Chlamydia

It's a bacterial infection that's easily spread via body fluids making it one of the most common STDs in the world. The bacterium is called chlamydia trachomatis.

When treated early, chlamydia is not dangerous and easily curable through the use of antibiotics. If it is left it can cause conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and inflamed testicles that can lead to infertility. It can also cause painful reactive arthritis.

The reason chlamydia is so widespread is due to the lack of symptoms. For most, an indication of an STI is symptoms such as genital bumps, blisters, pain, smells and painful urination in STIs. Like most STIs, chlamydia can develop without a single noticeable symptom, even over time.

Chlamydia can affect all moist mucus membranes so it's entirely possible to develop chlamydia in the eye or mouth too. These symptoms are usually noticeable.

Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs in Australia and across the world. Diagnoses have quadrupled over the past ten years. In Australia, there were 80,000 cases notified in 2012, with many more going unnoticed and therefore it is predicted many individuals have chlamydia untreated.

Chlamydia is a problem throughout the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and health professionals are urging the use of condoms to cut down on antibiotic use.

Many people don't know they have chlamydia because the symptoms can be mild or don't exist at all. This is especially the case in women, where most of the reproductive organs are hidden inside the body.

Symptoms of chlamydia in women:

• Pain when urinating
• Pain in the stomach
• Vaginal discharge
• Rectal discharge
• Bleeding during and after sex
• Heavier periods and inter-period bleeding
• In the eyes, throat and mouth – irritation, discharge, blurred vision and pain

Symptoms of chlamydia in men:

• Pain when urinating
• White, cloudy or watery discharge
• Penile itching
• Discharge from the rectum
• Painful or swollen testicles
• In the eyes, throat and mouth – irritation, discharge, blurred vision and pain

If you experience symptoms they may occur up to three weeks after the initial infection but may vanish after a few days to a week. This does not mean the infection has gone. You should always seek treatment even if your initial symptoms have disappeared.

Chlamydia can cause complications when it goes untreated. If you've had unprotected sex ask your doctor or local clinic for a test. Long-term complications in women are the pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and complications during pregnancy and birth.

Pelvic inflammatory disease and chlamydia

Chlamydia can spread to your womb, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Once this has happened it can cause persistent pelvic pain, an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, and difficulties conceiving. If PID causes inflammation and scarring of the reproductive organs it can cause infertility.

Pregnancy and chlamydia

Your baby may develop an eye or lung infection when born. Untreated chlamydia also increases the risk of premature birth, miscarriage, and stillbirth.

Chlamydia in men

The tubes that carry semen from the testicles can become inflamed by chlamydia. When the testicles become inflamed it's called epididymitis. Epididymitis can cause infertility if left untreated.

Both men and women are at risk of developing reactive arthritis if a chlamydia infection is left untreated. Reactive arthritis inflames the joints, eyes, and urethra. It is painful and has no cure. Usually, symptoms pass after a few months.

Chlamydia is transmitted through unprotected sexual contact. If you've touched body fluids with an infected person its likely you have contracted chlamydia too.

The infected fluid is transferred by vaginal fluids and semen. Penetrative sex spreads chlamydia, but it's not the only way to develop an infection. Other ways chlamydia can spread are:

• Foreplay – touching someone's genitals with your hands can transfer bacteria
• Sharing sex toys
• Anal and oral sex
• Non penetrative sex such as touching genitals - ejaculation is not required
• Mothers can pass chlamydia to their baby during birth.

Chlamydia can spread to your eyes and throat through oral sex, mutual masturbation or by sharing sex toys. Sharing towels, cutlery or toilet seats does not spread chlamydia.

Chlamydia is very common and there is no reason to be embarrassed about having a test. In fact, it is highly responsible.

Medical professionals encourage testing in all people who have unprotected sex, including oral sex, mutual masturbation, using sex toys and anal sex as well as penetrative vaginal sex. Remember a man doesn't need to ejaculate for bacteria to transfer either way.

You can get tested through your doctor's surgery or head to your local clinic for testing and treatment. These clinics are not associated with your doctor and they are confidential.

• Women are tested by a vaginal swab or a urine test
• Men are tested by a urine test

There are also testing kits available online or from pharmacies. Take great care if you choose this option, as they are not as effective as professional medical testing. Tests for chlamydia are not invasive and they don't hurt.

If you are having a professional medical chlamydia test, it is worth considering a range of STI tests whilst you are there. This will pick up any other STIs you may have. It is possible to have more than one type at a time.

You should have a chlamydia test if:

• You have symptoms
• You had unprotected sex
• A condom breaks during sex
• Your partner thinks they have an STI
• You are planning to become pregnant or are pregnant

Treating chlamydia in the early stages is much easier than treating an established infection. Early infections often only need a quick course of antibiotics, often a single dose. Long-term infections need stronger treatments taken for a longer duration.

Treatment for chlamydia is available for everyone. You should not wait and see if the symptoms improve. Luckily chlamydia is easy to treat. Viral infections are more difficult and many are long-term or lifelong conditions.

Antibiotics are the treatment for chlamydia. It's thought 95% of people will be cured of chlamydia with the first dose of antibiotics.

However, antibiotics sometimes fail due to general overuse and antibiotic resisting bacteria. To avoid this ensure you take the whole course prescribed, even if the symptoms clear up within a few days. Unless all the bacteria are destroyed it will simply multiply again and you will need another course.

Natural remedies for chlamydia available online are not effective and shouldn't be used if you have a chlamydia infection.

Anal, eye or throat chlamydia may need a longer course of treatment. Antibacterial eye drops or a different type of antibiotics may be used.

Don't have any type of sex until your treatment is finished or you may pass on your active infection to another. If you have a partner they should be treated for chlamydia too. If not, they will pass the infection back to you.

You may have given chlamydia to past partners if you have got a long-standing infection. Due to complications around infertility with chlamydia you should inform them so they can take appropriate action. It is not necessary to identify yourself.

Preventing chlamydia

STIs are common and the best way to deal with them is prevention. Condoms are the only way to prevent catching an STI or spreading it further.

Male and female condoms are available. They do not protect against every STI because some are transferred via skin contact, but they will give you good protection, especially regarding chlamydia and other bacterial infections. They are essential if you are having casual sex.

Other methods of preventing STIs are:

• Not sharing sex toys
• Limiting your number of sexual partners
• Using a dental dam - a small flat barrier that is placed on the vagina or anus. Opened condoms work well too
• Getting regular screenings for STIs
• Seeking immediate treatment if you are diagnosed with an STI
• Ensure your partner is treated to avoid transferring STIs to each other
• Remaining in control e.g. of limiting alcohol and recreational use

If you think you may have contracted chlamydia, or have put yourself at risk, don't wait for symptoms; go for a screening as soon as possible. The sooner you are diagnosed, the sooner you can treat the infection.