WHAT IS CHLAMYDIA?Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). In the Netherlands, chlamydia is the most common STI. It's an infection caused by bacteria that settle in the mucous membranes of the vagina, cervix, urethra, or anus. The infection can spread throughout the body and cause various symptoms. Chlamydia can be contracted through sexual contact, not only through penetration (intercourse) but also through direct contact with the mucous membranes of the genitals. Using condoms significantly reduces the risk of contracting chlamydia. Chlamydia is easily cured with a course of antibiotics.CHLAMYDIA INFECTION COMPLAINTS IN WOMENAs a woman, you often don't notice a chlamydia infection: 70% of women who have contracted chlamydia have no symptoms at all. This means someone can unknowingly carry chlamydia for years and infect others.
If symptoms do occur, they include the following:
- increased vaginal discharge
- burning or pain when urinating
- abnormal vaginal bleeding, sometimes between periods
- bloody discharge after intercourse
- painful intercourse
- lower abdominal pain.
If the infection is in the anus, it can cause itching, pain, or a slimy discharge from the anus.
If any of these symptoms occur after unprotected sex, it's wise to get tested for an STI.POSSIBLE LATE EFFECTS OF CHLAMYDIA INFECTION IN WOMENWithout treatment, a chlamydia infection can spread through the uterus to the fallopian tubes. This causes pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can spread to the abdominal cavity. This is called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can be accompanied by fever and (severe) lower abdominal pain. This inflammation causes scarring and adhesions in the lower abdomen and in the fallopian tubes. This can lead to chronic lower abdominal pain and infertility. If a chlamydia infection has caused adhesions in the fallopian tubes (also called Fallopian tubes), the eggs produced in the ovaries can no longer reach the uterus through the fallopian tubes. The result is infertility. If a fertilized egg (an embryo) remains stuck in the fallopian tube due to the adhesions, an ectopic pregnancy can occur. With prompt and effective treatment with antibiotics, pelvic inflammatory disease can be completely cured.
A pregnant woman can transmit a chlamydia infection to her baby during childbirth. The baby may then develop an eye infection or pneumonia. This can be prevented with proper treatment during pregnancy.CHLAMYDIA INFECTION SYMPTOMS IN MENMen often don't notice they've contracted chlamydia. Men often develop a discharge from their urethra one to a few weeks after being infected with chlamydia. This doesn't have to be significant. It's usually just a slightly watery discharge after waking up (morning drip). Urination can also be somewhat painful. Approximately one in two infected men has no symptoms at all from a chlamydia infection. Therefore, men can also unknowingly walk around with a chlamydia infection and, through unprotected sex, infect others.
During anal sex, chlamydia can also settle in the anus. This can cause itching, pain, and a slimy discharge from the anus. Homosexual men are at risk of contracting a different type of chlamydia, which causes a very unpleasant and deep inflammation of the lymph nodes in the groin and the area around the anus. This is called lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV).POSSIBLE LATE EFFECTS OF CHLAMYDIA INFECTION IN MENIn men, the infection can also spread, though this is less common than in women. The bacteria can enter the epididymis via the urethra and the vas deferens. This can then lead to epididymitis. Epididymitis causes pain and swelling of the scrotum. Sometimes there is also a fever.
Long-standing chlamydia infections can also cause scarring and adhesions in the urethra and vas deferens in men. As in women, this can lead to reduced fertility.RESEARCHTo determine whether a chlamydia infection is present, the doctor will perform one or more tests. They may take a smear from the urethra and/or cervix and examine the urine. It is common to also check for other sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhea, syphilis, or HIV.TREATMENTChlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics. Treatment for chlamydia usually consists of a single course of antibiotics. For an anal chlamydia infection, treatment usually lasts one week. It's best to avoid sex during treatment. This prevents you and your partner(s) from repeatedly infecting each other. If you do have sex, use a condom. If your symptoms don't disappear after treatment, go back to your doctor. You may have contracted gonorrhea (the clap) at the same time as the chlamydia infection.
Antibiotics for chlamydia infection:
For a regular infection: one dose of 1000 mg (2 tablets of 500 mg) Zithromax (azithromycin).
For anal infections: 100 mg doxycycline twice a day for 7 days.
After a chlamydia infection, no natural defenses develop, so there is no protection against new infections. This makes it easy to re-infect chlamydia. It is therefore very important that all sexual partners are tested and treated.
Because chlamydia is common and easily re-infected, it is wise to be tested again after six months, especially if someone has multiple sexual partners.PARTNER WARNINGSexual partners from the six weeks before the symptoms began must be notified. They should also be tested and, if necessary, treated. If there are no symptoms, all sexual partners from the past six months must be notified. |
