Everything You Should Know About Chlamydia &...

Jun 26
2022

Everything You Should Know About Chlamydia & Gonorrhea | Doctor Explains STIs

In today’s episode of Dr Nora, I take you through what to expect if you have a common sexually transmitted infection such as chlamydia or gonorrhea.

As a General Practitioner I am presented with an array of health conditions. However, Sexually Transmitted Infections (or STIs) are becoming a more common presentation.

CHLAMYDIA

Approximately 85–90% of people who are infected show no symptoms at all, making it harder for patients to come forward for testing. However, for those who are symptomatic, symptoms for men include, discharge, pain on passing urine and testicular pain to name a few. For women, they may experience vaginal discharge, pelvic pain and irregular bleeding - such as bleeding in between periods or after intercourse.

If chlamydia is not treated, it can lead to a number of complications. For men it may lead to a condition known as epididymo-orchitis, which presents with pain and swelling of the scrotum. For women it can lead to a condition known as pelvic inflammatory disease and later infertility. In both groups, it may cause reactive arthritis - a condition where joints become inflamed and swollen and conjunctivitis. It is therefore very important to get tested.

Your medical practitioner will either ask you to present a first pass urine of the day or may offer to perform a swab or ask you to collect a swab for yourself.

Treatment includes a 7 day course of oral antibiotics, or if compliance may be an issue, your doctor may give you a one day course of strong antibiotics instead.

It is very important that you carefully follow the aftercare instructions once you have been treated. Following treatment, you should not have intercourse for at least 7 days to prevent infection spreading. You should also contact anyone you had relations with over the past 6 months and not engage in any activity with them until they test negative. This helps to prevent re-infection. Your doctor may ask for you to repeat your test after 4 weeks to ensure that the infection has been fully cleared.

GONORRHEA

Gonorrhea (or ‘the clap’) is another bacterial sexually transmitted infection, although its prevalence is not as high as chlamydia, rates are steadily rising. I am seeing a larger number coming through this year compared to last.

It is frequently found in homosexual males but also younger heterosexual couples. The prevalence is increasing, especially in women.

Most women, around 80% who are diagnosed with vaginal gonorrhea, may not experience any symptoms at all. However, men who are diagnosed with urethral gonorrhea tend to present with symptoms (around 85–90%). For men, symptoms include, penile discharge and pain on passing urine. For symptomatic women, they may experience vaginal discharge, pain during intercourse and pelvic pain.

Just like chlamydia, it is important that gonorrhea gets treated as non treatment can lead to complications. For women, pelvic inflammatory disease and later fertility issues may be a problem and for men, again epididymo-orchitis and less commonly prostatitis (inflammation and swelling of the prostate gland).

Diagnosis takes the form of either a first pass urine or a swab either collected by yourself or the doctor and treatment, if positive generally consists of a short course of an oral antibiotic and an intramuscular injection of a strong antibiotic.

It is recommended that you abstain from intercourse for 7 days post treatment and contact trace any partners over the past 2 months. It is vital to have a repeat test of cure after 2 weeks to ensure that the infection has been successfully treated.

Of course, STIs are considered to be easily preventable and this would be through the form of using barrier contraception such as condoms. If you had a previous infection with either STI and you become re-infected, you will still need to receive treatment as you will not be immune.

CHAPTERS

0.07 Introduction

0:46 Chlamydia

1:35 Chlamydia Symptoms

2:55 Diagnosis

3:46 Chlamydia Treatment

5:45 Gonorrhea

6:18 Gonorrhea Symptoms

8:17 Gonorrhea Treatment

10:26 Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this video and as always if you have any questions or comments please drop me in a line below.

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