Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease that is transmitted through sex without using a condom.
Most chlamydia sufferers are young women. However, both men and women of all ages can get chlamydia.
Research suggests that an estimated 40 to 96 percent of people with chlamydia have no symptoms.
However, chlamydia can still cause health problems later on if left untreated.
If not treated properly, chlamydia can spread and cause long-term health problems.
Symptoms of Chlamydia
Chlamydia usually does not show symptoms after 1–3 weeks. Often, chlamydia symptoms are ignored because they are thought to pass quickly and are not serious.
Symptoms of chlamydia in women and men can differ, but pain or discomfort during urination is a common characteristic.
Symptoms in men:
This disease condition does not cause symptoms in 50 percent of male sufferers.
Meanwhile, the other 50 percent may experience symptoms such as pain in the testicles, as well as the discharge of thick or thin white fluid from the tip of the penis.
However, some symptoms of chlamydia that men can experience are:
- Burning sensation when urinating.
- Discharge of yellow or green fluid from the penis.
- There is pain in the lower abdomen and testicles.
Symptoms in women:
Meanwhile, women who do not experience symptoms of chlamydia are around 75 percent, and 25 percent experience the most common symptoms.
One example of the symptoms is bleeding during or after sex and unusual vaginal discharge.
Additionally, some of the most common symptoms of chlamydia in women include:
- Pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia)
- vaginal discharge
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis)
- Bleeding between menstrual periods
In some women, this infection can spread to the fallopian tubes which can cause a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
In addition to infecting intimate organs, chlamydia infections also occur in the eyes and cause conjunctivitis if infected vaginal fluid or sperm comes into contact with the eyes.
Infected eyes will feel sore, swollen, irritated, and discharge fluid. The anus can also become infected and cause bleeding, discharge, and pain and discomfort.
Causes of Chlamydia
Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria is the main cause of chlamydia. This bacteria can be transmitted when someone has anal, oral, vaginal sex, and genital contact.
In addition, sex toys that are not washed properly or covered with a new condom can also be a medium for transmitting chlamydia.
Sexual fluids that come out of the genitals of an infected person can transmit this bacteria even without orgasm, ejaculation, or penetration.
The risk of contracting chlamydia can increase if you have sex with multiple partners or with many people.
Transmission of chlamydia will not occur due to the following:
- Hug.
- Toilet seat.
- Towel.
- Tableware.
- Kiss.
- Swimming pool.
- Bathroom.
Pregnant women can transmit it to their newborn babies and cause swollen eyes, and discharge or what is called conjunctivitis . In addition, this disease can also cause pneumonia.
Therefore, when planning a pregnancy or at the beginning of pregnancy, make sure you are not experiencing this infection. However, if positive, seek treatment as soon as possible.
Chlamydia Risk Factors
This sexually transmitted disease is transmitted through vaginal discharge or semen when someone has oral, vaginal, or anal sex without using protection, such as a condom.
Compared to men, women are more at risk of contracting chlamydia.
The following are risk factors that cause someone to get chlamydia :
- Ever had a sexually transmitted disease?
- Having more than one sexual partner/changing partners.
- Having sex without using a condom.
- Sexually active before age 18.
Chlamydia Diagnosis
Before making a diagnosis, the doctor will ask a number of questions about the symptoms you are experiencing.
The doctor then proceeds with a physical examination to identify any unusual fluid, sores, or spots.
Chlamydia screening or diagnosis is also often obtained when someone undergoes a test during a visit to the doctor.
This test is performed annually on those under 25 years of age who are sexually active.
For those aged 25 years and over, it is recommended that the test be done every year.
especially those who have sexual relations with more than one partner, have sex with someone who changes partners, practice unsafe sex, or have previously had chlamydia.
The most effective diagnostic tests to identify chlamydia are vaginal swab tests in women and urine tests in men.
If there is a possibility of infection in the anus or throat, these areas can also be swabbed.
Chlamydia Treatment
Treatment is done by taking a combination of antibiotics prescribed by a doctor for about one or two weeks.
Antibiotics need to be finished even if chlamydia symptoms have improved to prevent bacterial retention.
During treatment, sufferers are also advised not to engage in any sexual activity to prevent re-infection and transmission of chlamydia to their partners.
Chlamydia Complications
Most cases of chlamydia rarely cause noticeable symptoms. However, untreated chlamydia can lead to complications.
These complications can occur in men, women, and pregnant women and their fetuses or babies.
Complications in men
If left untreated, chlamydia can cause several complications in men, such as:
1. Epididymitis
Inflammation that occurs in the epididymis which is part of the male reproductive system and the duct for sperm from the testicles. This disease causes symptoms of swelling of the epididymis and pain.
If not treated immediately, the infection can cause fluid or even pus to appear, and if it is severe it can cause infertility.
2. Reactive arthritis
This is an inflammation that occurs in the joints and is more common in men than women. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, can help control the symptoms of reactive arthritis.
Typically, symptoms will improve within 3 months to a year, but the condition can return.
3. Urethritis
Urethritis is an inflammation that occurs in the urinary tract or urethra.
This condition usually has symptoms, such as frequent and inability to hold urination, pain or burning when urinating, the foreskin or tip of the penis is irritated and painful, and the tip of the penis discharges a thick white fluid.
Complications in women
Not only men, women also have the risk of experiencing complications if the chlamydia they experience is not treated.
Some complications that can affect women are:
1. Cervicitis
Inflammation that occurs in the cervix.
Some symptoms of cervicitis that can occur are pain in the lower abdomen, pain during sexual intercourse, bleeding that occurs during or after sexual intercourse, and bleeding between menstrual periods.
2. Pelvic inflammatory disease
A condition in which the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes become infected. If left untreated, this condition can increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy or fetal growth outside the uterus and miscarriage.
This disease can cause persistent pelvic pain and infertility.
3. Bartholinitis
Swollen Bartholin glands. Bartholin glands play a role in producing lubricating fluid in women during sexual intercourse.
Bartholin’s gland cysts can occur if the glands become blocked and infected and can cause an abscess that is painful to the touch, sore, red and can cause fever.
Antibiotics should be used to treat an infected abscess.
4. Salpingitis
Inflammation that occurs in the fallopian tubes causes eggs from the ovaries to have difficulty reaching the uterus, and makes it difficult for sufferers to get pregnant.
The risk of experiencing an ectopic pregnancy will increase, even if the blockage in the fallopian tube is only partial.
Complications in pregnant women and their fetuses or babies
Untreated chlamydia in pregnant women can affect the uterus and ovaries. This condition can cause several conditions, such as:
- Premature labor
- Premature rupture of membranes
Meanwhile, pregnant women who have chlamydia and do not receive proper treatment can cause health problems in the fetus or baby that is born, such as:
- Conjunctivitis.
- Pneumonia.
- Low birth weight.
About 30–50 percent of newborns develop conjunctivitis due to chlamydia, while about 10–20 percent develop pneumonia.
Chlamydia Prevention
The most effective way to prevent chlamydia is to practice safe sexual activity.
The following are steps to prevent chlamydia:
- Use condoms during sex and do not share sex toys.
- Using condoms during sexual intercourse does not 100 percent eliminate the risk of infection, but is effective in reducing the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
- Limiting sexual partners or being faithful to one partner only. If you are sexually active with more than one person, it is recommended to have regular check-ups, considering that chlamydia can be asymptomatic in some people.