Our sexual health is vital to our overall health, so we must all be informed about the various types of STIs and their symptoms. This way, we can seek treatment if necessary and prevent the spread of infection. This blog article will discuss chlamydia, one of the most common STIs. What are its symptoms? How is it transmitted? What does chlamydia feel like? We will answer these questions and more.
Everyone experiences chlamydia differently, so some of these symptoms may not apply to everyone. However, if you are experiencing these symptoms, please see a doctor immediately.
What Does Chlamydia Feel Like?
According to the CDC, chlamydial infections are one of the most common STDs in America, with 1.6 million people being infected in 2020.
The CDC also reports that STDs are most prevalent in young adults aged 15 to 24. This may be because people in this age bracket are more likely to have unprotected sex.
Chlamydia is a commonly reported sexually transmitted disease that can infect men and women. The bacteria that causes this disease, chlamydia trachomatis, usually spreads through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
Symptoms of chlamydia include:
- Pain during urination
- Discharge from the penis or vagina
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Sore throat
- Sores
- Fever
However, many people with the infection do not experience any symptoms. In addition, untreated chlamydia can trigger pelvic inflammatory disease in women and infertility in both sexes.
It can also be spread from an infected mother to her newborn baby during childbirth.
The best way to prevent chlamydia and other STIs is to practice safe sex by using condoms every time during sex. If you suspect you might have chlamydia, it is vital to see a doctor or other healthcare specialist for testing and treatment.
You can easily treat chlamydia with antibiotics. In addition, early diagnosis and treatment of chlamydia can help prevent serious health problems down the road.
Does Chlamydia Feel Like a UTI?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) can afflict any part of the urinary system, from the kidneys to the urethra.
Chlamydia and UTIs share some common symptoms, but there are also some critical differences between the two conditions.
Both chlamydia and UTIs can cause a burning sensation when urinating, as well as an urgent need to urinate more frequently.
However, chlamydia is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as pain during sex and unusual discharge from the vagina or penis. UTIs, on the other hand, typically only cause urinary symptoms.
Many people believe that UTIs can be passed through sexual intercourse. But this is not the case. UTIs are caused by bacterial organisms that enter the urinary tract, and these bacteria are not typically passed through sexual contact.
Sexual activity can sometimes irritate the urethra and escalate the risk of UTI development, but it is not a direct cause of infection.
Does Chlamydia Feel Like a Yeast Infection?
Chlamydia and yeast infections can often have similar symptoms, making diagnosing one without a test difficult. Both conditions can cause vaginal discharge and burning or itching around the vulva.
It isn’t easy to diagnose chlamydia versus a yeast infection based on symptoms alone. This is because the symptoms of chlamydia and yeast infections can overlap, making it challenging to determine which condition is present.
In addition, other conditions, such as bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis, can cause similar symptoms. For this reason, it is essential to see a healthcare specialist for a confirmatory diagnosis.
They will typically order a urine test or swab for laboratory testing. In some cases, multiple tests may be necessary to diagnose the underlying condition accurately.
What Does Chlamydia Feel Like for Females?
The CDC states that up to 95 percent of females who contract chlamydia will experience no symptoms. This lack of symptoms makes it difficult to diagnose the infection and even harder to prevent its spread.
As a result, chlamydia infection is often called a “silent” epidemic. However, if not treated, chlamydia can cause serious health problems, including pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.
Therefore, sexually active women need to get tested for chlamydia regularly. With early detection and treatment, you can bring the silent epidemic of chlamydia under control.
Signs of Chlamydia in Women
Women are significantly vulnerable to the effects of chlamydia, as the infection can damage the reproductive organs. Common symptoms of chlamydia in women include abnormal foul-smelling vaginal discharge, pelvic pain, and a burning sensation during urination.
In some cases, chlamydia may also cause fever and nausea. Bleeding between periods and abdominal pain are less common, but some women also report these symptoms.
What Does Chlamydia Feel Like for Males?
In men, chlamydia often affects the urethra. It can be uncomfortable and painful, sometimes making urination difficult. Men might also notice other symptoms that don’t seem related to the urinary system.
Signs of Chlamydia in Men
Men who have chlamydia might not have any symptoms. Or they could have:
- Discharge from their penis
- Burning and itching around the opening of the penis
- Pain and swelling in the testicles (although this is more common with gonorrhea)
- Burning after urinating
- Lower abdominal pain
- Anal pain and swelling
A test and consultation with your healthcare specialist are the only way to know if you have chlamydia.
What Does Chlamydia Do to Your Body?
Since chlamydia is a bacterial infection, you can treat it with antibiotics. However, if you don’t get treated, chlamydia can cause severe damage to your reproductive system.
In men, untreated chlamydia can cause complications such as:
Epididymitis: Epididymitis is a condition that affects the epididymis, a small, coiled tube located behind the testicle. The epididymis takes sperm from the testicle to the vas deferens, where it is ejaculated. It occurs when this tube becomes inflamed, usually due to an infection. The condition can be excruciating and cause swelling and redness in the affected area.
Prostate gland infection: Prostatitis occurs when the prostate becomes inflamed, usually due to an infection. The most common prostatitis symptom is pain or a burning sensation during urination. Other symptoms include painful ejaculation, blood in the urine, and difficulty urinating.
Meanwhile, women who have chlamydia are at risk of:
Infertility: The infection can damage the fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries, making it challenging for a woman to become pregnant. Chlamydia can also cause ectopic pregnancies when the fertilized egg lodges outside the uterus.
PID: PID is a serious complication of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and can lead to long-term health problems, including infertility.
Reactive arthritis: This is a type of joint inflammation that can occur as a result of an infection. It most commonly affects the knees, ankles, and feet joints.
It is imperative to get treated for chlamydia immediately to prevent any long-term damage. If you think you may have chlamydia, make an appointment with your healthcare provider.
Chlamydia in the Rectum, Throat, or Eyes
STDs like chlamydia usually manifest through symptoms in the genitalia. However, chlamydia affects other areas of the body too, including the rectum, throat, and eyes.
Anal chlamydial symptoms might include:
- Discharge from the anus
- Rectal pain or bleeding
- Anal itching
- Ocular chlamydia, or chlamydia in the eyes, might cause:
- Eye pain
- Sensitivity to light
- Red, swollen, or watery eyes
- Swollen eyelids
- Discharge
- Swollen lymph nodes
Throat chlamydia symptoms are uncommon, but those who do experience them might have:
- Sore or raw throat
- Difficulty swallowing
- Mouth sores
While the bacteria generally infects the genitals, it can also spread to other body parts, such as the anus and rectum, through sexual activity or contact with contaminated sex toys.
Anal sex is hazardous because it can easily cause tiny tears in the tissue lining the anus and rectum, allowing the bacteria to enter the bloodstream.
When To See a Doctor
If you’re experiencing chlamydia symptoms — whether in your genitals, rectum, throat, or eyes — it’s essential to see a doctor.
Your doctor can test for chlamydia with a simple swab of your vagina or penis, and if the test comes back positive, they can prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection.
A urine test can also diagnose chlamydia, and many individuals choose this option because it is less invasive than a swab.
In most cases, you can cure chlamydia with a single course of antibiotics. Don’t delay — if you think you may have chlamydia, make an appointment with your doctor today. It’s best to nip any STD in the bud as soon as possible to avoid further complications.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The symptoms of chlamydia can vary depending on the individual, but they often include the following:
- Burning during urination
- Abnormal discharge from the vagina or penis
- Pain in the lower abdomen
If chlamydia is not treated, it can lead to severe health problems such as infertility, PID, and ectopic pregnancies. Therefore, you must see a medical specialist for testing and treatment if you suspect you may have a chlamydial infection.
Chlamydia infections are sexually transmitted diseases that can cause various symptoms in both men and women.
In men, the most common symptom of chlamydia is a burning sensation when urinating. Other common symptoms include:
- Pain or swelling in the testicles
- Discharge from the penis
- Painful sex
However, it is essential to note that chlamydia often does not cause any symptoms, particularly in men. As a result, getting tested for STIs regularly is important, especially if you are sexually active. If chlamydia is not treated, it can lead to severe health problems, including infertility.
Both men and women can get chlamydia. However, it is mainly reported in young people aged 15 to 24. It is usually spread through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
Chlamydia is an STI that can cause health problems such as PID and infertility if left untreated.
Symptoms of chlamydia may include pain or burning during urination, unusual discharge from the penis or vagina, and pain in the lower abdomen. However, many people who are infected with it do not experience any symptoms.
Chlamydia can be remedied with antibiotics. Make sure to complete the entire course of prescribed medication, even if you feel better, before it is completed. Also, abstain from sexual contact until the infection has passed to prevent being infected again — or infecting anyone else.
Having an STD can be a frightening experience, and since many STDs have no symptoms, you may not even know you have one until it’s too late.
Even if you have symptoms, they may be so mild that you don’t notice them. However, some STDs can cause severe, excruciating, and uncomfortable symptoms.
For example, someone with an STD might experience pain or burning during urination, unusual discharge from the vagina or penis, itching or burning in the genital area, or flu-like symptoms such as fever and body aches.
If you think you have contracted an STD, you must see a doctor as soon as possible to get tested and treated. There is no shame in having an STD. The sooner you get help, the better.
The symptoms of chlamydia usually stay the same throughout the infection. So while most people won’t experience any symptoms, those who do usually have the same symptoms from start to finish.
You might only see a change in your chlamydial symptoms if the infection spreads to other body parts, such as your eyes or throat. However, this is rare and more likely to happen if you don’t get treated for chlamydia immediately.
Azithromycin and doxycycline are the most commonly recommended antibiotics used to cure chlamydia. If you have oral chlamydia, your doctor will likely prescribe one of these medications for you to take by mouth.
They will also ask you to abstain from sexual contact for at least a week after taking the medication to avoid passing the infection on to others. Sometimes, your doctor may also recommend taking a second course of antibiotics.
Although chlamydia is not deadly, it is a significant infection that, if left untreated, can lead to infertility in male and female patients.
The permanent damage that chlamydia can cause makes prompt treatment essential. With antibiotics, you can cure chlamydia in most people.
This does not mean that the effects of chlamydia are always reversible. For example, if the infection has caused inflammation of the tubes that transport sperm from the testicles, this damage may be permanent and lead to infertility.
It’s best to act as soon as you suspect you may have chlamydia. The earlier it is treated, the less chance there is of permanent damage.
After taking antibiotics, the symptoms should go away within a week.
If your symptoms don’t go away or if they come back, it could mean that the antibiotics did not work and you still have the infection. In this case, you will need to take another course of antibiotics.
It is also possible to be re-infected with chlamydia if you have unprotected sex with a sexual partner who has the infection. In addition, it is common for people to get re-infected if their sexual partner has not been treated.
For this reason, it is crucial to ensure that you and your sexual partner(s) go for chlamydia tests and are treated for chlamydia simultaneously. You should also avoid having sex for seven days after treatment to ensure the infection has cleared up.
If you have chlamydia and are being treated with antibiotics, your symptoms should go away within a week. However, finish all your drugs before you complete them, even if you feel better.
Yes. A hysterectomy is a surgical process of removing the uterus and does not protect against STDs. If you have sex without protective contraception, you can still get chlamydia.
