What causes Chlamydia? What are the risk factors?

Sexually transmitted diseases or STDs are diseases being caused by sexual activity. Frequently, HIV and syphilis take the center stage. What most people do not aware is that all STDs are quite equally dangerous and can impact the lives’ quality of those affected and the country’s economy indirectly. The other STDs that are worth-noting are Chlamydia, gonorrhea, HPV, hepatitis B, and genital warts. Societal taboo, especially in Malaysia, has created a barrier in the educational effort to inform the mass regarding these problems but in this era of technology, one should not use that as an excuse.

Chlamydia is an alien term for the public despite being the commonest STDs there is worldwide. It is caused by bacteria known as chlamydia trachomatis where it spreads from person to person through sexual contact. It resides at the private parts of both men and women and when direct touch from the partner’s genitals, rectum or mouth happen, it would jump to them. The type of sexual intercourse hence determines the location of the infections to commence in the first place.

This disease is very dangerous because of its subtlety. 60 to 70% of the time, it would not produce any symptoms but in the long run, the complications are terrible. It is a blessing in disguise to have to endure the excruciating symptoms as a bigger danger can be evaded. The usual symptoms are plenty and mimic the other STDS. They are abnormal whitish discharge coming out from the vagina or penis, burning sensation during urination, bleeding after sexual intercourse and between menstruation for women, rectal pain and upper respiratory tract symptoms like runny nose and flu-like illness. Complications, as mentioned above, include pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus (ectopic pregnancy). Pregnant women being contracted to this infection can expose their babies to the hazards of chlamydia. Preterm delivery, low birth weight, conjunctivitis, and lung infections must be anticipated by the doctors should the mother has been diagnosed with chlamydia although proactive solutions to avoid the problems have been established to treat the mother as quickly as possible.

The individuals who are at risk to attain this infection are those who practice unprotected sex. A condom is a very reliable barrier for not only birth control but also preventing the transmission of STDs. Other than that, having high rates of partner change also increases the possibilities of getting this disease, like any other STDs. Being young certainly is not always advantageous as older people have been proven to possess a lower risk to get Chlamydia. Oral contraceptive pills (OCP) consumption has been bizarrely reported to elevate the likelihood of chlamydia infections. The reasons behind that being when one takes in OCP, the cervical tissue gets more susceptible to the bacteria and the usage of the condom would also be reduced as a means of birth control. This, however, has not been widely regarded. At the current time, the rise of the lifestyle of men having sex with men (MSM) has been dubbed as the causative factor for the increase in the cases of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). This condition is caused by a potent subtype of chlamydia trachomatis and often involves the disfigurement of genital parts and rectum.

Should you notice any of the symptoms being stated or possessing the risk factors discussed, it is best to always consult your doctor for the diagnosis. This disease can not be self-medicated as the confirmation can only be made by the laboratory investigations and the drugs are of prescriptive value. Castaway the feeling of being judged as professional healthcare providers would not do that to their patients. Treat the infection now and avoid suffering later. Read chlamydia guide by DoctorOnCall for more information about this problem.