What is chlamydia?
Let’s talk Chlamydia! Chlamydia are bacteria and are transmitted via the mucous membranes during sex. An infection can cause inflammation and, if left untreated, can lead to infertility in the long term.
No symptoms, but still transmissible? This is the tricky part. A chlamydia infection often occurs without symptoms or with only very mild symptoms. This is why it is one of the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infections in Germany.
💡 Chlamydia can colonize the rectum (through anal intercourse)
💡 Chlamydia can colonize the throat (through oral sex)
💡 They cause inflammation in the genital tract, urethra and rectum
💡 The resulting inflammation of the mucous membrane makes HIV easier to transmit
Infections often go unnoticed for a long time and can spread to the fallopian tubes in women, causing inflammation and infertility. Chlamydia can also spread from the urethra to the prostate and epididymis in men and cause inflammation there.
Anyone who leads an active sex life with changing partners should seek advice on regular chlamydia tests.
What are the causes and symptoms of chlamydia?
Causes
Chlamydia is usually transmitted via vaginal and anal sex. The use of shared sex toys can also be a route of transmission. Basically, you can always become infected if your mucous membranes come into unprotected contact with the mucous membranes or bodily fluids of your sexual partner who is infected with chlamydia.
The mucous membranes of these organs can be affected by chlamydia:
- Vagina, fallopian tubes
- Urethra
- Rectum
- Throat
Symptoms
Chlamydia infections often progress without any recognizable symptoms. But when symptoms appear, they often express themselves as follows:
- Itching and urinary incontinence
- Mucopurulent discharge
- Diarrhea-like complaints
- Fever
- Heavy menstrual bleeding or intermenstrual bleeding (when infection moves into the uterus, fallopian tubes and abdominal cavity)
- Pain in the testicles
If transmitted through oral sex, chlamydia can also colonize the throat, but does not cause disease there and usually disappears after a few weeks.
The chlamydia home test from s.a.m health
Sex is beautiful and it should stay that way!
That’s why we at s.a.m health have made it our mission to give you more security on a regular basis when you’re enjoying yourself sexually.
With our STI test kit, you can easily get tested for chlamydia from home. In addition, the kit also contains a gonorrhoe test, syphilis testand HIV test. So you can be absolutely sure!
When should you take a chlamydia test?
In order to reliably detect a chlamydia infection, you should wait about 2-3 days (diagnostic window).
💡 If you have an active sex life with changing sexual partners, it is advisable to have a regular chlamydia test – for your own safety and to protect your sexual partners.
How is a chlamydia test carried out?
The new test method allows the bacteria to be detected just a few days after infection.
There are two reliable ways to detect a chlamydia infection:
- The chlamydia urine test: The first urine sample is used for the urine test
- The chlamydia smear test: The swab is used vaginally, anally or in the throat
If you are not quite sure how to carry out such a test correctly – no problem! We have a special page with instructions for taking samples.
What should I bear in mind during pregnancy? The chlamydia test is part of normal prenatal care!
How much does a chlamydia test cost?
Attention! The s.a.m. health test, other submission tests or home tests are not suitable if you have symptoms. In this case, you should always consult a doctor.
How can you treat chlamydia?
Last but not least – How do you get rid of chlamydia? The classic treatment for a chlamydia infection is antibiotics and lasts one week.
But we have good news: The earlier the infection is detected, the better – this can prevent late complications.
