Over the past decade, there’s been a massive increase in the number of people being diagnosed with a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD). Cases of Chlamydia increased by 166%, making it the most common STD in the UK, according to STD and AIDS charity Avert.
But how dangerous are STDs really? And how can you tell if you have one? Read on to find out.
Chlamydia
The UK’s most prevalent STD, a shocking 8% of British women between 18 and 20 and 5% of those between 20 and 24 have Chlamydia. It’s a bacterial disease that infects the urethra and rectum, as well as the cervix in women, and can cause serious problems if it’s not treated. It’s transmitted through sex, including anal and oral and can also be passed on from a mother to her baby.
The National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) aims to control the problem by detecting and treating Chlamydia early, but there are still a large number of people who are unaware they are infected.
Signs and symptoms:
Symptoms of chlamydia usually appear between 1 and 3 weeks after infection, but unfortunately it can be much later, and many people (a massive 75% in fact) experience no symptoms at all – that’s why it’s called the “silent disease.” Men are more likely to experience symptoms, though many do not. Look out for these signs:
Women:
• A small increase in vaginal discharge
• Bladder inflammation, known as cystitis
• Needing to urinate more often, or sometimes it may become painful
• Pain during sex or bleeding afterwards
• Stomach pains
• Irregular periods
• Swollen, irritated or infected eyes
Men:
• A white discharge
• Burning or painful urinating
• Swollen, irritated or infected eyes
Dangers:
If Chlamydia is left untreated, there can be risky complications, such as appendicitis and eye and joint infections, and it becomes more and more difficult to treat as time goes by.
For women, one scary side effect can be Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, an inflammation of the fallopian tubes which has no symptoms but can lead to premature births, pregnancies outside the womb, miscarriages and infertility – in fact, Chlamydia is a very common cause of infertility. Another possible health risk is cervicitis, where your cervix becomes inflamed and infected, and cysts can develop, leading to severe stomach and back pain, and pain during sex. If untreated, a woman can also pass it on to her baby during pregnancy, giving it lung and eye infections too – don’t panic though, Chlamydia can still be treated during pregnancy, but you do need to inform your doctor so you are given medication that won’t harm the baby.
For men, it can cause Epididymitis - your tubes become swollen and you could become infertile – and Urethritis, where your urine tube becomes inflamed, making it difficult to urinate, leading to kidney problems. A possible symptom of this is a pus-like discharge from the penis.
Treatment:
If you think you may be infected, speak to your doctor immediately. The examination will be quick and painless, and results are usually available within a week. Once you’re diagnosed, Chlamydia is treated easily with a short course of antibiotic tablets. You should steer clear of sex until the treatment is finished.
Prevention:
Prevent Chlamydia by using condoms, getting tested once a year and waiting for both partners to get tested for STDs before having sex without a condom.
Read More:
Gonorrhea: What You Need to Know: Read on to find out the signs, symptoms, dangers, treatments and prevention methods of the sexually transmitted disease, Gonorrhea.
Spot the STD: Chlamydia: Signs, symptoms and effects of one of the UK’s biggest STD
Genital Warts: Genital warts can be transmitted through sex, including anal and oral, but also through non-penetrative foreplay. To learn more about the sexually transmitted disease, read on.
Signs and Syptoms of Syphilis: Transmitted through sex, including oral and anal, syphilis can be extremely dangerous if left untreated.
Herpes: There are 8 types of herpes, not all of them sexually transmitted. Read on to find out more.