Chlamydia And Gonorrhea: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Imagine you’re browsing the internet for some news and conversing about it with your friends or partner. And, you come across an article about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), what would you do? Ignore or talk about it? Discussing it won’t make things easier, but it’ll at least raise awareness. And, if you’re sexually active, you must be aware of the risks of contracting STIs such as syphilis, trichomoniasis, chlamydia and gonorrhea.¹

However, we can raise awareness about this important subject only when we begin to talk openly about it. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chlamydia affects around 129 million people, while gonorrhea affects 82 million people worldwide. These 2 STIs particularly affect youngsters who are sexually active.^2,3,4 Timely intervention and appropriate treatment can help millions of people overcome such infections!

In this article, we will talk about the causes, risk factors and treatment options of chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Chlamydia And Gonorrhea - Two Curable Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most common STDs which can be contracted through unprotected physical contact with an infected person. These infections are caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium.^4,5

What Are The Causes?

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are usually transmitted through vaginal, oral or anal intercourse. The bacteria that cause these infections are mainly found in the semen or vaginal fluid of an infected person and such infections can cause an individual's sexual and reproductive health to be impacted.^2,4,5,6,7

In women, chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause infertility and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (which affects a woman’s reproductive organs). And during pregnancy, it might spread from mother to child and result in low birth weight, stillbirth (loss of a baby), sepsis (body’s reaction to an infection), and neonatal conjunctivitis (eye infection in newborn). In worse cases, such infections can also lead to neonatal death.²

Who Is At A Risk?

Sexually active people are at risk if they have vaginal, oral or anal intercourse without a condom with an infected partner. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sexually active women should get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea every year if they are:^3,8

• Below 25 years or
• Above 25 years with risk factors such as multiple partners or a partner with STI

Signs And Symptoms To Look Out For

Both chlamydia and gonorrhea usually do not show symptoms, but can cause health issues. However, in some cases symptoms might occur, that include:^3,8

Treatment And Prevention

It is recommended to get tested if you or your partner are experiencing any symptoms and also if your partner tells you that s/he has an STI. However, antibiotics can easily cure chlamydia and gonorrhea infections. If you’re infected, avoid physical contact until you’ve completed the treatment and no longer show symptoms.^4,5,9,10

One of the ways to reduce the transmission of chlamydia and gonorrhea is to use condoms consistently. It should also be noted that individuals in long-term monogamous relationships (being with one partner who has been tested and is uninfected) are comparatively at a lower risk of being infected.^4,5,9,10   

Stay Aware, Stay Protected 

Lack of public awareness and widespread stigma around STIs remain barriers to controlling the spread of infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea. Additionally, in various countries, reducing STIs in young adults is a major challenge due to limited information.^2,11 

To control the spread, ensuring that this target group is well informed about the risks and prevention measures is crucial. This can easily be achieved by educating, and counselling the adults so that they seek appropriate care.¹¹ 

Takeaway Message

The truth is, anyone can get an STI, regardless of age or gender. So, chlamydia and gonorrhea screening can ensure that both you and your partner are safe in the long run. Among women, it can be considered to prevent further complications by those who 

• are planning to conceive or
• have already conceived

In today’s time, you might come across many tests to assess chlamydia or gonorrhea infection. But, not all must have been at-home self-collection test kits, right? However, among the test kits, “LifeCell’s at-home Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Test - Male & Female” are one of a  kind. That’s because, these kits offer immense benefits such as:

• Self-collection of samples from the comfort your home
• Provides an expert-reviewed and easy-to-understand report
• Offers personalised recommendations based on your report

Isn’t that comforting?

So, why wait? Go ahead and take this test to monitor your sexual health status.