Chlamydia This factsheet is for people who have chlamydia, or who would like information about it. Chlamydia is a disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It can be transmitted by unprotected sex or passed from an infected mother to her baby during a vaginal birth. About chlamydia Chlamydia can easily be treated but if left untreated, it can cause health and fertility problems. Symptoms of chlamydia In women, symptoms of chlamydia include: In men, symptoms of chlamydia include:
* ; Chlamydia infection in the back passage (rectum) may cause a discharge or bleeding from your anus, and you may feel some discomfort but usually there are no symptoms. Chlamydia infection in the throat is unlikely to give you any symptoms. If your eyes are infected, it can cause irritation and a discharge (conjunctivitis) from one or both of your eyes. Complications of chlamydia In women, chlamydia infection can spread to the womb (uterus), ovaries and fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Between one and four women in 10 with untreated chlamydia will get PID. PID can damage the fallopian tubes and can increase the risk of being infertile. It can also increase the risk of having an ectopic pregnancy. This is when pregnancy occurs outside the womb, for example in one of the fallopian tubes. In men, chlamydia infection can spread to the tube that carries urine from the bladder and out through the penis (urethra) or to the prostate gland. It can also cause the tube which carries sperm from the testes (the epididymis) to become blocked. This can affect fertility. Chlamydia can cause inflammation in the joints, this is known as reactive arthritis or Reiter's syndrome. This complication is more common in men. Causes of chlamydia C. trachomatis can be found in the semen of men and the vaginal fluids of women who have the infection. The infection can be passed on from one person to another during vaginal, anal or oral sex as well as by sharing sex toys with an infected person. Chlamydia can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby during a vaginal birth. Diagnosis of chlamydia You can have a test for chlamydia even if you don't have any symptoms. You don't have to ask your doctor to refer you to a GUM or sexual health clinic, you can make your own appointment. All visits are confidential and you don't have to give your real name. Details won't be sent to your GP without your consent. There are different ways to test for chlamydia: The samples will be sent to a laboratory for testing, or your doctor may look for the bacterium under a microscope and give you the result immediately. If the tests show that you have chlamydia, it's important to contact your previous partners who may be at risk to prevent them from spreading the infection to others. Clinics can send anonymous letters on your behalf if you're willing to provide details. Treatment of chlamydia Once diagnosed with chlamydia, it's important to wait until the doctor gives you the 'all clear' before you have vaginal, anal or oral sex again. Wait until you and your partner have both finished treatment, or you could become re-infected. Antibiotics can interfere with some forms of oral contraception so you may need to use an alternative contraceptive, such as condoms. Ask your nurse or doctor for advice. Special considerations You can also pass chlamydia to your baby during birth. This can cause conjunctivitis or pneumonia in your baby. Both of these conditions can be treated. If you have chlamydia when you're pregnant or are breastfeeding, you will be given a course of antibiotics to treat the infection. It's important to tell your doctor or nurse that you're pregnant or breastfeeding so that you're prescribed a suitable antibiotic that's safe for your baby. Prevention of chlamydia
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