Topical Health Matters – Sexual Health: Chlamydia
PUT YOURSELF IN THE CLEAR
It’s the most common sexually transmitted disease in the UK, affecting one in ten people aged 15 to 24 - yet the majority of people with Chlamydia do not know they are infected.
Half of men who have the disease and 75 per cent of infected women do not experience any symptoms and as a result, continue living with Chlamydia, unknowingly risking their health.
Dr Kristina Irwin, GP at the Central Sheffield GP Consortium with a special interest in Sexual Health, explains: “Chlamydia trachomatis is a bacteria found in the semen and vaginal fluids of men and women that have the infection.
“Symptoms are relatively rare. Women can experience bleeding in between periods or after sex, lower abdominal pain, painful sex, pain when passing urine or an unusual vaginal discharge.
“For men, the symptoms can include discharge from the end of the penis, pain when passing urine or pain in the testicles.
“If the disease is detected early, it can be treated quickly and easily with a course of antibiotics. However, as symptoms are rare, Chlamydia can often go undetected and be left for long periods of time, risking further complications.
“The infection can then move up the genital tract and cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women – a painful condition that can lead to blocked fallopian tubes (the tubes that take the egg to your womb each month).
This in turn can lead to infertility or ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy which develops in the tube because the fertilised egg didn’t reach the womb). Ectopic pregnancy can be very serious and even life-threatening.
“In men it can cause infection of the testicles and possibly reduced fertility also.”
So how can you protect yourself from contracting the ‘silent’ infection, which affects more several thousand people across Sheffield every year?
“Use condoms every time!” says Dr Irwin.
“Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and like all STI’s, the use of condoms dramatically reduces transfer from one person to another.
“But the only real way to ensure you don’t contract the infection is for both partners to get themselves tested at the beginning of the relationship, before they start having sex together. It’s also very important (and easy!) to get tested for Chlamydia. This can be done on a urine sample or a vaginal or cervical swab test.
"If you are under 25 you can take part in the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (www.chlamydiascreening.nhs.uk). You can pick up a self-testing kit from GP surgeries, colleges, youth clubs and sexual health (family planning) clinics or NHS walk in centre.
"It’s a completely confidential service and you will be phoned or texted with your result about ten days later. Under 25s are advised to have a Chlamydia test every year if they are sexually active, and sooner if they change partner.
"Over 25s (and under 25s if they wish) can have free confidential Chlamydia tests from their GP, practice nurse, sexual health clinic, or Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) Department. Again, it’s a good idea if people have a test at the start of any new sexual relationship, if they feel they might have been at risk of infection or they have possible symptoms. "
So when it comes to Chlamydia the main message is - Look after yourself! Get tested! Use condoms!
For more information about Chlamydia in Sheffield visit http://www.allclearsheffield.nhs.uk.
For more information about the Central Sheffield GP Consortium, visit www.sheffieldhealth.co.uk
For Sheffield Contraception and Sexual Health Central Health Clinic (Mulberry Street), visit www.scash.nhs.uk
Department of GU Medicine Hallamshire hospital – 0114 2766 928.
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