Chlamydia Signs and Symptoms (Men & Women)
Infections with Chlamydia trachomatis often have few or no symptoms in the early stages. When symptoms do occur, most of them are often mild, making them difficult to detect. Chlamydia trachomatis infections can cause the following signs and symptoms: (3)
Painful urination
People aged 15-24 are most likely to contract Chlamydia, one of the most common sexually transmittable infections (STIs). There is an inflammation of the affected organs, which may be disabling in some cases. Males and females both experience painful urination as an early sign of the disease. PaiStudies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that approximately 3 million people experience painful urination due to an infection in the urethra and surrounding area. Chlamydia is most likely to occur in those who have sex with men. According to research, 26% of men with sex with men have chlamydia.
Vaginal discharge in women
An unpleasant odor and an itching and burning sensation are often associated with vaginal discharge due to chlamydial infection. However, it’s nothing to worry about since it’s completely normal. Chlamydia should be ruled out when it occurs frequently and abnormal symptoms like redness or inflammation of the genitalia appear.
This sexually transmitted disease is fairly widespread and commonly known as an STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease). It is estimated that over two million women were infected in the U.S. alone, and at least 50% of them have experienced foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
There are many women who experience vaginal discharge in the course of their lives, and most of them don’t have chlamydia! So, if you’re experiencing vaginal discharge, you should visit a doctor for testing.
Discharge from the penis in men
When you noticed a change in discharge from your penis, you may have become worried that it is chlamydia. Men sometimes experience genital discharge, but for many of them, it is an indication of an STD. Men who have symptoms of an STD are more likely to test positive for Herpes, Chlamydia, or Gonorrhea when tested.
Chlamydia may cause an unpleasant discharge from your penis that smells bad and has a foul smell. Chlamydia’s discharge is thin, yellow, and watery. If you pee, you will probably feel a burning sensation. Occasionally, the cause of this discharge is not chlamydia. It should not be ruled out automatically however, due to the frequent cases of chlamydia among men and women today, especially if the other symptoms are present.
Painful sexual intercourse in women
Seeing your doctor if you experience pain during sex is the best thing to do. It could be due to chlamydia, the most common STD among young females. Chlamydia is so common that one in four women will contract it at least once. Infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease can result from this condition if left untreated. Treat it immediately so it won’t ruin the most special time of your life.
Despite looking like an infection around the opening of the vagina, Chlamydia can cause intense pain during intercourse. It is possible to experience pain or bleeding during intercourse even if there is no infection or discharge. Teenagers and young adults contract chlamydia more than any other group and aren’t adequately educated on how to prevent it or what the warning signs are.
Bleeding between periods
In women, bleeding between their periods and after sex is a common medical condition that may also indicate an underlying chlamydial infection. There are several signs of a sexually transmitted disease, including bleeding between periods, spotting, or bleeding after sex. Women of reproductive-age are more likely to experience menorrhagia (heavy bleeding) due to chlamydial infection – defined as periods lasting more than seven days and causing significant blood loss. The condition can be treated easily, but if left untreated, scarring and reproductive problems can result.
Testicular pain in men
Orchitis, or pain in the testicles, is not uncommon in men. This condition occurs when the testicles become inflamed. Men who are healthy and adults are likely to experience it at some point in their lives. Infections, such as sexually transmitted diseases or epididymitis, can sometimes cause the pain.
You should seek medical consultation if you suffer from testicular pain. Your GP will need to conduct proper tests and investigations to determine what is causing this pain.
Pain in the tummy or pelvis
Do you experience pain in the tummy or pelvis region that is not related to anything obvious? That may be one of the signs that you have Chlamydia. In the UK, approximately 1 in 20 people under the age of 25 are affected by chlamydia.
There are many bacterial STIs, including Chlamydia. Many people who have this infection don’t experience any symptoms. It’s often called a ‘silent’ infection. Chlamydia often goes unnoticed by women and they pass it onto their partners. Chlamydia also causes inflammation of the fallopian tubes to produce symptoms such as lower stomach pain, or difficulty urinating (dysuria). Up to 25 percent of women with chlamydia also experience symptoms associated with these inflammations. In addition to low-grade fevers, abnormal vaginal discharges, and frequent urination, they may also experience pain.
Burning or itching
It is unpleasant to have burning or itching in the urethra. You could be suffering from something as simple as a common rash, a yeast infection, or something more serious like chlamydia. Itchy or burning in the urethra can be a symptom of chlamydia. An inflammation of the urethra, a tube that carries urine and sperm out of your body, is called urethritis.
Occasionally, Chlamydia trachomatis infects the rectum with no signs or symptoms or with rectal pain, discharge or bleeding. Chlamydial infections (conjunctivitis) can also be acquired through contact with infected body fluids.
Chlamydia of the throat
There are three ways to spread Chlamydia: vaginally, anally, and orally. It is called oral chlamydia when it occurs in the mouth or throat. (4)
Symptoms like painful urination and vaginal discharge lead many people to suspect they have chlamydia. The symptoms are often misattributed to other conditions by those who get it through oral sex. Usually, people with oral chlamydia do not experience any symptoms. There is typically no major symptom of oral chlamydia except a sore throat, which can be confused with allergies, colds, strep throat, and acid reflux. A typical case of oral chlamydia can have one or more of the following symptoms.
- Sore throat
- Sores around the lips
- Redness in the mouth or oral
- Swollen tonsils and lymph nodes
- Mild fever
- Fatigue
- Mouth pain
- Mouth sores
- Bumps on the tongue
- White spots on the tonsils or in the back of the throat
Several weeks after sexual contact can pass before the symptoms of Chlamydia develop, which is another reason why many don’t make the connection between their symptoms and this infection.
Secondary oral infections can sometimes result from oral chlamydia. Since the body is so busy fighting chlamydia, it cannot fight the other infections that cause gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis. Complications of these diseases include dental pain, bleeding gums, and tooth loss. Perhaps the greatest concern is the possibility of passing oral chlamydia on to others. Depending on the affected organ or part of the body, chlamydia may lead to complications such as:
- It can cause conjunctivitis (pink eye) if it spreads to eye
- Inflammation of the spermatic cord (epididymitis) can occur if it spreads to testis
- Its spread to the female reproductive organs can cause complications like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Implantation of an egg outside of the womb (ectopic pregnancy) is another important and fatal complication of chlamydia
- Joint pain and swelling triggered (reactive arthritis) can occur in both males and females
- Male or female infertility is another common complication
Having chlamydia also increases the risk of contracting HIV. The reason for this is that chlamydia triggers an inflammatory response that causes CD4 T-cells, which are white blood cells, to accumulate at the infection site. HIV targets these cells for infection. This leads to chlamydia “helping” HIV establish an infection.
Oral chlamydia can be contracted by performing oral sex with an infected individual. This category includes oral sex with the penis, oral sex with the vagina, and oral sex with the anus.
A person with chlamydia can also transmit the infection to someone without chlamydia through their throat. Chlamydia is unlikely to be transmitted from the throat to the vagina or rectum, according to research.
There is no evidence that chlamydia can be spread through kissing.
There are several risk factors that can increase a person’s risk of getting chlamydia, most notably:
- Being in a relationship with more than one person
- Not using condoms regularly
- Sexual activity before the age of 25
- Being infected with STDs
Genital chlamydia is far more common than oral chlamydia. About 10% of people in STD clinics have genital chlamydia, but only about 1.5% have oral chlamydia.
Chlamydia of the eye
As the infectious bacteria is usually passed from one person to another in unprotected sex, chlamydial infections are commonly associated with the genitals. When Chlamydia trachomatis comes in contact with the eyes, it can cause a condition called chlamydial conjunctivitis. Most commonly, it affects sexually active young adults. Women are more likely to be affected than men. Usually, the disease is transmitted through contact with infected genital secretions. An incubation period of one to two weeks is required. (5)
A person can contract Chlamydia trachomatis directly or indirectly. Initial symptoms of infection may resemble those of trachoma. However, it is associated with strains of Chlamydia trachomatis that can result in genital infections. There are a number of symptoms of a chlamydial eye infection, including:
- Redness in eyes
- Excessive tearing or watering of the eyes
- Swollen eyelids
- Irritation in the eyes
- Mucous discharge
- Swollen lymph nodes around eyes
There is a wide range of acuity and severity of symptoms among patients. Most commonly, patients present with mild symptoms for weeks to months rather than acute, mucopurulent conjunctivitis. CIn most cases, chlamydial conjunctivitis is unilateral, but it can also affect both eyes. Patients complain of pink/red eyes, crusting of the lashes, stuck lids, foreign body sensations, mucous discharge, swollen lids, tearing, decreased vision, and photophobia (fear of light). Specifically, women may reveal genitourinary symptoms when questioned closely. The sexual partners of these patients may also exhibit similar syThese patients may have previously been treated with topical antibiotics without symptomatic relief because the presenting symptoms of chlamydial conjunctivitis mimic those of viral and other bacterial (e.g. staphylococci) conjunctivitis.
Chlamydial conjunctivitis can also present with similar clinical findings to other forms of infectious conjunctivitis. Patients may have palpable lymphadenopathy, particularly in the preauricular nodes. When the anterior segment is examined, mucous discharge, conjunctival hyperemia, and chemosis are often seen. A follicular reaction is a prominent feature of chlamydial conjunctivitis, and it primarily affects the bulbar conjunctiva and semiluThere may be both fine and coarse epithelial and subepithelial infiltrates in the cornea. The superior cornea can occasionally develop micropannus. Due to prompt treatment, conjunctival scarring is rare in developed countries.
Signs, symptoms, and clinical suspicion are used to make a diagnosis. An organism must be cultured for confirmation. For about 50 years, the only method to detect chlamydia was Giemsa staining. Typical findings include basophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions. Chlamydial infections have recently been detected by culture, direct immunofluorescent staining (DFA), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Chlamydial eye infections can occur in newborns due to the bacteria entering the child’s system during delivery through the vaginal canal. 30 to 50 percent of infants whose mothers have chlamydial infections will develop neonatal conjunctivitis. It is best to be treated for chlamydia before giving birth in order to prevent passing the infection to your newborn.