Chlamydia: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
The complications that can result from untree to chlamydia can affect everything from your fertility to chronic tummy pain. And in this topic we're going to explore the complications that can affect men, women and even your unborn baby.
So let's start off the topic by covering complications of untreated chlamydia for women and people who are assigned female at birth.
What is PID?
PID stands for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. also known as PID for short.
PID is a serious condition that can occur when an untreated sti such as chlamydia damages your reproductive organs and it can lead to infertility and long term pelvic pain. It can also block the tubes and may lead to an ectopic pregnancy. This is where a fertilized egg implants outside of the womb, which can be life threatening for both the fetus and potentially deadly for the mother too.
What is the difference between chlamydia and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)?
Chlamydia and PID are not the same thing. Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. PID, or pelvic inflammatory disease, is a more serious infection of the female reproductive organs. PID can be caused by chlamydia, but it can also be caused by other STIs, such as gonorrhea, or by bacteria that are not sexually transmitted.symptoms of PID.
The symptoms of PID include things such as pelvic pain or pain around the pelvis and lower tummy discomfort or pain during sex that's felt deep inside the pelvis. That's known as dispain when peeing known as dysuria.
Diagnosis, effect and Treatment
Bleeding between periods and after sex, heavy periods, painful periods or unusual vaginal discharge that isn't normal for you. Now this could be yellow, green, smelly, or even blood stained. Now there's no simple test to diagnose pid and doctors will often need to take a history and do an examination and take swabs.But if it's detected early, then treatment with antibiotics can be very effective. Chlamydia can also cause complications if you're pregnant, including preterm delivery.
Also, if you are pregnant and you do have chlamydia, you can pass the infection on to your newborn. Babies that are born with chlamydia might have an increased risk of pneumonia or an infection of their eye called conjunctivitis, which could lead to blindness if it's not treated. If you are pregnant, you should receive testing for chlamydia at your first prenatal appointment.
Now the third important complication to be aware of is infertility. An untreated infection can cause permanent scarring and damage to your fallopian tubes, uterus, or vagina, making it hard to become pregnant. Another rarer complication of untreated chlamydia is something called Fitz Hur syndrome.
Now this is a type of peri hepatitis that causes liver infection and inflammation, and it can result in longstanding right upper tummy pain amongst other things.
Now, during the chronic phase adhesions form between the anterior liver capsule and the anterior abdominal wall or the diaphragm, and they're classically described as violin string adhesions.
Men Chlamydia
complications of chlamydia for men and people who assign male at birth are rarer, but the two main ones to be aware of are epididymitis and reduced fertility.
Chlamydia symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
So first of all, let's talk about mitis. Now this is where a tube which is known as the epididymus at the back of the testicles become swollen and painful symptoms can include sudden or gradual pain in one or both of your testicles. The bag of skin containing your testicles, which is called the scrotum, could feel tender, warm, and swollen, and you could have a buildup of fluid around your testicle. This is known as a hydro reseal and it feels like lump or a swelling. Now, you may have other symptoms depending on the cause, such as difficulty peeing or a white, yellow, or green discharge from the tip of the penis. But epididymitis can usually be treated using antibiotics if it's picked up early.
Finally, like women, men who've got untreated chlamydia can have reduced fertility. Chlamydia can harm the sperm negatively impacting on the ability to conceive.
Untreated chlamydia can also spread to the bloodstream, which increases the risk of getting reactive arthritis, which causes your joints to swell and feel painful.
remember, chlamydia can be treated early with antibiotics if it's detected here in the uk. If you've got any symptoms of chlamydia, you should visit your local sexual health clinic as soon as possible. And to help you find one of these, the NHS have got an easy to section on their website. If you live in the usa, then please do check out the CDC backed get tested website, which helps you find free, fast and confidential testing near you. Now, if you live in places other than the UK and the us, I would strongly encourage you to see your nearest health provider at the earliest opportunity. If you suspect you may have chlamydia or symptoms of chlamydia.
All information by: Doctor O'Donovan
7 Warning Signs And Symptoms Of Breast Cancer
DIABETIC FOOT COMPLICATIONS - PLUS 12 TIPS FOR PREVENTION
Intermittent Fasting: A Guide to Weight Loss and Health Benefits
Smegma: definition, Prevention & How To Get Rid Of It.
