How To Prevent Chlamydia And Gonorrhoea?

Sexually transmitted infections are spreading at a lightning-fast pace. In 2020, WHO reported 129 million cases of chlamydia and 89 million cases of gonorrhoea across the globe!¹

What’s more? These two bacterial infections account for a majority of the 1 million STIs acquired across the globe on a day-to-day basis.¹ These findings only urge everyone to learn how to prevent chlamydia and gonorrhoea at the earliest.

However, to be able to take the right precautions, it is important to understand how these bacterial infections are transmitted in the first place. Let’s dive right in and find out more about the same.

How Does Chlamydia And Gonorrhoea Spread?

Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are sexually transmitted infections. Bodily fluids like semen, pre-cum, and vaginal fluids act as a carrier for bacteria that causes such infections.^2,3 So, you can get infected if you participate in unprotected vaginal, anal or oral intercourse with an infected partner.⁴

Pregnant women affected by these STIs can pass them to their babies during delivery. This can result in major health problems for the newborn.^5,6 So, if you’re infected during pregnancy, you need to be extra cautious to prevent chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

Nonetheless, you must also keep in mind that these bacterial STIs do not spread through casual contact. Hence, there’s no need to be worried about contracting these infections while sharing food, hugging, kissing, or holding hands with someone.⁷

Having said that, you do need to adopt the following precautions to keep sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia and gonorrhoea at bay during intercourse.

Ways To Prevent Chlamydia And Gonorrhoea

All of us are familiar with the phrase “prevention is better than cure”. The proverb holds a lot of weight when it comes to sexually transmitted diseases. They spread easily, can cause quite painful and uncomfortable symptoms, and sometimes even lead to major complications if not treated at the right time.

1. Minimize The Number Of Sexual Partners

Ideally, sexual abstinence is the safest way to prevent chlamydia and gonorrhoea.⁸ If you are a sexually active person, the next best option is to reduce the number of sexual partners.⁸ This will minimise the chances of your exposure to these bacterial infections.

In addition, mutually monogamous relationships with an uninfected partner can be a good way to avoid the chances of getting these sexually transmitted infections.⁸

2. Use Protective Barriers During Intercourse

Since these infections are transmitted via bodily fluids secreted during sexual intercourse, the correct and consistent use of protective barriers like condoms and dental dams is highly recommended.^9,10

You should use male latex condoms every time you have oral, vaginal, or anal sex to prevent chlamydia and gonorrhoea.⁹ For women, a dental dam (square, thin piece of stretchy latex) is recommended during oral sex to reduce the risk of spreading the infection.¹⁰

3. Do Not Share Adult Toys

Refrain from sharing adult toys (also called as sex toys) as they serve as an open invitation to infectious bacteria and viruses.¹¹ The normal protocol is to wash your adult toys thoroughly between each use.¹¹ Maintaining a hygienic routine while indulging in such toys can help prevent chlamydia and gonorrhoea transmission.

4. Get Tested Regularly

Last but not least, the most important step to avoid these bacterial infections is to get tested on a regular basis⁸ - bonus points if your partner gets tested once in a while as well! The majority of chlamydia and gonorrhoea cases are asymptomatic and go undetected.¹

This can result in long-term complications like pelvic inflammatory disease (infection in the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries), ectopic pregnancy (the fertilised egg attaches outside the uterus), or infertility.¹²

In Conclusion

If you are a sexually active individual, you need to keep the above-mentioned reliable ways in mind and take active measures to prevent chlamydia and gonorrhoea. It is also best to have an honest and open conversation with your partners about getting tested for STIs to maintain a healthy sexual life, free from such infectious conditions.