Your Quick Chlamydia 101

by | 08/11/18 | STIs

So, you’ve just been diagnosed with chlamydia or maybe someone you know has. What does that even mean?

You’re probably wondering whether it’s serious or whether you need to worry. Maybe you’re wondering how you’re going to tell your sexual partners and what the next step should be.

Don’t you fret, girl. I got you!

I’m here to make sure sure all of your questions are answered, and if you don’t find what you’re looking for, please send me a message so I can get back to you!

Let’s dive right in!

Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs, especially in young people between the age of 15 and 25.

Did you know that almost 80% of women infected with chlamydia have no symptoms or signs at all? That’s a scary thought! But what is most worrying about this infection is that very severe complications that can arise if it is left untreated.

What is this sneaky bug?

This infection is caused by bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis (Yeah, there’s no way to simplify that one hey). It can affect the cervix, urethra, fallopian tubes, and the uterus in females. It usually spreads through sexually activity, which includes vaginal, oral and anal sex. But this infection can also be passed onto newborn infants during childbirth.

What can put me at risk of getting it?

There are some factors which may increase your risk of acquiring chlamydia, they are similar for other STIs as well. These include having:

  • A new sexual partner
  • Multiple sexual partners
  • Unprotected sex without a condom/dental dam
  • An infection with another STI

If you would like to know more about how to protect yourself from Chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections, you’re in luck! I have created a Mini eBook called The Ultimate Guide to Safe Sex for Women Who Love Women. AND I’m giving it away ABSOLUTELY FREE for a limited time only!

Inside this guide you will find everything you need to know and more! It contains all my tips and tricks that will keep sex fun AND protected.

Your Quick Chlamydia 101

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What symptoms can I look out for?

  • Like we mentioned above, 80% of females have no symptoms at all! (Sorry!)
  • Burning urination
  • Yellow vaginal or urethral discharge
  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding that is not related to your usual menstrual cycle
  • Painful sex
  • Bleeding after sex
  • Rectal pain or bleeding (if engaging in anal sex)
  • Lower abdominal pain that progressively gets worse over time.

What sorts of tests will I need to go for?

This is all going to depend on the types of sexual activities you engage in. A swab sample can be taken from the cervix, urethra, rectum or mouth. Another option that’s available, which may feel a little less uncomfortable, is to provide a urine sample.

It is important to have a pregnancy test done, because the treatment may differ.

A step we often forget is to ask our sexual partners to get tested, otherwise there can be an endless cycle of getting treatment and getting reinfected again (and we don’t want that!).

And to be thorough, make sure that you have gone for your Pap smear recently. Did you know that having Chlamydia can increase your chance of developing cervical cancer?

How do you treat it?

The type of treatment is going to depend on the severity of the infection. If the infection is uncomplicated, getting a combination of same-day antibiotics should be just fine.

Fortunately, this is one of the infections that are curable.

The WHO recommends treating uncomplicated chlamydia with a one week course of doxycycline. A single dose of azithromycin is equally effective if there is a concern that you may not be able to finish the whole course – it’s just a little more expensive.

If the infection is more severe and you have developed what we call pelvic inflammatory disease or PID, then it is a good idea for you to receive treatment for gonorrhoea and some other bacteria as well.

Sometimes the infection can get so severe that abscesses form around the fallopian tubes. In that case, you will need to be admitted to hospital and given IV antibiotics.

The real danger is when these abscesses burst and the infection spreads into the rest of the abdomen. This can be life threatening.

It’s important to note that you will have to abstain from sex for at least 7 days so that the medication can have some time to work. Make sure that you do not have sex until all of your sexual partners have been treated as well.

What happens if I don’t get treatment?

Leaving chlamydia untreated can lead to a whole bunch of complications. As I just mentioned, PID can be severe, cause scarring of the uterus and fallopian tubes which can lead to chronic pelvic pain, infertility, miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies.

Being infected with chlamydia can also increase your risk of getting HIV (and that’s not something you want to mess around with).

Okay, I’ve taken the medication. Can I stop worrying now?

Yes (mostly). Unfortunately, getting reinfected with chlamydia is incredibly common. This is usually because there is either a new sexual partner in the picture or the current sexual partners weren’t properly treated.

At the end of the day, if you take the medication as directed by your doctor there is an excellent chance of cure and you can stop worrying.

In Summary

If your test comes back positive for chlamydia, make sure that you take the medication as directed by your doctor. Always make sure your sexual partners are treated, and use condoms/dental dams to minimize the chances of reinfection in the future.

It is very important to keep in mind that if you have one STI, you are at a higher risk of having another one. This makes going for an HIV test a must!

Stay safe, have fun.

Your Quick Chlamydia 101
Your quick chlamydia 101

Disclaimer: This blog contains my opinions and doesn’t reflect the opinions of the Department of Health of South Africa or The Southern African Sexual Health Association. All information is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge, but it’s possible that there may be omissions, errors or mistakes. While I am a qualified medical doctor, I am not your doctor. The information presented on this blog is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only and shouldn’t be seen as professional medical advice. If you rely on any information presented, it’s at your own risk. Please consult a professional before taking any sort of action. I reserve the right to manage this blog as I see fit, including the right to remove harmful or unhelpful comments.

Make sure to share this post with your family and friends if you think there’s a good chance it could help them too. Thank you!

Disclaimer: This blog consists of only my opinions and doesn’t reflect the opinions of the Department of Health of South Africa or The Southern African Sexual Health Association. All information is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge, but it’s possible that there may be omissions, errors or mistakes. While I am a registered medical practitioner, I am not YOUR doctor. The information presented on this blog is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only and shouldn’t be seen as professional medical advice. If you rely on any information presented, it’s at your own risk. Please consult a professional before taking any sort of action.

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2 Comments

  1. Mohogany Wilson

    I have unfortunately contracted it in my early days and have yet an answer as to why sex is painful with infection. There is no lack of lubrication and why the burning sensation as a symptom. Scientifically, what is going on? Are tissues dying? I had a friend who contracted it twice and she said she knew right away that she got it because the sex was painful.

    Reply
    • Dr Megan Martin

      Hi Mohogany, sounds like you’ve been really struggling!

      The pain is most likely caused by the inflammation of the vaginal and cervical tissues when there is infection. The friction of sex just irritates the area even more. The tissues aren’t dying.

      It is a way for the body to try and fight the infection, but unfortunately it seems to just make it more uncomfortable!

      Chlamydia is curable though! Did you get treatment from your local doctor?

      Reply

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