Chlamydia 

What is it & How do you get it?

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that spreads through sexual fluids; therefore, you can get it from sexual contact. It rarely shows symptoms, and if the infected person is unaware, it can cause major health complications as it progresses. It’s fairly common, with about 200,000 people per year contracting it.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms?

Chlamydia is usually asymptomatic, so it’s important to get tested for it after unprotected sex because if left untreated, it can develop into something far more serious. For those born with a penis, untreated chlamydia can cause pain and swelling in 1 or both of the testicles, and for those born with a vagina, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can be painful and result in infertility. Individuals with neovaginas are also at risk of contracting chlamydia; the only notable difference is that they can’t get PID. Though no official research has seemingly been conducted for those with neopenises, they more than likely can also get and spread the infection. 

When/if chlamydia does show symptoms, they can take up to 2-6 weeks after contact to rare their heads. Signs that you may have chlamydia are; unusual discharge coming from the genitals, burning while peeing, pain during sex, bleeding between periods, and abnormal pain near the stomach or pelvis. 

How to Protect Yourself from Chlamydia 

Prevention

Chlamydia spreads through sexual fluids such as cum and vaginal liquids, meaning the best way to protect yourself from chlamydia is to use a condom during sex to avoid coming in contact with fluids. It’s also a good idea to get you and your partner/s tested regularly to make sure everyone is STD/STI negative.

Treatment

Chlamydia is curable; more than 95% of those treated for it are cured. The treatment involves taking the antibiotic doxycycline for 7 days along with azithromycin for 2 days. It’s important to follow the directions given by the doctor to ensure its effectiveness. Remember to also tell your sexual partner/s to get treated for it as well!