M
Mary Anne PA
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. These bacteria can live in the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body), the rectum, throat and eyes. In women the bacteria can also infect the cervix (the opening to the womb).
You can therefore catch chlamydia through any form of unprotected sex – oral, vaginal, or anal. It can also be spread by touching infected areas with the fingers – for example, touching the genitals and then the eyes. However, you cannot catch it from sharing facilities such as toilets or swimming pools.
Chlamydia can also pass from a mother to baby during childbirth. This may result in eye or lung infection.
Chlamydia is sometimes called the silent disease because of the lack of specific symptoms. You may have a few general symptoms such as pelvic pain or cystisis (in women) or swollen testicles (in men), but it is hard to spot otherwise.
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Which infections are sexually transmitted?
Many genital and urinary tract infections are spread though close physical contract with an infected person. Unprotected sex is therefore the most common way of passing on the infection. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) include the following:
chlamydia,
gonorrhoea,
HIV/ AIDS,
hepatitis,
genital herpes,
syphilis, and
trichomonas vaginalis (TV).
Sometimes, infections of the genitals and urinary tract are caused by other things. Thrush, bacterial vaginosis, and genital warts are examples of infections that can be caught or transmitted in ways other than unprotected sex. Women can also get infections by forgetting to remove tampons.
Thrush is a common infection in women that happens when the naturally occurring fungus, Candida albicans, grows excessively. This may be caused by pregnancy, menstruation, diabetes, taking the pill, wearing tight underwear and taking antibiotics. It can sometimes develop following sex with an infected person, but this is uncommon.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of vaginal discharge. If it isn’t treated, it can cause miscarriage, premature labour and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). It isn’t clear if BV is caused by unprotected sex, but it may be linked to having a lot of sexual partners. It can also be triggered by the IUD contraceptive (previously called the coil).
Genital warts are small, round lumps on and around the genitals. They are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is passed by close skin-to-skin contact.
Scabies is a skin infection that is passed on through close physical contact with an infected person. This may be through sex, but occasionally it can also be passed on through towels and bedding.
Non-specific urethritis is an infection of the urethra (the tube where urine comes out) that only affects men. It’s usually caused by having sex with a partner who already has an STI. However, it is also caused by other genital or urinary tract infections, damage to the urethra through vigorous sex or masturbation, or urine and bladder infections (although bladder infections are rare in young men).
Cystitis is a common bladder infection in women. Infection enters the urinary tubes as a result of poor hygiene or sex. Stress, bad diet, dehydration, oral contraceptives and antibiotics can also trigger it.
Remember that anyone who has sex, including oral sex and anal sex, or close genital-to-genital contact with an infected person, can catch an STI.
When do STI's appear from when you get them??
Symptoms of genital herpes usually appear within a week after contact with an infected person. A red, painful rash appears on the genitals or nearby. The rash soon becomes blisters, and the blisters burst, releasing fluid.
Genital warts can take a very long time to appear. Months or even years can pass between the time a person is infected with the virus and the time noticeable warts can be seen in the genital area. In women they can also appear inside the vagina and on the cervix, where you cannot see them.
In syphilis an ulcer or ulcers appears where the bacteria first entered the body, typically appear 2-3 weeks after infection. The ulcers or sores are usually on the genitals, but can also appear around the mouth and anus.
Symptoms of gonorrhoea in both men and women usually appear between one and fourteen days after infection. However, up to half of all women (and 10% of men) who contract gonorrhoea do not experience any symptoms. Symptoms can include green or yellow discharge (from the vagina or penis), irritation or discharge from the anus, and abdominal or testicular pain.
The redness, irritation and discharge associated with thrush usually appears 2-5 days after exposure.
ORAL SEX INFORMATION:
Oral sex is the stimulation of the genitals using the mouth and/or tongue. It is one of the ways in which sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are most frequently passed on. You can catch an infection through having just one sexual partner, although the chance of catching an STI increases the more partners you have.
Infections commonly caught through oral sex are:
chlamydia,
gonorrhoea,
genital herpes, and
syphilis.
You can therefore catch chlamydia through any form of unprotected sex – oral, vaginal, or anal. It can also be spread by touching infected areas with the fingers – for example, touching the genitals and then the eyes. However, you cannot catch it from sharing facilities such as toilets or swimming pools.
Chlamydia can also pass from a mother to baby during childbirth. This may result in eye or lung infection.
Chlamydia is sometimes called the silent disease because of the lack of specific symptoms. You may have a few general symptoms such as pelvic pain or cystisis (in women) or swollen testicles (in men), but it is hard to spot otherwise.
******************************************************
Which infections are sexually transmitted?
Many genital and urinary tract infections are spread though close physical contract with an infected person. Unprotected sex is therefore the most common way of passing on the infection. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) include the following:
chlamydia,
gonorrhoea,
HIV/ AIDS,
hepatitis,
genital herpes,
syphilis, and
trichomonas vaginalis (TV).
Sometimes, infections of the genitals and urinary tract are caused by other things. Thrush, bacterial vaginosis, and genital warts are examples of infections that can be caught or transmitted in ways other than unprotected sex. Women can also get infections by forgetting to remove tampons.
Thrush is a common infection in women that happens when the naturally occurring fungus, Candida albicans, grows excessively. This may be caused by pregnancy, menstruation, diabetes, taking the pill, wearing tight underwear and taking antibiotics. It can sometimes develop following sex with an infected person, but this is uncommon.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of vaginal discharge. If it isn’t treated, it can cause miscarriage, premature labour and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). It isn’t clear if BV is caused by unprotected sex, but it may be linked to having a lot of sexual partners. It can also be triggered by the IUD contraceptive (previously called the coil).
Genital warts are small, round lumps on and around the genitals. They are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is passed by close skin-to-skin contact.
Scabies is a skin infection that is passed on through close physical contact with an infected person. This may be through sex, but occasionally it can also be passed on through towels and bedding.
Non-specific urethritis is an infection of the urethra (the tube where urine comes out) that only affects men. It’s usually caused by having sex with a partner who already has an STI. However, it is also caused by other genital or urinary tract infections, damage to the urethra through vigorous sex or masturbation, or urine and bladder infections (although bladder infections are rare in young men).
Cystitis is a common bladder infection in women. Infection enters the urinary tubes as a result of poor hygiene or sex. Stress, bad diet, dehydration, oral contraceptives and antibiotics can also trigger it.
Remember that anyone who has sex, including oral sex and anal sex, or close genital-to-genital contact with an infected person, can catch an STI.
When do STI's appear from when you get them??
Symptoms of genital herpes usually appear within a week after contact with an infected person. A red, painful rash appears on the genitals or nearby. The rash soon becomes blisters, and the blisters burst, releasing fluid.
Genital warts can take a very long time to appear. Months or even years can pass between the time a person is infected with the virus and the time noticeable warts can be seen in the genital area. In women they can also appear inside the vagina and on the cervix, where you cannot see them.
In syphilis an ulcer or ulcers appears where the bacteria first entered the body, typically appear 2-3 weeks after infection. The ulcers or sores are usually on the genitals, but can also appear around the mouth and anus.
Symptoms of gonorrhoea in both men and women usually appear between one and fourteen days after infection. However, up to half of all women (and 10% of men) who contract gonorrhoea do not experience any symptoms. Symptoms can include green or yellow discharge (from the vagina or penis), irritation or discharge from the anus, and abdominal or testicular pain.
The redness, irritation and discharge associated with thrush usually appears 2-5 days after exposure.
ORAL SEX INFORMATION:
Oral sex is the stimulation of the genitals using the mouth and/or tongue. It is one of the ways in which sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are most frequently passed on. You can catch an infection through having just one sexual partner, although the chance of catching an STI increases the more partners you have.
Infections commonly caught through oral sex are:
chlamydia,
gonorrhoea,
genital herpes, and
syphilis.