Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection. The bacteria are usually transmitted through sex or contact with infected genital fluids (semen or vaginal fluid).

There is a risk of contracting chlamydia through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex, sharing unwashed sex toys or that have not been covered with a condom each time used, genital contact even without intercourse, or even through infected semen or vaginal fluid entering an eye.

Chlamydia is actually the most common kind of sexually transmitted infection in the UK and it can occur in both men and women. It can cause serious, permanent damage if left untreated. Medical Specialists® however provide a range of antibiotics for chlamydia, which can quickly clear the infection.

Chlamydia symptoms in women

Around 70-80% of women with chlamydia don't notice any symptoms. If women do get symptoms, the most common include:

• Pain (and/or bleeding) during sex or when passing urine.
• Bleeding between periods or during or after sex.
• Lower abdominal (pelvic) pain.
• Heavier periods than usual.

If chlamydia is left untreated in women, it can spread to the womb and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which is a major cause of infertility, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.

Chlamydia symptoms in men

Men may notice the following symptoms:

• A white/cloudy or watery discharge from the penis.
• Pain when passing urine or painful testicles.
• Burning and itching in the genital area.

Some men have mild symptoms that disappear after 2 or 3 days. Even if the symptoms disappear you will still have the infection and be able to pass it on. If chlamydia is left untreated in men they are at risk of complications such as orchitis (swollen testicles), reactive arthritis (inflammation of the joints) and infertility.

If you think you have chlamydia or have been diagnosed with chlamydia, it is vital that you inform all recent sexual contacts as they too should be screened and treated for the infection.

Moreover, if you are displaying rectal symptoms only, you may have Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), a variant of chlamydia that requires a longer course of Doxycycline. In this scenario, please speak to your own doctor or sexual health clinic for assessment, diagnosis and treatment.

Before receiving the appropriate treatment for chlamydia, you firstly need to be tested for it. This is usually done at your local sexual health clinic or GP surgery, or some people may use a STI test kit in the comfort of their own home.

Chlamydia is usually relatively easy to treat once a diagnosis has been made, with a short course of antibiotics.

The recommended first line of treatment for chlamydia is Doxycycline 100mg twice daily for 7 days. For those allergic to Tetracyclines such as Doxycycline, or are pregnant, or are trying to get pregnant, the antibiotic Azithromycin may be more suitable. Patients are simply required to take a single dose of 1000mg (4 x 250mg tablets) on the first day, followed by 500mg (2 x 250mg tablets) for 2 days.

You can buy chlamydia treatment online from Medical Specialists® by simply completing an online consultation with our discrete and confidential service, receiving your medication the very next day.

Patients under the age of 25 should be re-tested for chlamydia 3 months after treatment as per British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) guidelines, due to high rates of re-infection in the UK.

It is also important for sexually active patients to be regularly tested for other sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, syphilis, Hepatitis B & C, etc. Remember, there is a severe risk of serious complications with any STI if left untreated.