Chlamydia
Chlamydia is close to becoming a crisis among sexually active teenagers. Could you be at risk?
What is it?
An increasingly common sexually transmitted disease, caused by a bacteria called chlamydia trachomatis. The Family Planning Association (fpa) estimate that 10% of sexually active teenagers in the UK have this infection, which can cause infertility. Genital chlamydia remains the most commonly diagnosed STI in GUM clinics with an increase in diagnoses of 4% (96,204 cases between 2004 and 2005).
How is it caught?
Chlamydia is picked up and passed on through unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex. The bacteria cannot survive outside the body, which makes intimate sexual contact the central risk. As an indication, symptoms can appear between 7-21 days after infection.
According to a screening programme in 2006 by the Health Protection Agency, one in seven young men aged 20-24 and just over one in eight girls aged 16-19 are infected with Chlamydia.
What are the symptoms?
Males:
- A stinging sensation when peeing;
- Discharge from the penis;
- Pain or tenderness in the testicles.
Females:
- Two-thirds will have no symptoms at all;
- Peeing stings;
- Vaginal discharge;
- Pain in the pelvis during sex;
- Bleeding between periods;
- If the infection is caught from anal sex, there can also be pain and discharge from the anus.
Tests and treatment
A swab is taken at the clinic. The infection is easily treated by a course of antibiotics, prescribed by the doctor treating you. The tablets may take a while to work and it is vital that all the tablets are taken. The infection can get into the eyes so hands must be washed thoroughly after touching the genital area.
Complications
If it is left untreated, chlamydia can cause serious damage to your health.
Males:
- Damage to the testicles and possible sterility;
- Infection of the prostate gland;
- Reiter's Syndrome (arthritis and sore eyes).
Females:
- Infection of the womb and fallopian tubes;
- Infertility;
- Inflammation around the liver;
- Reiter's Syndrome.
Babies:
- If a woman has untreated chlamydia, her baby may be born with the infection. It can cause the baby to have eye damage or pneumonia.
If you think you might have a sexually transmitted infection, sort it out straight away. Go to your nearest genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic, available at most large hospitals. GUM clinics give free and confidential advice and treatment. Or you can make an appointment to see your GP.
If you want to avoid going to a clinic and you're aged 16-24, you can now get free Chlamydia screening at Boots stores in the London area. The pilot scheme is part of a Department of Health initiative - all you have to do is ask for it at the chemist counter where healthcare staff can explain to you how the test works.
Reduce your risk of infection. Make sex safer by using condoms every time.
