Everything You Need To Know About Chlamydia

In an ideal world, sex would be all mind-blowing orgasms, babies (when you want ‘em), and animal noises. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 20 million new sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) occur each year in the U.S., with chlamydia being is the most common, affecting close to 3 million Americans annually.

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that is caused by a type of bacteria called chlamydia trachomatis, says Sarp Aksel, M.D. resident physician at Montefiore Health System.

It is most common in people under 25, and women make up more than 70 percent of reported cases, according to the CDC. The infection is carried in semen (including pre-cum) and vaginal fluids, and it is usually spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex with someone who has the infection, explains Jessica Shepherd, M.D., an assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology and director of minimally invasive gynecology at The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago.

It can also be spread from toy sharing, genital-to-hand-to-genital contact, and even genital-to-hand-to-eyes contact. Chlamydia can infect the cervix, anus, urethra, and though rare, it can also infect the throat or eyes, she adds.

But you can’t get chlamydia through casual contact, says Aksel that means that you can’t get it from sharing food or drinks, kissing, hugging, holding hands, coughing, sneezing, or sitting on the toilet. 

Symptoms Of Chlamydia

Here’s the thing, chlamydia is a bit like resting bitch face. Most people with it don’t know that have it.  Chlamydia is known as a “silent” infection, because less than 30 percent of women will experience symptoms, and only about 50 percent of men will experience symptoms, says Pari Ghodsi, M.D.

“Even if you do develop symptoms, it could take a couple of weeks after coming into contact with the infection for them to occur,” says Maureen Whelihan, M.D., an ob/gyn at the Elite GYN Care of the Palm Beaches. And the symptoms could be very dull for weeks or even months before you really notice them, she adds. 

The symptoms of chlamydia can include:

Abnormal vaginal discharge

While a lot of things can change how your discharge smells and looks, a stronger scented, yellow or green discharge may be an infection like chlamydia, says Aksel. (But any change in discharge color or amount could be a symptom of a number of other infections, too, so it’s best to speak with your doc if something is up, adds Shepard.)

Painful or frequent urination

 

If the infection is in the urethra, it can cause slight discomfort, burning, or pain while peeing. Or you may feel like you need to go to the bathroom all the time, says Aksel. Unfortunately, these symptoms are classic for UTI’s, too, so next time before you reach for the cranberry juice, consider whether or not it’s possible you have chlamydia instead.

Rectal pain

 

If something is up back there, like pain, yellow or gray discharge, or bleeding, it’s best to get checked out ASAP, because it could be a sign that you have chlamydia in the rectum, Aksel says.
Even if you haven’t had anal intercourse, it’s possible to get chlamydia of the rectum if an infected person’s fluid were accidentally spread there during foreplay, says Whelihan. And if you have had anal sex, remember that it’s important to wear a condom even through you can’t get pregnant because the transmission of chlamydia and other STI’s is still possible. (Here's how many women are actually having anal sex.)

Pelvic or lower abdominal pain.  
 

If caught early enough, these symptoms are highly unlikely, but if the infection has been left untreated, chlamydia can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes to cause something called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can lead to the scarring of fallopian tubes and even infertility, says Aksel.
Even though you may not have heard of PID, nearly 1 million American women get it every year, according to the National Institutes of Health. And the CDC reports that one in eight women who have experienced PID will have a hard time getting pregnant. In fact, untreated, undiagnosed STIs cause up to 24,000 women to become infertile each year, according to the CDC.
PID may cause pelvic or lower abdominal pain, he explains. “This might reveal itself as the type of pain you’re used to experiencing during your period, so don’t wave away these symptoms if they’re occurring out-of-sync with your cycle,” says Whelihan.

Spotting between periods

 

Things like a new birth control method may cause spotting, but spotting between periods may be a sign of infection, especially in women who are not currently sexually active, says Whelihan.

Pain or bleeding during or after sex

There are a few reasons that chlamydia may cause pain or bleeding during or after sex. For one, it can cause cervicitis, an inflammation of the cervix that may make it extra sensitive during penetrative intercourse, or cause bleeding after, says Whelihan. And if the infection has led to PID, sex may be less enjoyable. 

 

How Is Chlamydia Diagnosed?