July 21st, 2006, 09:47
Carrying on from "Is Sex Worth This Much Pain?" here is a piece I wrote for a UK magazine in a different and distant life:
One of the most common bacterial infections is also one of the least known, and it takes its toll on the health and well-being of both men and women.
The silent infection
ItтАЩs a common infection but the majority who are infected are unaware of the damage being done to their bodies. It is easily spread; even though it most commonly affects the genital area it can also infect the eyes, and throat, and other warm and moist areas. Chlamydia trachomatis is a sophisticated organism that acts like a virus, in that it lives inside the cell it infects. But unlike a virus it can easily and speedily be treated.
Although Chlamydia can occur at any age it is most prevalent among sexually active 16-24-year-olds, and is overwhelmingly spread through sexual intercourse with an affected partner. However, it can be spread from mother to baby during childbirth.
In many infected men and most women, Chlamydia will not show any symptoms, or the symptoms will appear many months or even years after the initial infection. The symptoms are different in men, women, and children.
In women the symptoms may be a redness and discomfort of the vagina and an unusual discharge. In men there may be a discharge from the end of the penis, and a burning sensation when urinating. If the infection is severe there may also be a low-grade fever. For women undiagnosed Chlamydial infections can have catastrophic health consequences, infection of the upper genital tract with Chlamydia trachomatis is the most frequent cause of pelvic inflammatory disease and it may cause infertility and on rare occasions even death.
In men it may cause an infection and inflammation of the testes and epididymis with the potential to cause sterility. It may also cause ReiterтАЩs Syndrome, where the joints, eyes and urethra become inflamed and painful.
New born babies who acquire the infection on their journey through the birth canal, will frequently have conjunctivitis, the eyes will become red, swollen and have a yellowish purulent discharge. A virulent form of throat infection may also present itself and this may progress to pneumonia, but with no fever. The baby will have a cough, will vomit and have a blueish or grayish tinge to the skin. But these symptoms will not appear for about two weeks after the birth.
The good news is that Chlamydia is easily treated with a single antibiotic dose or a five day course of antibiotics. The antibiotic treatment will cure the infection and you will remain infection free as long as sex with an infected partner is avoided. So during the treatment period and for a few days afterwards you should refrain from sexual intercourse. To avoid being re-infected your partner(s) should also be treated.
Because there are often no symptoms it may be difficult for others to accept that they have an infection, and they may be very reluctant to seek treatment, but it is important that they are treated. If abstaining from sexual intercourse is not an option then wearing a latex condom will provide a good barrier to the spread of Chlamydia.
But there is some good news Chlamydia can not be passed on by hugging, kissing, sharing baths, towels or sitting on the toilet seat.
With awareness and precautions this potentially devastating infection will be avoided.
One of the most common bacterial infections is also one of the least known, and it takes its toll on the health and well-being of both men and women.
The silent infection
ItтАЩs a common infection but the majority who are infected are unaware of the damage being done to their bodies. It is easily spread; even though it most commonly affects the genital area it can also infect the eyes, and throat, and other warm and moist areas. Chlamydia trachomatis is a sophisticated organism that acts like a virus, in that it lives inside the cell it infects. But unlike a virus it can easily and speedily be treated.
Although Chlamydia can occur at any age it is most prevalent among sexually active 16-24-year-olds, and is overwhelmingly spread through sexual intercourse with an affected partner. However, it can be spread from mother to baby during childbirth.
In many infected men and most women, Chlamydia will not show any symptoms, or the symptoms will appear many months or even years after the initial infection. The symptoms are different in men, women, and children.
In women the symptoms may be a redness and discomfort of the vagina and an unusual discharge. In men there may be a discharge from the end of the penis, and a burning sensation when urinating. If the infection is severe there may also be a low-grade fever. For women undiagnosed Chlamydial infections can have catastrophic health consequences, infection of the upper genital tract with Chlamydia trachomatis is the most frequent cause of pelvic inflammatory disease and it may cause infertility and on rare occasions even death.
In men it may cause an infection and inflammation of the testes and epididymis with the potential to cause sterility. It may also cause ReiterтАЩs Syndrome, where the joints, eyes and urethra become inflamed and painful.
New born babies who acquire the infection on their journey through the birth canal, will frequently have conjunctivitis, the eyes will become red, swollen and have a yellowish purulent discharge. A virulent form of throat infection may also present itself and this may progress to pneumonia, but with no fever. The baby will have a cough, will vomit and have a blueish or grayish tinge to the skin. But these symptoms will not appear for about two weeks after the birth.
The good news is that Chlamydia is easily treated with a single antibiotic dose or a five day course of antibiotics. The antibiotic treatment will cure the infection and you will remain infection free as long as sex with an infected partner is avoided. So during the treatment period and for a few days afterwards you should refrain from sexual intercourse. To avoid being re-infected your partner(s) should also be treated.
Because there are often no symptoms it may be difficult for others to accept that they have an infection, and they may be very reluctant to seek treatment, but it is important that they are treated. If abstaining from sexual intercourse is not an option then wearing a latex condom will provide a good barrier to the spread of Chlamydia.
But there is some good news Chlamydia can not be passed on by hugging, kissing, sharing baths, towels or sitting on the toilet seat.
With awareness and precautions this potentially devastating infection will be avoided.