What is Chlaymdia?

Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection, affecting 3 to 4 million people each year.

It is easily transmitted from person to person through unprotected vaginal, oral, and anal sex.

What are the symptoms?

In many cases chlamydia is asymptomatic, with the infected individual not noticing any symptoms. However, the most common symptoms experienced include a burning sensation when urinating, in both men and women and often a discharge from the penis in men and from the vagina in women. Less common symptoms include lower abdominal pain.

Men may also experience tender or swollen testicles when infected with chlamydia and if left untreated can spread to the testicles causing epididymitis, which can further cause infertility if left untreated long enough.

If left untreated in women, chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, which can cause scarring inside a woman’s reproductive organs, which can lead to complications and difficulties in becoming pregnant.

Treating Chlaymdia

A short course of Azithromycin is effective at treating chlamydia. A dose of 1g (4 x 250mg tablets) is taken as a single dose. Subsequent doses are not usually required.

Prevention

Practicing safe sexual intercourse and using condoms is the safest way to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, as well as preventing unwanted pregnancy.

The most common side effects of this medicine is nausea and diarrhoea. For a full list of the side effects please check the patient information leaflets.

Please click here for an information leaflet