Introduction
Chlamydia is a bacterial species and is divided into different strains. Chlamydia trachomatis, which is transmitted through sexual intercourse and is one of the most common infectious diseases, is very important. But what symptoms do chlamydia cause and how can an infection be detected early? This is important to know, because an unnoticed and therefore untreated chlamydia infection can cause serious consequences such as infertility.
Overview of symptoms of a Chlamydia infection
Depending on the subgroup of chlamydia, different symptoms occur. Possible symptoms are listed below. It is important to note that almost 70-80% of affected women experience no symptoms at all. Lymph node swelling Joint pain (possible)
- Fever
- Lymph node swelling
- Joint pain (possible)
- Increased discharge with odor
- Burning when urinating
- Pain in the abdomen
- Intermediate bleeding
- Bleeding during or after sexual intercourse
- Cervical Inflammation
- Inflammation of the fallopian tubes, ovarian inflammation up to infertility
- Conjunctivitis, in the worst case up to blindness
- Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses (sinusitis) up to pneumonia
Altered vaginal discharge
If your vaginal discharge is no longer milk-white, but has a yellowish color and a strong odor, you should urgently consult a doctor. Yellowish, sticky discharge can indicate a Chlamydia infection, which is mainly transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse. If not treated, in the worst case infertility can occur, so we strongly recommend that you consult your doctor if there are changes in vaginal discharge.
Odor
If there is a Chlamydia infection, the vaginal discharge and urine often smell differently. The smell is described by affected persons as strong and pungent.
Intermediate and post-coital bleeding
A typical symptom of chlamydia infection in women is light bleeding. This can occur as inter-bleeding between two monthly periods or can manifest itself as an increased period. In addition, slight bleeding may occur during or after sexual intercourse. However, bleeding is not evidence of a Chlamydia infection, but may have other causes. A medical presentation is therefore strongly recommended.
