Chlamydia trachomatis is the bacteria responsible for a very frequent sexually transmitted infection in the world called “chlamydiosis”. Symptoms in men and women, screening test, transmission, the most effective treatments … We take stock.
Chlamydia is the bacteria responsible for a Sexually transmitted infection (IST) very frequent in the world called “chlamydiosis“. This infection is transmitted during preliminaries and unprotected sex (genital, anal, buccogenital or bucco-anal report) or by transmission from mother to child during childbirth. The pathogen of this infection is known as CHlamydia trachomatis. Infections at Chlamydiae can cause high genital infections in women, a sterility, an extra-uterine pregnancy And the breach of the newborn if the mother is infected. The risks of complications mainly concern women, but Men can also be affected (epididymitis, prostatitis) and can transmit chlamydiae to their partner.
According to Public Health France, 124,000 people were diagnosed with a chlamydia in 2020 of which 70% women. In 2021, the Chlamydia screening rate is almost three times higher (61.5 per 1,000) than in men (22.8 per 1,000).
Chlamydiosis is the most frequent sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Europe. Half of cases (men or women) are asymptomatic. This is why this infection is considered a “silent disease“. Any sexually active person can therefore without knowing how to carry an STI and contaminate their partner. However, some symptoms can manifest itself a few weeks after the infection.
The woman may have:
- burns sensations by urinating,
- abdominal pain,
- unusual and sometimes smelly vaginal losses,
- bleeding between its menstruation or after reports,
- pain during sex,
- An abnormal flow by the anus.
In humans, incubation lasts from 7 to 10 days. Man can feel:
- a tingling and itching at the urethra,
- burns when it urinates,
- pain and swelling in the testicles,
- Inflammation of the wall of the rectum.
This STI is caused by a pathogenic bacteria known as Chlamydia trachomatis which is housed in the cervix and goes back to the urethra, even to the rectum.
The Chlamydia bacteria is generally transmitted during unprotected sexual penetration, whether it be vaginal, anal or oral Or During Buccogenital or Bucco-Anal preliminaries (blowjob, cunnilingus, anulingus). More rarely, it can be transmitted from the mother to the newborn during a natural childbirth, if the mother carries the bacteria or is infected.
The people most likely to be infected with chlamydia are those who have several sexual partners, and with whom they have unprotected relationships. The people most affected by this STI are women aged 14 to 25 and men aged 20 to 24.
It is essential to be tested after a risk report, to be treated as quickly as possible, avoid contaminating your partner or again, to have serious complications (chronic pelvic pain, sterility, weakening of mucous membranes, increased risk of HIV contamination, etc.). Today, “Screening is the only way to establish a diagnosis“. So, how to be tested?
- Fast and painless, screening takes place by local sampling in women (Using a cotton swab and an examination of the cervix), and by local sampling or urine analysis in men.
- Screening is done in the laboratory in exchange for a medical prescription, in a free information, screening and diagnostic center (CEGIDD) or in a family planning or education center.
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Towards systematic screening? At the request of the Directorate General of Health (DGS), the High Authority for Health (HAS) now recommends to young women from 15 to 25 sexually active – and including pregnant women – to carry out at least screening for infections Chlamydia trachomatis (bacteria responsible for genital chlamydiosis). Indeed, many women carry this bacteria without knowing it. However, if the infection is detected very quickly, it can easily be treated thanks to antibiotics. Then, a second screening, carried out between 3 and 6 months after treatment, makes it possible to verify that the bacteria was processed. In addition, “a targeted opportunistic screening must be offered to sexually active men, presenting risk factors, whatever age, sexually active women over 25, presenting risk factors and pregnant women consulting for an abortion, without age limit”, advocates HAS in a statement of October 23, 2018. Among the risk factors, there is the multipartenariat (at least two partners in The year), the history of STIs, the change of recent partner, the fact for a man to have sex with men … In this context, the vaginal or urinary self-pronouncement could be an alternative more proposed in all places of screening, adds the HAS. |
If the screening result is positive: a antibiotic treatment adapted (most often based onazithromycin for a single socket, or doxycycline For a seven -day treatment) is prescribed to the carrier of IST as well as their partners. This treatment will remove the bacteria responsible for the infection. In a few cases, an infection – even well treated – persists. Do not hesitate to do an additional test approximately 5 weeks after the end of treatment and a third, 3 to 6 months later. Finally, to get more likely to completely eradicate the bacteria, it is advised:
- To complete the entire prescription even if you notice the disappearance of the symptoms during treatment;
- To ensure that his partner gets treatment in the same way;
- Avoid having sex or at least use a condom until you perform negative screening.
ISTs and chlamydiosis are mainly transmitted during preliminaries and unprotected sexual intercourse With penetration, whether vaginal, anal or oral. So, alone the use of a condom protects from an infection. A dental dike can also be used during cunnilingus.
On the Health Forum: discussions about Chlamydia
Retain
► Chlamydia is transmitted during an unprotected sexual intercourse: penetration and preliminaries (genital, anal, buccogenital or bucco-anal)
► The majority of infections are asymptomatic hence the importance of being tested if we have several sexual partners.
► Man can transmit the bacteria to his partner.
► Chlamydiae infections can make the woman sterile.
► The condom protects from the infection.
