Treatment of Chlamydia Infection

About the disease

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the USA and men and women under the age of 25 are particularly affected. According to WebMD, there are no symptoms in 50-75% of cases, so an infected person may not even be aware they have it. If symptoms do appear, they will be noticeable two or three weeks after sexual contact with an infected person and may include a burning sensation during urination and abnormal discharge from the genitals. Even if an infected person has no symptoms, the disease can cause serious health complications, such as infertility in both men and women.

Chlamydia is most commonly passed on through unprotected penetrative sex, although it can also be caught through simple tactile contact with an infected person’s genitals. It is important to be tested regularly, at least once a year if you are sexually active, or before having sexual intercourse with a new partner. This is because it is possible to catch chlamydia more than once and you are more likely to contract it if you have had it (or a similar condition) in the past. If Chlamydia is treated during its early stages, future health complications become less likely. In some cases, babies can contract chlamydia from their mothers, which is why it is important to undergo prenatal testing during pregnancy.

Symptoms

• Burning sensation when urinating
• Abnormal discharge from the genitals
• Pain when having sexual intercourse
• Pain in the abdominal area
• Fever in some cases
• Nausea, rarely
• Sore throat, if contracted orally

Diagnosis

• During a general examination, the doctor will ask the patient questions about the number of sexual partners they have had and whether or not they use condoms or other barrier protection.
• Doctors will ask female patients about the regularity of their menstrual periods and whether they experience any pain or unpleasant sensations during sex or when urinating.
• Doctors will ask male patients if they have noticed any penile discharge or pain when urinating.
• A swab test from the genitals is usually enough to determine whether or not the patient has contracted chlamydia. This is a common, painless test that is usually performed during a general examination.

Treatment

• Conservative treatment, such as the use of antibiotics, is often enough to get rid of chlamydia completely. They must be taken for an exact period of time, as prescribed by the doctor, to completely kill all the bacteria.
• Even if the patient has successfully treated their chlamydia infection, it is still possible to contract it in the future.

Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Sergey Pashchenko