There are many different sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) you can get, and one of the most common ones for people in the UK under the age of 25 is chlamydia. You may think it will be obvious if you have contracted an STD, but many people contract chlamydia and do not realise they have it, but they can still pass it on. It is relatively easy to contract chlamydia, and you do not have to have penetrative sex to do so. Below is how you can catch the disease, the symptoms you can experience, and how to cure it.
Symptoms Of Chlamydia To Look Out For
You can look for signs that can tell you whether you might have chlamydia or not, but as previously mentioned, some people do not show any symptoms. A common symptom for men and women is feeling pain when they urinate, and you can also experience an unusual discharge from the vagina, penis, or anus. Women can often experience bleeding between their periods, and they can also develop stomach pains. Another common symptom for men is pain and swelling in their testicles, and if you experience any of the above, you will want to visit your doctor.
How To Test Whether You Have Chlamydia?
The test for chlamydia in men and women is relatively simple, and you will need to either visit your local doctor or an STD clinic. To test men for chlamydia, they need to test their urine, and you can often get the answer whether you are positive or not quickly. Women can also get the result quickly, but they will do a smear test rather than testing urine, which is quick and painless. If you do test positive, you will need to get treatment, and there are a couple of options available.
Treating Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection, and the good news about that is that you can use antibiotics to help clear it up and get rid of it. There are two standard types of antibiotics that doctors prescribe to treat this infection, and the first one is azithromycin. You only need a small dose of this antibiotic, and you will take one tablet for three days which should clear it, but you will need to refrain from sex for at least seven days. The second option is using doxycycline, but with this chlamydia medication, you will need to take it for a week and refrain from having sex until you get the all-clear as well.
How To Prevent Chlamydia?
There are many ways to catch chlamydia, and the best way to prevent it is to refrain from having unprotected sex with someone you do not know well. You can contract the disease through unprotected oral, anal, and vaginal sex, and women can also get it when sharing sex toys with other women with the infection. If your genitals contact the infected person, you can still contract it without having penetrative sex, and if semen or vaginal fluid gets in your eyes, you can contract chlamydia. The best way to ensure you do not get this disease is to practice safe sex and ensure you know the person well before getting intimate with them.
