Genital Infections

It is possible to have a chlamydial infection and have no symptoms. Many people who do not know they are infected carry the infection for years, transmitting it to others and slowly scarring their genital organs with perhaps only nonspecific symptoms like vague back or pelvic pain, bowel trouble, painful intercourse, or loss of energy. If recognizable symptoms do occur, they usually appear within 1-3 weeks of exposure.

Symptoms in Men :

  • Purulent (made up of pus) discharge from the penis
  • Burning, itchy, or painful sensation while urinating
  • Swollen or tender testicles

Note: Fifty percent do not have symptoms.

Symptoms in Women :

  • Increased or abnormal vaginal discharge
  • Strong vaginal odor
  • Vaginal redness or irritation
  • Painful and frequent urination
  • Unusual vaginal bleeding (ie, between periods)
  • Pain or bleeding during or after sex
  • Abdominal pain

Note: Up to 90% do not have symptoms.

Untreated chlamydial STD can have serious results:

In Men :

Testicles : Chlamydia may cause epididymitis , a painful swelling and inflammation of the testicles that may lead to infertility.

Urethra : The inside of the urethra may become inflamed ( urethritis ), which will cause burning when passing urine and can lead to scarring, which can cause difficulty passing urine and even urine flow blockage.

Prostate : Chlamydia may cause inflammation of the prostate gland ( prostatitis ). Symptoms include pain in and around the groin and pelvis, discomfort when urinating, and perhaps flu-like symptoms—fever, chills, aching-all-over, lethargy.

Joints and eyes : Chlamydia may cause joint pain which is just one symptom in a collection of conditions, called Reiter's syndrome , which also includes urethritis, arthritis, and conjunctivitis (pink eye).

In Women :

Reproductive organs : Chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a serious infection that can lead to infertility, even in women who never have symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they are usually pelvic pain and pain with intercourse. PID causes scar tissue to form in the fallopian tubes and may even produce an abscess in a fallopian tube.

Scarring also increases the risk of a tubal pregnancy, as well as infertility. A tubal pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg cannot reach the uterus (womb) due to scarring in the fallopian tube. The result can be disastrous if an abscess or a tubal pregnancy is not removed surgically. Either one can rupture and cause bleeding or infection inside the abdomen—both surgical emergencies.

Appendix and liver : Chlamydia and gonorrhea can both cause inflammation inside the abdomen, not only around the reproductive organs, but also around the appendix or the liver. When the liver is involved the symptoms resemble gallbladder disease (cholecystitis) —fever and pain under the right ribs. This condition is called Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome. There may also be a vaginal discharge or bleeding from involvement of the cervix, or swelling and pain in small (Bartholin’s) glands in the external genitals.

In Both Sexes :

Rectum : Chlamydial infection can spread to the rectum or begin there from anal intercourse. It causes pain, anal discharge and bleeding, and lower abdominal cramping.

Throat : Oral sexual contact can lead to a chlamydial infection in the throat that resembles a strep throat .

Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV)

LGV, caused by different strains of Chlamydia trachomatis than those that cause nongonococcal urethritis (NGU), usually begins with a small and transient blister, lump, or ulcer in the genitals. This lesion usually goes unnoticed. Two to six weeks later, regional lymph nodes begin to swell, reach alarming proportions, and may form abscesses that drain pus. Other common symptoms include: fever, painful urination, pain in the low back, abdomen or the groin area. The most obvious site is in the groin. Untreated, the swollen nodes eventually resolve, leaving behind scars or lumps of scar tissue.

Eye Infections

Trachoma (and its industrialized counterpart— inclusion conjunctivitis ) begins like a mild case of pink eye or an allergic reaction in the eye. Slowly the upper eyelid becomes scarred and retracted, drawing the eyelashes into contact with the cornea and scratching it. A fogging of the cornea develops that eventually clouds over and obscures vision. There are an estimated 400 million cases of trachoma in the world today.

Lung Infections

Psittacosis (chlamydia infection in the lungs) may be an acute pneumonia with fever, chills, headache, productive cough, nosebleeds, light sensitivity, and the general miseries of a lethal total body sepsis (massive infection) or a more indolent, prolonged affliction resembling a bad cold or bronchitis . It may also involve other organs in the chest like the heart or the lung linings (pleura).

Neonatal Chlamydia

Pregnant women can transmit chlamydia to their newborns during birth. This may cause conjunctivitis (pink eye) or pneumonia in the baby.