How To Detect Chlamydia
Being safe is always an integral part of sexual intercourse, but unfortunately, not everyone practices it. The result is they become exposed to various kinds of sexually transmitted diseases. One very popular example is chlamydia. This is an infection caused by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria, passed on through vaginal, oral or anal sex. It’s one of the most common STIs today, found in both men and women.
Chlamydia easily spreads among people since it doesn’t have any symptoms most of the time. 50% of men and 75% of women with chlamydia don’t notice any changes when they encounter this health problem. Even so, some people with this ailment feel unpleasant, subtle changes in their body. When chlamydia symptoms occur, they are noticeable at least one to three weeks after contact.
Common Symptoms In Women
Women get chlamydia more often than men, but oftentimes, they don’t notice the symptoms. If you suspect that you have this health problem, watch out for warning signs, such as:
Cystitis - This is when the bladder lining becomes inflamed.
An inflamed cervix, which causes a slight increase in vaginal discharge. The discharge is usually yellowish and smelly.
Irregular menstrual bleeding
Urination becomes more frequent
Pain while urinating
Mild pain in the lower abdomen
Bleeding or spotting after sexual intercourse
Eye irritation and painful swelling
A burning or itchy feeling around the vagina
Common Symptoms In Men
Although they don’t get it as frequently as women, men are more prone to detecting chlamydia symptoms. Here are the usual signs they experience when they have this condition.
Pain or burning sensation when urinating. This is usually the first symptom.
A watery, white, cloudy discharge from the penis’ tip, that usually stains their underwear
Swollen, tender and painful testicles
Itching and burning around the penis’ opening
Eye irritation and redness
Crust forming on the tip of the penis
Painful and tender anus
Testing For Chlamydia And Curing It
Chlamydia can be diagnosed through several ways. One method is through a blood test. Another is by taking a urine sample, and examining it for signs of bacteria. Doctors can also use a swab and take a sample from the cervix ( in women) or urethra (in men) and send the specimen to the laboratory for analyzing.
The good news is, chlamydia can be cured easily. Doctors usually prescribe antibiotics, like azithromycin or doxycycline, to be orally taken. Sometimes, women who have a worst infection require intravenous antibiotics, hospitalization and pain medicine.
As long as the prescribe treatment is followed properly, chlamydia clears up after a week or two. Finishing the antibiotics is recommended to, to avoid reinfection and spreading of the disease. Ask your partner to undergo treatment too, to avoid spreading of the disease.
Chlamydia Prevention
Of course, preventing chlamydia is always better than having to cure it in the future. Here are a few simple tips to avoid getting this problem.
If you think you’re infected, see a physician immediately.
Use condoms properly, whenever you have sexual intercourse.
Limit your sexual partners, and do not go back and forth between partners
Limit your sexual contact to an uninfected partner, or better yet, practice sexual abstinence for a while.
Sexually transmitted ailments can be avoided and cured with the proper methods. Keep in mind these facts, so when you detect chlamydia, you’ll know how to deal and get rid of it.