Chlamydia Treatment

What is Chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). Chlamydia can be contracted at any age but it is most common in those under the age of 25. Chlamydia can be spread through unprotected sex (vaginal, anal, or oral), sharing sex toys or your genitals coming into contact with another person’s genitals.

Diagnosis of chlamydia

The only way to know if you have chlamydia is to get tested. Fortunately, the available methods of testing are quick and painless. You can purchase chlamydia tests online, or you can go to your GP or local sexual health clinic, where you can have a chlamydia test for free. A Chlamydia test is often a urine sample that is sent to a laboratory for analysis. If you test positive for chlamydia, your sexual partner(s) must be treated for chlamydia at the same time to avoid reinfection. It is also advised that you contact any sexual partners you have had in the last six months and let them know that you have tested positive for chlamydia. Leaving chlamydia untreated can cause many complications such as infertility.

Prevention for chlamydia

You should take the following measures to reduce the risk of contracting chlamydia:

• Use a condom during penetrative sex. This applies to both vaginal and anal intercourse.
• During oral sex use a condom to cover the penis.
• If using sex toys, don’t share them with others without first washing the toy or covering it with a fresh condom.
• If performing oral sex on the female genitals, or when rubbing female genitals together, make use of a device called a dental dam. A dental dam is a thin piece of latex or plastic used to cover the female genitals.

Chlamydia is caused by bacteria called Chlamydia Trachomatis and can be spread between people through the sexual fluids produced by the penis and vagina. This means chlamydia can be transmitted without penetration or ejaculation. Chlamydia cannot be caught through casual contact, e.g. holding hands, kissing, or sharing household outcomes such as towels, baths or cutlery.

Most people that are suffering from chlamydia do not experience symptoms at all. When noticeable symptoms occur, it will usually be 1 to 3 weeks after being exposed to the infection.

Chlamydia symptoms in women include:

• Chlamydia symptoms in men include:
• A noticeable change in any vaginal discharge
• Lower abdominal pain
• Bleeding between periods and heavier periods than normal
• Pain when urinating
• Bleeding during and/or after sex
• Pain during sex

Chlamydia symptoms in men include:

• An abnormal discharge from the tip of the penis
• Pain when urinating
• Pain in the testicles

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chlamydia/

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/chlamydia-uncomplicated-genital/