If someone is suffering from chlamydia, do they always have the symptoms of chlamydia? Chlamydia is known as the "silent disease” because about three-quarters of infected women and about half of infected men have no symptoms of chlamydia at all and will have no idea that they are suffering from chlamydia. Under these circumstances it is possible to pass on the disease to other partners without realising it. If symptoms do occur, they usually appear within 1 to 3 weeks after exposure by which time a person with many partners could have passed the disease on to an awful lot of other people…and so it goes on! The more partners you have, the more likely you are to be exposed to infection. However, you only need to have unprotected sex with one person who happens to have the infection and you can catch it.
You don't have to be promiscuous to get chlamydia. What are the symptoms of chlamydia in women? In women, the bacteria initially infect the cervix and the urethra (urine canal). Women who have symptoms of chlamydia might have an abnormal vaginal discharge or a burning sensation when urinating. When the infection spreads from the cervix to the fallopian tubes (tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus), some women still have no signs or symptoms; others have lower abdominal pain, low back pain, nausea, fever, pain during intercourse, or bleeding between menstrual periods. Chlamydial infection of the cervix can spread to the rectum. What are the symptoms of chlamydia in men? Men with signs or might have a discharge from their penis or a burning sensation when urinating. Men might also have burning and itching around the opening of the penis. Pain and swelling in the testicles are uncommon. Are there any other symptoms of chlamydia? Men or women who have receptive anal intercourse may acquire chlamydial infection in the rectum, which can cause rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding. Chlamydia can also be found in the throats of women and men having oral sex with an infected partner. What should I do if I suspect that I have chlamydia or if I have any of the symptoms of chlamydia? If you suspect that you may have chlamydia or if you have any of the symptoms of chlamydia you should seek medical help from your G.P. or visit a G.U.M.clinic. It is also possible to test for Chlamydia in the comfort of your own home. There is a urine test that you collect and it is sent to a laboratory to be tested. The result is sent back to you personally. A chlamydia wand test is also available for women that can be carried out at home; the result is available within a few minutes. |
