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10% Of Men Have Chlamydia

by JENNY HOPE, Daily Mail

One in ten young men is infected with chlamydia - the sexually transmitted disease which can rob women of their fertility.

Research shows five times more men are carrying the infection than previously thought, but 90 per cent of them have no symptoms.

Experts fear increasing promiscuity may be fuelling the spread through unprotected sex and putting the health of a generation of young women at risk.

Robert Whelan, director of Family and Youth Concern, said yesterday: "There is an epidemic of chlamydia and young women are bearing the brunt of it."

Chlamydia, if left untreated, can trigger pelvic inflammation in women which can make them infertile or more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy, a potentially life - threatening condition in which the foetus develops outside the womb.

Although men do not usually suffer any long-term problems, the infection may also affect male fertility.

Doctors at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary carried out the first comprehensive study covering 800 young men aged between 16 and their late twenties. Almost 10 per cent tested positive, and almost 90 per cent of those had no symptoms, says a report today in the medical journal The Lancet.

All were given treatment with antibiotics to clear up the infection and nurses attempted to trace partners who might have been unwittingly infected.

Previous research suggested that only one in 50 men was infected - and up to half of them were aware of symptoms. Mr Whelan said a public education programme aimed at young people was vital.

He said: "The message should be restrict your partners and, ideally, delay the age at which you first have intercourse. But that's not a cool message.

"Instead we have screening, which will be ineffective because of the scale of the problem."

Cases of chlamydia have hit record levels, with Government figures showing more than 70,000 at STD clinics last year.

It is thought to affect one in ten women under 25, although one in seven girls having under-age sex has become infected, according to data from the Medical Research Council.

But official figures may underestimate the problem because victims often have no symptoms.

The Edinburgh study of men showed a similar rate of infection among all ages, compared with other research suggesting older men aged 25-34 were more likely to have it.

A national screening programme for chlamydia is being set up, with ten pilot projects costing £ 1.5million under way.

Women aged 16-24 are being offered testing and treatment at family planning and hospital clinics, but men are excluded.

Dr Gordon Scott, who led the research team, said: "Our finding that the rate of infections is higher than that usually cited shows the importance of involving men as well as women in testing."

j.Hope@dailymail.Co.Uk

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Exposing Chlamydia

Chlamydia is an infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It's one of the most widespread of all sexually transmitted diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Chlamydia can be transmitted during vaginal or anal sex when one partner is infected. It can also be passed on to the eye by a hand moistened with infected secretions, and to a newborn from an infected mother during delivery. It's possible, but rare, to pass chlamydia to the throat through an act of oral sex with an infected man.

Symptoms usually show up one to three weeks after infection, if they appear at all. According to the American Social Health Association (ASHA), men are much more likely to have symptoms than women.

If a man does have symptoms, it's usually a burning sensation when urinating, especially the first time in the morning, and a discharge from the penis. The most common symptom for women is increased vaginal discharge; less common are painful urination, unusual vaginal bleeding, bleeding after sex, and lower abdominal pain.

According to ASHA, unchecked and untreated chlamydia can lead to many problems. In men, the epididymis -- the region of the male genitals where sperm mature -- can become infected. Women can get pelvic inflammatory disease, an infection of the upper genital tract that can lead to scarring of the fallopian tubes. The scarring can increase a woman's risk of ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility.

If you're sexually active, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that you get tested for chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases once a year. If you test positive for chlamydia, you can be treated very simply and quickly with oral medication. You should also let your sexual partners know so they can get treatment, too.

If you remain sexually active, here are a few simple things you can do to minimize your risk of getting chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs):

Use a condom. Latex condoms are 99% effective in preventing STD transmission when used consistently and correctly.

Be prepared. Keep condoms with you or at your bedside. Keep your head clear -- most people don't make wise decisions when they've been drinking or taking drugs.

Keep the numbers down. Your chance of getting an STD goes up with each new partner.

See a doctor. If you're sexually active, get checkups once a year. If you've had chlamydia, you may need to be tested even more often than that.

Chlamydia Often Doesn't Show Symptoms - Here Are The Best Ways To Tell If You Have This Serious STI

Chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease, rarely causes symptoms, which means it can go undettected for a long time.

Left untreated, chlamydia can cause long-term complications, including infertility in women.

Getting tested frequently if you're sexually active and practicing safe sex are the best ways to prevent contracting chlamydia.

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. It is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis.

Symptoms of chlamydia can include discharge from the vagina or penis, discomfort while urinating, and pain in the pelvic region. However, less than 30% of people infected with chlamydia show symptoms. It is referred to as a "silent" infection because most people who have it tend to be asymptomatic.

Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics. "If left untreated, it can cause serious long-term complications," says Krishna Kakani, MD, who has her own OB/GYN practice in Huntsville, Alabama. So getting tested regularly and seeking treatment if you have chlamydia are super important even if you aren't having symptoms.

Here's what you need to know about chlamydia and how to treat it.

How do you know if you have chlamydia?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you can get chlamydia via unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex with someone who has it.

"It's entirely possible to have chlamydia and not know it, because most people are asymptomatic. Even if you do have symptoms, they may not appear until several weeks after your sexual encounter," says Kakani. The symptoms may persist or disappear in a few days, but that may not mean the infection has gone. The infection can still harm you if you are asymptomatic.

The symptoms of chlamydia can vary among women and men.

If you have a vagina, you may experience symptoms such as:

Vaginal discharge or bleeding in between menstrual periods

Pain or a burning sensation while urinating

Abdominal pain

Pain during sexual intercourse

Increased frequency of urination

Rectal discharge or bleeding

If you have a penis, you may experience symptoms such as:

Unusual discharge from the penis

Pain or a burning sensation while urinating

Pain or swelling in the genitals

Increased frequency of urination

Rectal discharge or bleeding

You can also get chlamydia in the throat, which can give you a sore throat; however, it often doesn't cause any symptoms at all.

While all sexually active people could get chlamydia, it is especially common among women between the ages of 15 and 24, according to the CDC. The CDC recommends that you get tested for chlamydia every year, especially if you are:

A woman below the age of 25 who is sexually active.

A woman above the age of 25 with multiple sexual partners, or if you or your partner have had an STI before.

A man who has male sexual partners.

"Chlamydia tests are typically urine tests that require you to provide a urine sample. Your doctor may also do a swab test, by using a cotton swab to obtain a fluid sample from the infected area," says Kakani.

How do you treat chlamydia?

Chlamydia is easily treatable with antibiotics. Your doctor may prescribe a single dose, or a seven-day course depending on certain factors like your age, which parts of your body are affected, and whether or not you're pregnant. Your symptoms should clear up within a few days; however it is recommended that you complete the course and abstain from sexual activity for a minimum of seven days, to avoid passing the infection on to your partner.

If your symptoms don't clear up within a week, you should see your doctor again. You should also get tested again in three months, because reinfection is common when it comes to chlamydia. Reinfection can happen if, for example, you have been tested and treated for chlamydia but your partner hasn't been. Having multiple instances of chlamydia can result in serious long-term complications, for people with vaginas especially.

A chlamydia infection can persist for several months if it's not treated. Failure to treat it in the early stages can raise your risk of long-term complications.

The only 100% effective way to avoid sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia is to refrain from sexual activity. However, if you are sexually active, you can lower your risk of getting the infection by:

Using condoms

Limiting your sexual partners

Avoiding douching, since it eliminates some of the healthy bacteria in your vagina and can increase your risk of getting infections like chlamydia

What happens if you have chlamydia for too long?

The long-term complications that can result from chlamydia include:

Pelvic inflammatory disease, in people with vaginas: The infection could spread upward through your reproductive system and cause permanent damage to your uterus or fallopian tubes. Apart from being very painful, pelvic inflammatory disease can also make it difficult for you to conceive, or result in pregnancies outside the womb, which can be life-threatening. Chlamydia doesn't usually cause infertility in people with penises.

Pregnancy complications, if you are already pregnant: Chlamydia could cause your baby to arrive early. It could also cause pneumonia and conjunctivitis in your newborn.

HIV: Having chlamydia can raise your risk of getting HIV.

Reactive arthritis: The chlamydia infection can trigger an arthritic reaction in your body.

It's important to note that while antibiotic medication can treat the infection and its symptoms, it cannot undo any of the other damage the infection has caused.

Insider's takeaway

Chlamydia is a common infection that can be treated easily: however, since it often doesn't show any symptoms, you may not realize you have it. Left untreated, chlamydia can result in serious health problems, including infertility in women. Therefore, if you're sexually active, it's important to get tested for it regularly - once a year, at least - even if you don't have any symptoms.

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