Take precautions to protect your health
I’ve received questions about STIs this week, so I decided to rerun a column from 2016. Some problems never go away.
Q. My ex texted to tell me she had chlamydia. I went to my campus clinic and got antibiotics and took them all. Then she called to tell me she was having abdominal pain and a nasty discharge, even after she took all the medicine. Could she still be infected? If so, do I need to have more treatment? Thanks. – 20-year-old
Mary Jo’s Response: You’re right to be concerned. Yes, I suggest returning to the clinic. Your ex-partner should definitely return to her health care provider for possible treatment.
Chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial STI (sexually transmitted infection) in the United States. The rate of chlamydia infection is estimated to be at least twice the cases reported, since most people with chlamydia are asymptomatic (have no signs or symptoms of infection) and do not seek treatment. Chlamydia is most common among young people. The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) estimates that 1 in 20 sexually-involved young women ages 14 – 24 is infected with chlamydia.
It is possible for an individual to be re-infected with chlamydia. The CDC estimates 26% of infected individuals get chlamydia again. A recent study showed chlamydia can remain in an infected person’s digestive tract (stomach) even after treatment.
Chlamydia is spread through sexual contact. Any sexual contact with the penis, vagina, mouth or anus of an infected partner can spread the bacteria. Since it is considered a “silent” infection, some clinicians recommend periodic testing if an individual is sexually involved, has multiple partners, and does not consistently use protection like a latex condom. Studies show only 10% of infected males and 5% to 30% of infected females had physical symptoms.
Symptoms of chlamydia include vaginal discharge and urinary frequency (the need to urinate or pee a lot) in females. An UTI (urinary tract infection) can also cause urinary frequency. Untreated chlamydia in women can spread from the cervix (the opening to the uterus) to the uterus and fallopian tubes, causing PID (pelvic inflammatory disease). PID may be asymptomatic or cause abdominal and pelvic pain. Without treatment, PID can cause infertility (problems getting pregnant).
Infected men with symptoms typically experience a discharge from the penis. A few infected men have testicular pain or tenderness.
Screening for chlamydia typically involves a swab of the infected area. Treatment is easy. An infected individual should abstain from sexual contact for seven days after a single dose antibiotic or until a seven-day course of antibiotics is completed. All prescribed medicine must be taken. If a person is symptomatic after taking more than a few days of medicine, a return trip to the health care provider who prescribed the meds is important.
Using a latex condom consistently and correctly can lower the risk of getting or spreading chlamydia. The best way to avoid chlamydia or another STI is to abstain from sexual contact or maintain a mutually monogamous relationship with someone who has been tested and is uninfected.
Information on chlamydia and other STIs is available here: www.cdc.gov/sti.
Thanks for writing. Good luck.
Have a question? Send it to Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski’s email podmj@healthyteens.com.