Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease that can cause serious health problems if left untreated. However, most people with chlamydia dont notice any symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they usually appear between 1 and 3 weeks after having unprotected sex with an infected person. Symptoms in women can include:
- Pain when urinating
- Unusual vaginal discharge
- Pain in the tummy or pelvis
- Pain during sex
- Bleeding after sex
- Bleeding between periods
Symptoms in men can include:
- Pain when urinating
- White, cloudy or watery discharge from the tip of the penis
- Burning or itching in the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body)
- Pain in the testicles
Chlamydia can also infect the rectum in both men and women, causing rectal pain, discharge, and bleeding. If left untreated, chlamydia can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes in women, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can lead to long-term pelvic pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. Men can also develop epididymitis, which can cause pain, fever, and, rarely, infertility. Its important to note that even when chlamydia has no symptoms, it can still damage a persons reproductive system. If you suspect you may have chlamydia or have been exposed to it, its important to get tested and treated by a healthcare provider.
