What is chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.
Where does this infection occur?
The infection can affect several regions of the body and is usually located in the mouth, penis, vagina or anus.
How is chlamydia transmitted?
This infection is usually spread through sexual contact with an infected person, when a condom is not used. Thus, the transmission of chlamydia bacteria can occur by:
- unprotected sexual contact (vaginal, oral or anal) with an infected person
- Contagion during childbirth, from mother to child, if the pregnant woman is infected
What are the risk factors?
The main risk factors associated with this infection are:
- Not using the condom correctly and throughout all sexual contact
- having multiple sexual partners
- have another sexually transmitted infection
What is the incubation period for chlamydia?
The time elapsed between infection with the bacteria and the onset of symptoms (incubation period) varies from 5 to 21 days.
However, in cases where they do not manifest symptoms, it is difficult to establish the incubation period.
What are the risk groups?
Chlamydia can infect both men and women at any age, but it is more common in young people and sexually active people with multiple partners. Thus, sexually active young people between the ages of 14 and 24 are at the highest risk of contracting chlamydia
What are the symptoms of this infection?
A large percentage of people with chlamydia have no symptoms (asymptomatic). In cases where they have symptoms, the most common are:
In women:
- pain or burning when urinating
- vaginal discharge with a change in amount, smell, or color
- increased frequency of urination (increase in the number of times you urinate)
- abdominal or pelvic area pain
- rectal pain
- vaginal bleeding between periods or after sexual intercourse
- pain during sexual intercourse
In men:
- pain or burning when urinating
- pus or discharge from the urethra
- itching sensation in the urethra
- pain and swelling in the testicles
There may also be rarer symptoms, in women and men, due to contact with genital secretions, such as:
- inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye (conjunctivitis)
- inflammation of the throat (pharyngitis)
If I am infected and have no symptoms, can I pass on the infection?
Yes. Even if you don't have symptoms, if you are infected you can transmit chlamydia. Hence the importance of prevention, diagnosis and treatment as soon as the first signs or symptoms appear. Prevention with the use of condoms is essential.
How is the infection diagnosed?
The diagnosis of chlamydia is made based on symptom assessment or screening and confirmation of the presence of chlamydia or chlamydia DNA in samples. These samples may be taken from the urethra, cervix, anus, or throat. Sometimes, urine tests may also be done.
If chlamydia is confirmed, it is advisable to screen for other sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhoea or HIV.
To diagnose people without symptoms, it may be necessary to screen people who are sexually active, have multiple partners or a new partner, and women during pregnancy.
What are the complications of the infection?
If left untreated, this infection can lead to different complications. In women, the most common complication is pelvic inflammatory disease (infection of the female reproductive organs), which increases the risk of:
- ectopic pregnancy, i.e. pregnancy in which the fertilized egg is implanted outside the uterus
- infertility
- chronic pelvic or abdominal pain
Complications in men are rare.
What are the risks of an untreated infection during pregnancy?
If you are pregnant, an untreated chlamydia infection can cause several complications:
- infection of the eyes (conjunctivitis) or lungs (pneumonia) in the newborn
- preterm birth
- low birth weight newborn
How can I prevent chlamydia?
Avoiding risky sexual behaviors is the most effective way for sexually active people to prevent themselves from becoming infected with the various sexually transmitted infections.
In other words, the main way to prevent chlamydia (and other sexually transmitted infections) is to use condoms correctly. You should ensure that it is properly placed and you should wear it during all sexual contact.
Is chlamydia curable?
Yes. Chlamydia treatment is effective for its cure.
What is the treatment of chlamydia?
The treatment of this infection should be done under medical supervision and includes taking antibiotics, which should be taken during the days indicated by the prescribing doctor, even if you do not have symptoms.
To slow the spread of the disease, treatment should also be done by the infected person's recent sexual partners.
In addition, it is advisable to avoid sexual intercourse until the end of treatment.
Once cured, can I get chlamydia again?
Yes. If you have had this infection in the past, you may be infected again. The treatment is to treat the current infection and does not protect against further infection.