What is chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a disease you can catch by having unprotected sex with an infected person.
It is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Australia, particularly among young people between 16 and 29 years of age. It can have serious effects for both men and women.
Most people do not realise they have chlamydia because they don't see or feel anything wrong. Without knowing, they continue to pass chlamydia on to their sex partners.
Unless it is found and treated early, chlamydia can lead to infertility in both men and women. Pregnant women can pass chlamydia on to their babies, who can then develop infections of the eye, nose, throat, or lungs.
Having chlamydia also makes it easier for you to catch HIV and, if you already have HIV, it can make you more infectious.
Fortunately, testing for chlamydia is easy and there is a simple treatment.
Could I have chlamydia?
You are most at risk of chlamydia if you:
- are under 29 years
- have changed sex partners in the last 12 months
- have had more than one sex partner in the last 12 months
- have had sex without a condom
- or your sex partner has another STI such as genital herpes or genital warts.
Chlamydia can be passed on by vaginal, oral and/or anal sex.
If you fit into any of these risk categories, visit a doctor as soon as possible and ask for an STI check-up. It's simple.
What happens to women?
Without early treatment, women and girls can get infections in their cervix, uterus (womb) and fallopian tubes. This is called pelvic inflammatory disease.
Pelvic inflammatory diseasecan cause infertility as it damages the fallopian tubes, preventing fertilisation of the egg. It can also stop a fertilised egg from travelling along the fallopian tube, causing the egg to grow in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. This is called an ectopic pregnancy and can be fatal if not treated early with emergency surgery.
Female symptoms
Around three quarters of women who have chlamydia do not have any symptoms. Others notice:
- a burning feeling when urinating
- unusual vaginal discharge
- lower abdominal (stomach) pain
- pain during sex
- unusual bleeding, or spotting, between periods.
If you have any of these symptoms, visit a doctor as soon as possible and ask for an STI check-up.
A pictorial illustration of the human female reproductive system
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What happens to men?
If the infection is not found and treated early, men can develop prostatitis (infection and swelling of the prostate gland), epididymo-orchitis (infection in the sperm-conducting tubes and testicles) and infertility.
Male symptoms
At least half of all men with chlamydia will have no symptoms. Others notice:
- whitish or yellow discharge from the penis
- burning or pain when urinating
- irritation or soreness around the urethra (the opening of the penis)
If you have any of these symptoms, visit a doctor as soon as possible and ask for an STI check-up.
A pictorial illustration of the human male reproductive system |
Infertility
Infertility is usually defined as not being able to get pregnant despite trying for 12 months. However, it can take a normal, healthy couple 12 to 18 months to conceive.
The risk of infertility following chlamydia infection depends on:
- how long the person has been infected
- whether the infection had already damaged the reproductive organs before it was diagnosed and treated.
It is possible for a female to have a test to see if her uterus and fallopian tubes have been scarred from chlamydia infection. However, this test is not normally recommended unless you have been unable to get pregnant after trying for over 12 months.
If you are concerned about your ability to have children following a chlamydia infection, contact your GP for further information and testing. If you do not have a GP, click here for a list of clinics where staff are familiar with sexual health and fertility issues.
Other STIs
Visit the WA Public Health website for more information about STIs and blood-borne viruses.
www.public.health.wa.gov.au |
