Sexually transmitted diseases are probably the most undesirable health issues. Chlamydia infections are among them. Since it is a STD, Chlamydia is a bacteria that lives and spreads through genital fluids, in case of unprotected sexual intercourses. Oral and anal sex are also included in this group since they do mean to get in contact with your partner’s fluids. So, you might be interested in its symptoms, to know how to recognize it. Well, the worst part of Chlamydia is that in the majority of cases, symptoms never show. Thus, unless you take a medical test, you might never know if you have or not the bacteria. You might be very well a carrier, infecting others with it. And even is the treatment of Chlamydia is simple, this infection should not be overlooked, as it can develop into severe health issues.
Where do the symptoms of Chlamydia appear?
In case of Chlamydia infections, symptoms can appear in different regions of the body. The most frequent symptoms are that appear in the genital area. For men, a liquid discharge will appear at the tip of the penis, being more visible in the morning. It can be clear, or have a whitish coloration. Also, the testicles may feel more sensitive or inflamed, and stinging pain can accompany the urination process. For women, they might also experience a vaginal discharge, with an abnormal consistency or smell. They may feel pain in the abdomen, when urinating or when having sex. Women might also experience bleeding between periods, or more painful periods than usual since the cervix is inflamed. Or discomfort in the vaginal area, like itching or stinging.
But symptoms may appear in other parts of the body as well. You may experience pain in the rectus, in case you had anal sex. Bleeding from the anus, pains, swelling, discharges, even diarrhea are on the list. Or, symptoms may appear in the throat, as a result of having oral sex, since the mouth and throat were exposed to the bacteria.
How long until the symptoms will appear?
Usually, Chlamydia has an incubation period of one week and going up to three weeks. So symptoms should appear at best in one week after the exposure to the bacteria, or at least after three weeks. But remember that the percentage of cases where symptoms never appear is enormous. As much as 75% of infections among women and 50% infections among men never manifest any symptoms. To avoid any severe complications, if you know you had unprotected sex, any type of it, with a person you don’t know or trust enough, it would be wise to do a test and reassure everything is fine. You should not worry in case the test comes out positive because Chlamydia can be treated very simple. A short session of antibiotics and you’re clean. The faster you find out about Chlamydia, the lesser damage it will make in your body.
Chlamydia symptoms in throat
Since oral sex is more frequent than anal sex, both in men and women, we will talk in the following about symptoms in the throat. These symptoms can be quite dangerous because they can be mistaken for the symptoms of the common flu. Sore throat is one of the most common symptoms of the throat. The sensation is extremely uncomfortable and won’t allow the person to swallow normally, affecting the desire to eat. If the sore throat is caused by Chlamydia, and not by the common cold virus, then usual treatment, in this case, won’t work. If the sore throat does not disappear within a week, with the help of throat drops, you should see a doctor because it can be Chlamydia causing all this trouble.
Other, more unusual symptoms of Chlamydia
Believe it or not, Chlamydia can cause symptoms very similar to flu symptoms. They are both infections in the body, so it is somewhat typical for them to behave in the same manner. The flu-like symptoms also occur due to oral sex. The presence of fever, pains throughout the body, even nausea, can indicate a Chlamydia infection. If the symptoms do not disappear or ameliorate in a week’s time, with regular flu treatment, you should see your doctor. Chlamydia is responding only to antibiotics. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should pop antibiotics each time you get a flu, just to eliminate the Chlamydia possibility. If you take antibiotics frequently, you will develop other health issues. Also, you might be allergic or respond badly to some types of antibiotics. So the risk is not worth it. It is always better to see your doctor if you have a problem that is bothering you, instead of self-medicating.
Chlamydia testing
Testing for Chlamydia is a very simple, and not painful, operation. Samples from the woman’s cervix and man’s urethra are taken to check the presence of Chlamydia. Urine tests can be done, but they might not be as conclusive as the first examples. In case of throat pains, a swab from your mouth and throat will be sampled. And if you test positive, your doctor will put you on antibiotics treatment, and that will be it.
There is no need to be scared of the test, or the treatment either. But you should be scared of what can happen if you don’t track down Chlamydia instead. Because most cases are asymptomatic, Chlamydia works its way in complete silence, developing serious diseases. In men, it attacks the testicles and the reproductive system, increasing the risk of infertility. The severe diagnostic is the same in the case of women since these bacteria attacks the tubes that connect the ovaries to the pelvis, having children being an impossibility. Even more, Chlamydia infections increase very much ectopic pregnancies or premature deliveries. Not to mention that it can affect the newborn if the bacteria is caught during pregnancy. Thus, it takes just a few minutes of your life, free of pain, to take a Chlamydia test. It is much better than to live in incertitude and develop such severe complications.
An infection with Chlamydia can be very unpleasant, but if found in a timely manner, it can be treated very easily. The infection does not show any sign in the majority of the cases, so testing for it is a must, for the treatment to be efficient. If you changed partners and had an unprotected sexual endeavor, don’t hesitate to take the test, for your safety, and the safety of your future partners. In the worst case, if tested positive, you will have to take a few antibiotic pills. It isn’t such a big sacrifice when your health and your fertility are at stake.