chlamydia

Chlamydia is the most common STI in the UK and is a bacterial infection.  It often has no symptoms, especially in females so it may go undiscovered for years.  By the time it is discovered, it may have done irreversible damage to the reproductive system.  Often the first a couple know of the presence of the infection is when they decide to start a family and have difficulty in conceiving.  One in ten sexually active young people in the UK has chlamydia. This is a magnified picture of the bacteria that cause it. 

What causes chlamydia?

This STI is caused by a bacterium found in the semen and vaginal fluids of men and women who have the infection.

How is it passed on?

Chlamydia is transmitted by having sex (vaginal, oral or anal) with an infected person.  It can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby.

It cannot be passed on by kissing, hugging, toilet seats or sharing a towel or cups/plates/cutlery with another person.

What are the symptoms (effects on our bodies)?

In 70% of cases there are no symptoms at all, which means a person can be infected with chlamydia without even knowing it.

If there are symptoms, they may be:

in a woman:

abnormal vaginal discharge

burning or stinging when passing urine

pelvic pains or pain deep inside when having sex.

in a man:

burning or stinging when passing urine

milky white discharge from the penis

swelling and tenderness of the testicles (balls).

What is the treatment?

If picked up promptly, chlamydia can be very effectively treated with a course of antibiotics prescribed by the doctor.

What happens if untreated?

If left untreated, chlamydia can spread to other organs in the body.

In a woman:

It can cause irreversible damage to the fallopian tubes with scarring leading to:

...infertility - because of the scarring to the tubes a woman will have difficulty conceiving a child in later life.

...ectopic pregnancy - it may make her more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy in the tube, not in the womb - this is a very serious medical emergency).

...chronic pelvic pain - because of scarring of the tubes and other structures in the pelvis.

In a man:

...it can spread to the testicles causing pain and is linked to reduced fertility (difficulty conceiving a child) in later life.

What to do if worried?

If someone is concerned that they might have chlamydia they should speak to their GP (family doctor) or attend a local (genitourinary) sexual health clinic.  The only way to be certain is to have a test.  Any young person who has had unprotected sex (sex without a condom) with another person may be at risk.