About 50 percent of Chlamydia infected males and 75 percent of infected females do not ever show outward signs or symptoms of Chlamydia. However, even if there are no Chlamydia symptoms, that does not mean there is no damage to the body.
Chlamydia Symptoms:
- While it is more common to NOT develop Chlamydia symptoms, if an infected person does develop any signs of the infection it will usually happen in the first five to 10 days after contracting Chlamydia.
- Abdominal pain
- Low-grade fever
- Burning/painful and frequent urination
- Vaginal/anal swelling
- Swollen testicles
- Unusually colored or smelling discharge from the vagina or penis
- Bleeding or spotting in between periods
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Itching and bleeding on or around the anus
- Some of these Chlamydia symptoms, especially in males, may only appear in the morning
Chlamydia Complications:
- If left untreated in women, Chlamydia can cause infection in the uterus or fallopian tubes, which can cause pelvic inflammatory disease. This happens in about 15 percent of cases of infected women. This and other unnoticed Chlamydia symptoms can cause permanent damage, which can lead to infertility and severe teen pregnancy complications including ectopic pregnancy, which is usually fatal to the baby.
- Chlamydia can also be passed from an infected pregnant mother to her baby during birth as the baby passes through the infected birth canal. Infection in the baby can cause the infant to develop serious eye problems and pneumonia.
- While complications from unnoticed or “silent” symptoms from Chlamydia in infected males is much more rare, the infection can still spread to the epididymis. This can cause pain and fever and in some cases sterility.
Chlamydia Treatment:
- Fortunately Chlamydia can be easily treated if caught early through the use of antibiotics, which is done through either a one-time dosage, or sometimes it is taken over a period of time. To find which option is best for you, It is best to work with your doctor or health care professional.
- Before continuing to have teen sex, it is important for the infected person and each of his/her sexual partners to also get treated even if the partner does not show any symptoms. A lack of symptoms does not mean they are not infected. The infected person is still capable of spreading the disease back to the infected person again.
- To help prevent the infection from coming back, it is important to get tested again three or four months later after receiving treatment to ensure the infection is gone.
- Complete the entire antibiotic process. It is important to make sure and take the entire length of medication even if the Chlamydia symptoms seem to improve or go away. Stopping taking the medication too early can often times cause the infection to return.
- It is especially important for infected pregnant women to consult a doctor about treatment options in order to prevent spreading the infection to their unborn baby.
- Abstinence from sex or sexual contact of any kind is the only way to 100 percent deter contracting Chlamydia or any other type of STD or STI.
- Using a latex condom or other protection is the next best way to prevent catching or spreading the infection.
- Frequent testing is another good option all sexually active teens and adults to take part in regularly to make sure they are not infected with Chlamydia or any other type of STI. Especially if you are not showing Chlamydia symptoms, getting tested is the only way to find out for sure if you are infected.
- Because there are different STD tests for different STD’s, make sure you ask your doctor which test is the best for you to take.
Sources: cdc.gov, plannedparenthood.org, www.emedicinehealth.com
