Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that is generally spread as a sexually transmitted disease. Many people never experience any symptoms at all, so it can be difficult to tell if a partner is infected with chlamydia or not. Many risks can be reduced by practicing safer sex.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Preventing Transmission During Sexual Intercourse
Step 1. Abstain or limit yourself from sexual activity
The only sure way to avoid chlamydia infection is to not have sex. Chlamydia is transmitted through vaginal, anal, or oral sex without the use of protection.
- The more you have sexual contact with different people, the more vulnerable you are to dealing with people with chlamydia.
- If a person is infected with chlamydia, the bacteria will be in their sperm or vaginal fluids even if they have no symptoms of the disease.
- This means that the infection can be transmitted through hands that come into contact with infected bodily fluids and then transfer to the genital area or into the body.
Step 2. Use a condom
Condoms will not completely eliminate the risk of chlamydia, but they can significantly reduce it. However, condoms must be made of latex or polyurethane.
- Use condoms properly. Pinch the tip of the condom and hold it while you apply it the entire length of the penis. There should be a space at the end of the condom to accommodate the sperm fluid during ejaculation.
- Remove the condom carefully so that the semen does not spill after sexual intercourse.
- Use a dental dam when performing oral sex on women. Dental dams are small latex sheets that can significantly reduce the risk of chlamydia transmission. Split male condoms can also be used for this purpose.
- Also use a condom when having anal sex to avoid infection.
- Put on a condom or dam as soon as sexual activity begins.
- If the condom breaks or leaks during sexual intercourse, the risk of infection increases.
Step 3. Use sexual aids safely
Chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases can be spread by sharing sexual aids with other people. To prevent this, sexual aids must:
- Sterilized between users.
- Or wrapped with a new condom made of latex or polyurethane for each user.
Step 4. Do not douche (cleansing the vagina using a water spray or other liquid)
Douches can kill the natural collection of good bacteria in the vagina and make women more susceptible to infection.
A douche will not prevent pregnancy or the spread of sexually transmitted diseases
Step 5. Get checked regularly for sexually transmitted diseases
Regular check-ups are very important, especially if you are not using protection during sexual intercourse, have multiple partners, are under 25 years old, or are pregnant.
- Chlamydia is most common in young children. It is estimated that 1:20 sexually active women under the age of 25 have chlamydia. If the patient belongs to a high-risk group, the doctor may recommend an annual examination.
- Pregnant women can transmit chlamydia to their children during the delivery process, so they need to get checked, especially if they or their partners are potentially infected.
- Chlamydia can usually be detected through a urine test or a swab. Swabs are performed on the cervix for women and the urethra or anus for men.
Step 6. Identify activities that do not cause chlamydia transmission
You won't get chlamydia by:
- Kissing
- Sharing towels
- Sitting on the toilet seat
Part 2 of 2: Recognizing Chlamydia Symptoms and Getting Treatment
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms of chlamydia
Symptoms will begin to be felt after one month exposed to chlamydia, although not all sufferers experience it. Symptoms of chlamydia include:
- Pain or burning when urinating
- Stomach ache
- Discharge / discharge from the vagina, penis, or rectum
- Women may experience bleeding or pain after sexual intercourse or during menstruation. Men will feel pain in the testicles.
- Bleeding more during menstruation
- Symptoms may stop after some time. This does not mean the infection has cleared.
Step 2. Avoid serious complications
Get yourself checked if you think you have chlamydia. If left untreated, chlamydia can cause fertility problems in both men and women, as well as increase the risk of getting HIV.
- Both men and women can get sexually acquired reactive arthritis (SARA) due to chlamydia. SARA is a very painful inflammation of the joints, eyes, and/or urethra. Symptoms of chlamydia in most people will disappear after a few months, but that does not mean the disease has been cured.
- Men can get chlamydia infection of their testicles and sperm ducts. This can reduce male fertility.
- Women can get chlamydia in the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes causing pain and fertility problems. These problems can be caused by pelvic inflammatory disease and can increase the risk of death in an ectopic pregnancy later in life.
- Chlamydia is also harmful to the fetus. This disease increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth. If a mother passes chlamydia to her baby during delivery, she may develop a lung or eye infection.
Step 3. Visit your doctor for treatment if you think you have chlamydia
Chlamydia can be effectively treated with antibiotics. More than 95% of patients who receive treatment successfully recover from chlamydia infection.
- Your doctor will likely prescribe azithromycin, doxycycline, or erythromycin. Take all the antibiotics given to make sure the infection is completely gone.
- Don't have sex, even if you're wearing a condom, until you and your partner who may be infected have finished treatment. If prescribed antibiotics to take in one day, keep waiting for a week to make sure the infection is completely gone.
- Check again after completing treatment if the symptoms of chlamydia do not go away, are taking medicines not according to instructions, have sex before treatment is finished, or are pregnant.
