the doctor will advise a follow-up test to make sure the infection is cured. This followup
test should be done 3 - 4 weeks after treatment has been completed.
Remember:
- Take all medication as prescribed by the doctor or clinic.
- Avoid sex for 7 days after you and your sexual partner(s) have been treated. A person can get
reinfected every time they have sex with an untreated infected partner.
- If you have an untreated STI like chlamydia, it is easier to get HIV from a person who has it.
- Use condoms to lower the chance of getting STIs.
- It is possible to have more than one infection at a time, so it is important to be tested for other STIs.
| To reduce your risk of getting a sexually
Transmitted Infection (STI), use a condom
every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex. |
For more information:
Call the AIDS and Sexual Health Infoline at 416-392-2437
or go to www.toronto.ca/health
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