Talk about Chlamydia
Chlamydia trachomatis is a bacteria that is passed from one person to another through sex. It can cause problems if it’s left untreated and so getting a test after unprotected sex is important.
What is Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is passed from one person to another during unprotected sex- this includes vaginal, oral and anal sex. You can catch it from sex toys if you do not wash them or cover them with a new condom each time they are used. Occasionally it can cause an eye infection if it is passed from the fingers to the eyes. It could also be passed on from a mother to her baby at birth causing a lung or eye infection.
The bacteria infect the cervix (neck of the womb), urethra (tube where the urine comes out), rectum (back passage) and sometimes even the eyes or throat.
You can’t catch chlamydia from hugging, kissing, swimming pools, toilets, sharing towels or sharing cups, plates or cutlery.
How do I catch it?
Chlamydia is passed from one person to another during unprotected sex- this includes vaginal, oral and anal sex. You can catch it from sex toys if you do not wash them or cover them with a new condom each time they are used. Occasionally it can cause an eye infection if it is passed from the fingers to the eyes. It could also be passed on from a mother to her baby at birth causing a lung or eye infection.
The bacteria infect the cervix (neck of the womb), urethra (tube where the urine comes out), rectum (back passage) and sometimes even the eyes or throat.
You can’t catch chlamydia from hugging, kissing, swimming pools, toilets, sharing towels or sharing cups, plates or cutlery.
What symptoms could I have?
Half of men will not have any obvious symptoms. If they do have symptoms, the most common are tingling or pain when passing urine or discharge (liquid) from the end of the penis.
70-80% of women will not have any obvious symptoms. If they do have symptoms, there might be pain passing urine, pain during sex, tummy pain, bleeding between periods or an increase or change in vaginal discharge.
Treatement
How do you test for it?
Chlamydia tests are carried out by taking swabs from the penis, vagina, bum or throat. A urine sample can also be used with men. The sexual health clinic will recommend the best test for you depending on whether you have any symptoms, what they are and the type of sex you have.
Yorkshire MESMAC offers pee in the pot Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea tests in most areas, check your local area for more information.
How do you treat it?
The sexual health clinic will most often give you a one-off dose of antibiotics to treat the chlamydia.
If you are treated for chlamydia, it is really important that your partner also gets treated before you have sex again to prevent reinfection.
