You may or may not know this but Chlamydia is the one of the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD). Chlamydia can infect both men and women, so no gender is more susceptible to another. However, it can cause serious reproductive issues in women, which may make for a difficult or unlikely pregnancy.
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection and it is easily treated with antibiotics which is a good thing. I would hate for something that is as common as this to not be easily treatable. One of the most dangerous characteristics about this disease is that in most cases it is asymptomatic, which means you show know symptoms. So this means you can feel perfectly fine without feeling you are infected. I don’t know about you, but I think that is one of the most scariest things. From 2007-2018, chlamydia has increased nearly 150% with the most cases with the greatest increase in ages 19-22 (90%).
Chlamydia is spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who is infected with the STD. The infection is carried in vaginal fluids and semen and can infect the penis, vagina, cervix, anus, urethra, eyes, and throat. Chlamydia can also be spread to a baby during childbirth if the mother is infected. Chlamydia cannot be spread through things like touching, coughing, sneezing, sharing food or drinks or sitting on the toilet. Even though it cannot be transmitted by sitting on a toilet, I’m still not sitting on ANY public restroom toilet or ANY toilet that is not my own.
Some symptoms of chlamydia include abnormal discharge, burning while urinating, swollen or tender testicles, and pain during sex. If chlamydia infects your eyes, which happens rarely, it can cause a red, itchy, burning sensation. This STD has a long incubation period so it may take up to several weeks for signs and symptoms to appear.
Getting tested for this STD is essential, because it is can be commonly mistaken for other disease. Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics so it is important to seek treatment ASAP because it can cause serious health problems such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy and an increased risk in contracting HIV. When getting treated it is important for you and your sexual partner(s) to get treatment as well because you don’t want to just keep passing the bacteria around and keep contracting it. Like all medication, make sure to finish out the prescription to ensure all the bacteria has been removed. Also, do not have sex for at least a week. I know it may be tempting but it is in your best interest not too. I’d rather be safe than sorry. Lastly, make sure you get test within the next 3-4 months after treatment to be on the safe.
I hope this information is useful and I hope y’all practice safe sex to make sure you don’t get this infection!
Kalayah's Krazy Microbes 