TL;DR:
- What is Chlamydiosis? A sexually transmitted disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, affecting people aged 15–25 the most.
- Transmission: Through vaginal, anal, oral sex, and childbirth from an infected mother to the baby.
- Risk Factors: Multiple partners, lack of condom use, or history of STDs.
- Symptoms:
- Women: Cervical inflammation, discharge, spotting, painful urination/intercourse, abdominal pain, fever, nausea.
- Men: Urethral discharge, itching/burning, swollen testicles, pain, and anal symptoms (if applicable).
- Diagnosis: Urine tests, swabs from affected areas (vagina, urethra, throat, anus, or newborn’s eye).
- Treatment: Antibiotics (e.g., azithromycin, doxycycline) for 7–14 days; avoid intercourse during treatment.
- Complications (if untreated): Infertility, fallopian tube/uterine infections (women); epididymitis, prostatitis (men); pneumonia in newborns.
- Prevention: Use condoms, avoid casual sex, and screen regularly if at risk.
Chlamydiosis is a very commonly diagnosed disease. It belongs to the intimate diseases that affect women and men of all ages. Untreated, it can cause many serious health consequences. For this reason, it is worth being aware of the symptoms, after the appearance of which it is recommended to visit a doctor and get treatment.
Chlamydiosis – what is it?
The disease chlamydiosis is transmitted sexually. It is caused by the aerobic bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. The highest incidence of chlamydiosis infection is seen in people between the ages of 15 and 25, who have multiple partners and change them frequently, and do not use condoms.
How can you get infected with chlamydia?
The disease can be contracted mainly through sexual intercourse, both vaginal, anal and oral. The bacteria can be transmitted, even when there was no contact with vaginal mucus or semen. It is also worth knowing that infection can occur during childbirth. If the mother is infected, the bacteria can transfer to the baby as it passes through the genital tract. In this way, the newborn is infected.
Factors that increase the risk of contracting chlamydiosis.
Chlamydiosis in women and men most often occurs due to frequent change of sexual partners and failure to use condoms, which protect against transmission. What's more, there is a higher risk of contracting chlamydia in people who have had previous STDs.
Symptoms of chlamydiosis
Like any disease, chlamydiosis also produces certain symptoms that can be noticed. However, they do not appear immediately after infection, or even several weeks afterwards. Therefore, initially many people do not know that they have been infected.
Characteristic symptoms of chlamydiosis in women.
Chlamydia and its symptoms in women are primarily the appearance of cervical inflammation, purulent discharge, or spotting between periods. In addition, there may be pain during urination, lower abdominal and lumbar pain, and some women also complain of fever and nausea. Moreover, there is sometimes pain during or after intercourse, as well as bleeding.
Chlamydiosis in men
Symptoms of chlamydia in men, mainly include a purulent and mucous discharge coming out of the urethra, an itching or burning sensation, and pain during urination. Chlamydia in men also gives symptoms such as swollen testicles and epididymitis. In addition, if the infection occurred during anal intercourse, anal bleeding and pain in that area may be among the symptoms.
Diagnosis and treatment of chlamydiosis
Chlamydiosis and its late symptoms make diagnosis of the early stage of the disease very difficult. However, a thorough history taken during a visit to the doctor will help assess the risk of this disease and order further tests.
Methods of diagnosing chlamydiosis
The characteristic symptoms of chlamydia in men and women may not always indicate the disease. Therefore, additional tests are performed to unequivocally confirm the infection. The most common is a urine test and taking a vaginal swab and examining it under a microscope and undergoing antigen tests. In men, the material for examination is taken from the urethra. For oral and anal intercourse, the sample for testing is taken from the throat or anus, respectively. On the other hand, when the child's mother was infected with chlamydia during childbirth, a swab is taken from the conjunctiva of the eye in the newborn. Getting positive results allows you to start effective treatment for chlamydiosis of the vagina, anus, penis or throat. It is also a good idea to inform your partner about the disease. In such a case, he should also go to the doctor and perform tests to confirm or exclude chlamydiosis.
Treatment of chlamydiosis
Chlamydiosis and its treatment mainly consists of antibiotic therapy. However, this is not always an easy process. All due to the fact that some strains of bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. As for the form of administration of antibiotics, they are administered orally. The most commonly used are erythromycin, azithromycin, doxycycline, clindamycin and rifampicin. To effectively and quickly cure the infection, the antibiotic should be selected based on the results obtained from the swab. Treatment lasts from 7 to 14 days. During this time, one should refrain from intercourse.
Complications of chlamydiosis – what are the risks of untreated infection?
Symptoms of chlamydiosis should not be underestimated. Lack of treatment can lead to very serious health complications, including those affecting fertility.
Dangerous consequences of untreated chlamydiosis.
General complications of chlamydiosis include an increased risk of contracting other sexually transmitted diseases. It is particularly easy to contract gonorrhea, or HIV. In addition, people with long-term chlamydiosis are at risk for arthritis, chronic conjunctivitis, chronic pharyngitis, a general decline in immunity, and vascular disease. In contrast, chlamydia in men gives complications such as:
- inflammation of the epididymis,
- intractable pain,
- inflammation of the prostate gland.
In women, on the other hand, chlamydiosis can cause:
- infections of the fallopian tubes and uterus,
- complaints of pain,
- cysts,
- erosions of the uterus,
- infertility.
It is also important to be aware that if chlamydia infection occurs during childbirth, the newborn is at risk of developing pneumonia.
How to avoid contracting chlamydiosis?
Chlamydiosis and the causes that cause it are well known. Therefore, if you want to guard against the disease, take safety precautions. First of all, use condoms during intercourse, whether it is vaginal or anal intercourse. In addition, it is a good idea to avoid risky and casual sexual intercourse. In the situation of frequent change of sexual partners, it is advisable to perform regular screening tests. They will allow, in case of infection, to detect the disease at an early stage and start effective treatment. This reduces the risk of dangerous health complications.
Conclusion
Chlamydiosis is a serious, yet preventable and treatable, sexually transmitted infection. Knowing its causes, symptoms, and risks can protect your health and fertility. Regular screenings, safe sexual practices, and early medical care are vital to preventing complications like infertility or chronic pain. If symptoms appear, consult a doctor promptly for diagnosis and targeted antibiotic treatment. Prevention is key—condoms and regular testing save lives. Stay informed, act responsibly, and prioritize your health to avoid the severe consequences of untreated infections.
