Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria that can affect both men and women equally. Chlamydia infection is the most frequent sexually transmitted disease between people older than 25 years old and/or with multiple sexual partners.
The infection is transmitted during the practice of unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person. Also, it can be transmitted during oral sex as a throat infection. It is habitually asymptomatic but it can produce an excess of vaginal discharge, mictioning itching and pain during sexual intercourse.
If not treated, in 2 out of 3 people, symptoms disappear in approximately 4 weeks. Despite it, chlamydia infections can carry severe consequences over time for women even when symptoms are mild or even not present. That is why its detection and treatment are key, even if symptoms aren't present.
In severe cases, the infection can extend itself to the reproductive system and infect the tubes that connect the ovaries with the uterus, the Fallopian tubes. It is then called salpingitis and produces pain in the lower abdominal region. It is known as peritonitis when the infection reaches the peritoneum that lines the pelvis and the abdominal cavity, causing a very intense pain in the lower abdominal area. In cases in which the infection persists over a period of time, it can cause sterility, high risk of having an ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain.
The diagnosis for chlamydia is usually done through a vaginal culture and/or study of the urine, in which exclusive to the bacteria genetic matter is detected (DNA). Tests for other sexually transmitted diseases should be conducted as it is not uncommon to have various infections at the same time.
Antibiotics are administered orally and that is the recurrent treatment; usually with doxycycline or azithromycin. It is possible to do it in one dose or take it for 7 days. These antibiotics will treat the active infection but will not cure any permanent damage caused by the disease.
If a person is diagnosed with chlamydia, all their sexual partners of the last 6 months should undergo tests to detect its possible infection.
