Chlamydia


What is it?

Chlamydia is the most common bacterial STI in Canada¹ Chlamydia bacteria can infect the cervix, rectum or the urethra (See Anatomy).


How do you get it?

• By having unprotected vaginal or anal sex with someone who is already infected.
• By having oral sex without a condom or dental dam with someone who is infected.
• By touching your hand with infected fluid to your eye.
• From mother to child during birth – if a mother has chlamydia it can infect the baby as it passes through the birth canal and cause serious eye infections. This can be prevented with treatment.

How do you prevent it?

• Abstain from sex altogether.
• Engage in safe sexual practices like kissing, hugging, touching and massage.
• Limit how many sexual partners you have (less partners means you are less likely to get an STI).
• Think about your partner’ sexual history (if he or she has had a lot of partners and/or does not practise safer sex then it puts you at a higher risk).
• Use male and female condoms for vaginal and anal sex.
• Use dental dams or condoms for oral sex.

Symptoms

Chlamydia is known as the “silent disease” because many people, especially women, do not develop any symptoms at all. Without knowing it, you can pass it along to someone else if you have unprotected sex. If you do get symptoms, they usually appear between 2 to 6 weeks after contracting the infection. Here’s what symptoms may look like:

Symptoms for women:
• An unusual discharge from the vagina (unusual can mean a different colour, amount or smell).
• Burning when you pee.
• Bleeding or pain during or after sex.
• Bleeding or spotting between periods.
• Pain in the lower abdomen.
• Fever and chills (sometimes).
• Pain, bleeding and/or a discharge from the anus.

• Symptoms for men:
• A milky white discharge from the penis.
• Burning when you pee.
• Pain and/or swelling of the testicles.
• Burning or itching at the opening of the penis.
• Pain, bleeding and/or a discharge from the anus.

Infections from oral sex generally have few symptoms.


Testing

If you suspect you have chlamydia, you need to get tested. It’s the only way to know for sure if you have it. The test is pretty easy – a doctor or nurse can take a swab of the infected area (cervix, urethra or rectum) or you can take a simple urine test. Many women assume that chlamydia testing is included in their regular pap test but this is not so. You need to ask for a chlaymida test.


Treatment

Luckily, chlamydia is really easy to cure with antibiotics. Follow your healthcare professional’s instructions and make sure to complete the entire round of drugs even if your symptoms disappear earlier.


If Left Untreated

If left untreated, chlamydia can lead to more serious problems, especially for women. It can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (link) which can cause chronic pelvic pain, infertility and problems during pregnancy. In men it can cause prostrate swelling and infections in the epididymis.

         

1. Health Canada (July 2004). Chlamydia: It’s your health. Retrieved June 5, 2008 from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/diseases-maladies/chlamyd-eng.php