Office of Sexual Health. We want to help readers take care of their sexual health with inspiring content that improves their lives.
The services, content and products of our website are for informational purposes only. Giddy does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See more information.
The services, content and products of our website are for informational purposes only. Giddy does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See more information.
The services, content and products of our website are for informational purposes only. Giddy does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See more information.
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the world, and fortunately it is relatively easy to treat. However, if the infection is not treated, the consequences can be serious. Untreated chlamydia can affect your sexual health and more, so it’s important to know the facts.
If you develop symptoms of chlamydia, you should be tested immediately so that a correct diagnosis can be made and treatment can begin.
“Common symptoms of an initial [chlamydial] infection include burning during urination, discharge from the penis, pelvic pain, painful sex, frequent urination and itching in intimate areas,” says internal medicine specialist Manish Singhal, MD, from Sonora. , California. , Medical Pharmacy Online Pharmacy Consultant SuperPill.
Diagnosing chlamydia is simple with a smear or urinalysis. Once you have been diagnosed, your doctor will prescribe treatment.
“Chlamydia is usually treated with oral antibiotics,” says Keith Tulenko, MD, MPH, former director of the US Global Health Workforce Program and current CEO and founder of Corvus Health in Alexandria, Virginia.
“The duration of antibiotics depends on the severity of the infection,” Singhal advises. “Patients should follow their doctor’s advice regarding the type and duration of antibiotics they take.”
According to the UK National Health Service (NHS), the two most common antibiotics used to treat chlamydia are doxycycline and azithromycin. Fortunately, both options are relatively inexpensive, Singhal added. Your doctor may prescribe various medications if you have allergies, are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Some people may experience side effects such as nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhea, but these complications are usually mild.
It is important to note that although the drug will get rid of the current round of chlamydia, it will not give you immunity in the future. Recurrent chlamydia is common, especially in people who have sex with multiple partners and/or have unprotected sex. If you develop symptoms again, you will need a different diagnosis and treatment plan.
Antibiotics also do not reverse any permanent damage from a chlamydial infection, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or the risk of an ectopic pregnancy, in which a fertilized egg is implanted outside the uterus.
The main problem with untreated chlamydia is pelvic inflammatory disease. In women, chlamydial infection can spread to the uterus, fallopian tubes and pelvis, Tulenko said. Once in the pelvic cavity, it can cause inflammatory disease of the pelvic organs.
Long-term complications of PID include chronic pain and infertility caused by scarring and blockage of the fallopian tubes.
In men, chlamydia can cause epididymitis, an inflammation of the coil next to each testicle, causing fever, swelling, and pain in the scrotum. Another possible complication is prostatitis, an infection of the prostate gland, although this is rare. Prostatitis can cause:
All of these potential complications can interfere with your sex life. Prompt treatment of chlamydia to avoid increasing the risk of further complications is critical to maintaining overall sexual health.
People with chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections may be at increased risk of contracting HIV due to behaviors that lead to chlamydia, such as having multiple partners, rough sex, and unprotected sex.
“Chronic prostatitis can affect the tissues of the penis, which can lead to ED,” Singhal explains. “The two main mechanisms in this relationship may include inflammatory factors released during inflammation [and] nerve damage due to the spread of inflammation to the reproductive nerves surrounding the prostate. These factors may contribute to ED.”
In severe cases, patients may continue to suffer from erectile dysfunction even after their chlamydial infection has been cured, he added.
Erectile dysfunction, the persistent inability to achieve and maintain an erection, can lead to decreased libido and mental health problems.
One of the main concerns with untreated chlamydial infection in women is the serious impact it can have on reproductive health.
If a chlamydial infection becomes pelvic inflammatory disease, it can lead to infertility. Untreated chlamydia increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy.
“Successful pregnancy is nearly impossible for people with untreated chlamydia, and women with the condition are more likely to conceive outside the womb, which can lead to a medical emergency called an ectopic pregnancy,” said Stuart Parnacott of CRNA. , a nurse anesthesiologist from Atlanta.
Chlamydia is a serious problem for pregnant women and their babies. Tulenko explained that pregnant women with chlamydial infection are at risk for several pregnancy complications, including preterm labor and low birth weight.
The infection affects the child, passes through the birth canal and is transmitted to the child at birth. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, about 50 percent of children born to mothers with chlamydia will become infected. Babies born with chlamydia may develop eye and/or lung infections.
Another amazing link between chlamydia and your sexual health is the birth control you choose, specifically the long-acting medroxyprogesterone acetate injection, better known as the Depo-Provera injection.
“A little-known group of people at higher risk for STDs like chlamydia are choosing an injectable form of contraception called Depo-Provera,” Parnacott said. “The drug, more commonly referred to as the ‘depot shot’ by patients, nearly tripled a woman’s risk of contracting chlamydia from an infected partner.”
More research is needed on this topic, but according to a 2004 collaborative study by the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the U.S. Agency for International Development, depot shots may increase the risk of chlamydia and gonorrhea in a population. and the Office of Reproductive Health.
If you are taking Depo-Provera and are concerned about the risk of getting an STD, talk to your doctor about other birth control options.
Another unexpected complication of chlamydia is reactive arthritis called Reiter’s syndrome, which is arthritis caused by infection in other parts of the body, usually the genitals, urinary tract, or intestines.
Reactive arthritis caused by chlamydia is rare, and in most cases the symptoms come and go and may eventually disappear completely.
With early detection, chlamydia can be cured very easily and quickly. Untreated cases can lead to serious consequences such as erectile dysfunction and infertility. Be sure to schedule an STD test with your doctor, local clinic, or family planning office if you have any symptoms of chlamydia.
Office of Sexual Health. We want to help readers take care of their sexual health with inspiring content that improves their lives.
The services, content and products of our website are for informational purposes only. Giddy does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See more information.
The services, content and products of our website are for informational purposes only. Giddy does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See more information.
Post time: Feb-19-2023