Chlamydia
Chlamydia is the most common STI among young people on Saba. You can get this infection during sex, especially if you don’t use condoms. Sometimes you have symptoms, but often you won’t notice it at all. Chlamydia is easy to treat.
Chlamydia symptoms
When you’ve been infected with chlamydia, you can get symptoms within one to three weeks. Men usually notice they have chlamydia when they have discharge coming from their penis. It’s often watery and occurs after getting up in the morning (early-morning discharge). Peeing can be painful or give a burning sensation. In women, chlamydia can also cause discharge or irritation when you pee. Chlamydia can affect your anus too, giving symptoms like itching or pain when you’re having a poo.
Female symptoms
- More discharge than normal that may look different.
- Pain or burning sensation when peeing.
- Pain or vaginal bleeding during or after sex.
- Pain in the lower abdomen.
- Itching or irritation around the anus.
- Discharge (possibly containing blood) with feces (poo) or diarrhea.
Male symptoms
- Discharge from the tip of the penis that might be watery, mostly in the morning.
- Pain or burning sensation when peeing.
- Pain in the scrotum.
- Itching or irritation around the anus.
- Discharge (possibly containing blood) with feces (poo) or diarrhea.
Chlamydia with no symptoms
Women and girls usually don’t even notice that they have chlamydia. And about a quarter of the men or boys with chlamydia don’t have symptoms either. So, you can still have chlamydia even if you have no symptoms at all. And you can also pass on the infection during sex, without having any symptoms.
Easy to treat!
Chlamydia is easy to treat with antibiotics. Have you had unsafe sex? Or sex with someone who has chlamydia? Do you have one or more of these symptoms? Then call Saba Cares on +599.416.3288 or the Public Health department on +599. 416.5566.
What happens if chlamydia is left untreated?
If a chlamydia infection isn’t treated, most girls and women will never have any symptoms! But in some cases, the infection will spread to the fallopian tubes. This can cause severe lower abdominal pain, sometimes with a fever. Or chronic abdominal pain or difficulty getting pregnant later in life. Do you have any of these symptoms? Then make an appointment to see your doctor at Saba Cares.
Can chlamydia cause fertility problems?
It might, but there is only a very small risk. It is more likely if chlamydia infection is left untreated.