What is Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a disease you can catch by having unprotected sex with an infected person.
It's the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Australia, particularly among young people between 15 and 25 years of age, and it can have serious effects for both men and women.
The trouble is, most people don't realise they have it, because they don't see or feel anything wrong. So, without knowing it, they continue to pass chlamydia on to their partners.
Unless it's found and treated early, chlamydia can lead to infertility in both men and women.
Pregnant women can pass chlamydia on to their babies, who can then develop infections of the eye, nose, throat, or lungs.
Having chlamydia also makes it easier for you to catch HIV - and, if you already have HIV, it can make you more infectious.
Fortunately, there are simple tests for chlamydia, and there's a simple treatment.
Could I have chlamydia?
You are most at risk of chlamydia if:
- you are under 25
- you’ve changed sex partners in the last 12 months
- you’ve had more than one sex partner in the last 12 months
- you've had sex without a condom
- you or your sex partner has another STI such as genital herpes or genital warts.
Chlamydia can be passed on by vaginal, oral or anal sex.
If you fit into any of these risk categories, visit a doctor as soon as possible and ask for an STI check-up. It's simple.
What happens to women?
Without early treatment, women and girls can get infections in their cervix, uterus (womb) and fallopian tubes. This is called Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.
Female symptoms
Remember, around three quarters of girls and women who have chlamydia don’t notice any signs at all.
Others notice:
- a burning feeling when urinating
- unusual vaginal discharge
- lower abdominal (tummy) pain
- pain during sex
- unusual bleeding, or spotting, between periods.
One or more attacks of pelvic inflammatory disease can damage the fallopian tubes, which become scarred. This damage can prevent fertilisation (infertility). It can also prevent a fertilised egg travelling along the fallopian tube. This causes the egg to grow in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. Called an ectopic pregnancy, this requires emergency surgery and can be fatal.
If you have any of these symptoms, visit a doctor as soon as possible and ask for an STI check-up. It's simple. |
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What happens to men?
If the infection isn’t identified and treated early, men can develop prostatitis (infection and swelling of the prostate gland), epididymo-orchitis (infection in the sperm-conducting tubes and testicles) and infertility.
Male symptoms
Some males with chlamydia will get some signs, but at least half will have none at all.
Signs to watch for:
- whitish or yellow discharge from the penis
- burning or pain when urinating
- irritation or soreness around the urethra (the opening of the penis)
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if you have any of these symptoms, visit a doctor as soon as possible and ask for an STI check-up. It's simple.
Infertility
Infertility is usually defined as not being able to get pregnant despite trying for 12 months. It can take a normal, healthy couple 12 to 18 months to conceive.
The risk of infertility following chlamydia infection depends on:
- how long you have had the infection, and
- whether the infection had spread, before you got treatment, into your uterus or fallopian (egg-conducting) tubes, if you are female, or into your epididymis (sperm-conducting tubes), if you are male.
It is possible for a female to have a test to see if her uterus and fallopian tubes have been scarred as a result of pelvic inflammatory disease from chlamydia infection. The test involves injecting a dye into the cervix and looking to see if it comes out of the fallopian tubes. However, this test is not normally recommended unless you have been unable to get pregnant after trying for over 12 months.
If you are concerned about your ability to have children following a chlamydia infection, you should see your GP or a doctor of your choice. If you don't have a GP, go to ‘All about testing’ page for a list of clinics where the doctors are familiar with sexual health and fertility issues.
Other STIs
More information about other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and blood-borne viruses. |
