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Chlamydia
This STI spreads like a nasty rumour.
Chlamydia is the leading cause of pelvic inflammatory disease at the moment and is one of the most common STIs in Ireland.
Chlamydia is a serious bacteria infection that can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women and infertility in both men and women. It can also lead to other serious problems. You can catch Chlamydia by having unprotected sex (vaginal, anal or oral) or it can be passed from a mother to her baby during birth during birth, which can cause the baby to have a severe eye infection.
What are the symptoms?
Important: Around 80% of women and 50% of men affected by Chlamydia don't have any symptoms. So if you have unprotected penetrative sex, then it’s important to visit a sexual health clinic or a doctor for a check up.
- Women often have no symptoms.
- Women might feel pain during sex; experience lower abdominal pain, bladder infections or changes in their periods.
- Men might have no symptoms.
- Men's symptoms include a watery or thick liquid from the penis, pain when peeing or swelling and pain in the testicles (balls).
- In some very rare cases a syndrome called ‘Reiter’s Syndrome’ can occur causing urethritis, conjunctivitis, arthritis and skin lesions.
What treatment can you get?
Visit your doctor to have the infection diagnosed. If you have Chlamydia he/ she will prescribe a course of antibiotics. Don't have sex until the infection has cleared and until you finish your treatment. You MUST go back to the doctor and check the infection is gone. DON'T have sex until you get all the all clear. Your partner and recent partners should also be treated.
How can you prevent Chlamydia?
Condoms help protect against Chlamydia.
Find out more about chlamydia.
