Video Transcription

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a very common sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide. In fact, chlamydia is the most common STI in Australia. It is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis and is passed from one person to another during sex, including oral, anal, and vaginal sex. Chlamydia can affect all people regardless of their sexuality, but it is most common in young people.

The majority of women with chlamydia have no symptoms at all, and most men with chlamydia also experience no symptoms. Unfortunately, this makes it easy for an infected person to pass on chlamydia to their sexual partner without even knowing it.

While many women with chlamydia don’t have symptoms, those who do may experience:

• Vaginal discharge that is different from normal
• Pain or burning when urinating
• Urinating more often than usual
• Pain during sex
• Bleeding after sex
• Pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic area
• Rectal pain, itching, discharge, or bleeding after anal sex
• A sore throat after oral sex

Most men don’t have symptoms, but when they do, they may include:

• Pain or burning when urinating
• Urinating more often than usual
• Discharge from the urethra at the tip of the penis
• Pain or swelling of the scrotum and testes
• Rectal pain, itching, discharge, or bleeding after anal sex

If you don’t get tested, chlamydia could be living in your body without you knowing it. You may even get repeated infections. Both repeated infections and long-term untreated chlamydia increase your risk of serious health problems.

For women, this may include:

• Infertility
• Infection of the uterus
• Infection of the fallopian tubes
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Increased risk of complications in pregnancy

If pregnant women have a chlamydia infection at the time of delivery, their newborn baby can also be affected.

For heterosexual men, chlamydia can cause an infection of the urethra, which may spread to involve other tubes of the male reproductive tract and the testes.Chlamydia

Gay and bisexual men can also get chlamydia through anal sex. It can even be passed between partners during oral sex, affecting the throat. Long-term infection and scarring can also lead to infertility in men.

Luckily, testing for chlamydia is easy and can be done with a simple urine sample. If you already have symptoms or have a sexual partner with chlamydia, a doctor or nurse may request a swab instead of a urine sample.

For women, this means taking a swab of the cervix. To do this, a doctor or nurse will need to perform an internal examination using an instrument called a speculum, which allows them to see the cervix more clearly. You can request a chlamydia swab when you get a Pap smear.

For men, a swab may be taken from the urethra. Swabs can also be taken from the anus and throat if needed.

Chlamydia is easily treated with a course of antibiotics.

Using condoms during vaginal, anal, or oral sex is the best way to reduce your chance of getting chlamydia. Having a thorough sexual health check if you have any unusual symptoms—or every time you have a new sexual partner—will help detect chlamydia or any other STI early so that it can be treated with the right medication.

Remember, help is always available from your local doctor or sexual health clinic.

Video by Youth Projects