Don’t Ignore the Effects of Chlamydia

For years, the U.S. CDC has been citing Chlamydia as the most widespread STD in the United States. Though the immediate and long-term effects of Chlamydia are more pronounced in women, Chlamydia infection continues to pose a threat to males and females alike. Statistics reveal the following in 2009:

• 3,329 new instances of Chlamydia were documented among every 100,000 teenage girls aged 15-19;
• 3,274 new Chlamydia cases were recorded per 100,000 females aged 20-24;
• 1,234 new Chlamydia occurrences were noted for every 100,000 women aged 25-29.

In men, the numbers were lower in 2009 but concerning nonetheless:

• 735 new cases of Chlamydia were reported for every 100,000 males aged 15-19;
• 1,120 new infections were diagnosed for every 100,000 males aged 20-24;
• Among men aged 25-29, 573 out of every 100,000 contracted Chlamydial infections.

Given the dangerous nature of the long-term side effects of Chlamydia, the need for routine Chlamydia testing continues to more relevant than ever.

Short-Term Effects of Chlamydia

Chlamydia symptoms in women and men don’t always manifest immediately following infection, and in some cases, side effects of Chlamydia will never present at all. Additionally, while the effects of Chlamydia are painful and disruptive in some individuals, Chlamydia symptoms in men and women, even if present, will often go unnoticed. Some common short-term effects of Chlamydia include:

• Thick, uncomfortable vaginal or penile discharge, often yellow or white in color (though discharge can be brown or even green in some cases)
• Painful urination and/or bloody urine
• Vaginal and/or pelvic pain in women, particularly during intercourse

Less common Chlamydia symptoms for women can include:

• Abdominal and lower back pain
• Nausea
• Fever
• Bleeding in between menstrual periods

To combat the often-painful effects of Chlamydia and cure the infection entirely, antibiotics can be administered following a positive Chlamydia test diagnosis. Once treatment begins, Chlamydia symptoms in men and women will generally disappear within 7 to 10 days, and following a successful course of treatment, the disease should be eliminated from the body completely.

Long-Term Effects of Chlamydia

Though Chlamydia is easily treatable and curable, if left undetected, the disease can cause serious long-term repercussions particularly in women. While infected and untreated men can generally avoid long-lasting complications, Chlamydia symptoms in women can be severe over time. The most common long-term effects of Chlamydia in women include:

• Chronic pelvic pain due to the development of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Damage to the reproductive system resulting in infertility
• Increased likelihood of potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy

Additionally, those with untreated Chlamydia are at an increased risk for contracting other STDs.

Preventing the Consequences of Chlamydia

The only way to avoid the long-term effects of Chlamydia is to undergo regular testing and receive prompt treatment if positive. The CDC recommends annual Chlamydia testing for sexually active men and women, particularly those in the 15-24 age group. Furthermore, those at risk for infection should not assume that they are disease free if no effects of Chlamydia are present. Even if the side effects of Chlamydia never noticeably manifest, the disease can still be passed from person to person. For this reason, sexually active individuals must remain vigilant to combat the often detrimental consequences associated with Chlamydial infection.

Common misspellings for Chlamydia include: klamydia, clamidia, chlamidia, klamidia