Symptoms Of Chlamydia And Gonorrhea In Women - Explained

What is the first thought that comes to your mind when you hear the term 

“Chlamydia and Gonorrhea”? 

Is the topic swept off under the carpet or 

Do you tend to know the facts related to it? 

We guess knowing the facts is more like your thing as you’re here to learn about the topic “symptoms of chlamydia and gonorrhea in women.” Did you know that around 129 million people were affected by chlamydia and 82 million by gonorrhea?¹ And this was estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the year 2020!¹ In this blog, we’ll learn how these infections can be identified in women followed by the various treatment options available.

How To Recognize The Symptoms Of Chlamydia And Gonorrhea In Women? 

Chlamydia and gonorrhea can be transmitted through anal, vaginal, or oral intercourse with an infected individual. While Chlamydia is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria. These bacteria are usually present in the vaginal fluid and spread through physical contact among infected women. And, most of the time, chlamydia and gonorrhea infections might go undetected as they are asymptomatic.^2,3,4,5

However, in an infected individual, symptoms of chlamydia appear between 1 and 3 weeks, and that of gonorrhea develop within about 2 weeks. These symptoms are as follows:^6,7

Untreated STDs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea may cause a serious condition known as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). PID is an infection that affects a woman’s reproductive system leading to complications like infertility, chronic abdominal pain, and ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy that grows outside the womb).⁸

Symptoms of chlamydia and gonorrhea in women can also occur during pregnancy and lead to certain health problems in the baby. There’s a high chance that chlamydia and gonorrhea infection might pass onto the baby and result in complications like:^1,9

• Low birth weight
• Stillbirth i.e. loss of the baby
• Neonatal conjunctivitis i.e. an eye infection
• Sepsis i.e. body’s reaction to an infection
• Neonatal death

So, get screened and be aware of the symptoms that may arise. A simple screening test will ensure timely detection and treatment of the infection, especially if:

• You’re trying to conceive or 
• Have already conceived