Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease that is caused by an infection by a bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis. Among women, this disease usually affects the cervix and the uterus. On the other hand, this disease affects men in the urethra in the penis.
Chlamydia is a treatable disease. Hence, when you are experiencing symptoms of this disease, or if you think your sexual partner was infected, you should get tested as soon as possible. Chlamydia may have the same symptoms as the other sexually transmitted diseases,which is why testing is necessary.
Can You Have Chlamydia for Years Without Symptoms?
According to CDC, this disease is a silent infection. Hence, most people are who are suffering from Chlamydia are asymptomatic or lacking of examination findings. Although the incubation period of the infection is undefined, the replication cycle of the symptoms may not appear until weeks of exposure to infected people.
According to experts of Mayoclinic, it can be difficult to detect Chlamydia during the early stage of infections due to very few signs and symptoms. The symptoms usually appear one to three weeks after being exposed to chlamydia. Moreover, signs and symptoms of chlamydia are often mild and passing, making it hard to be noticed.
So Can You Have Chlamydia for Years?
According to the experts, chlamydia was never been known to exist for years. This infection can actually fester for almost 2 months but was never been known to last for years without any visible signs and symptoms. On the other hand, if a person is infected for years, he/she is likely to have developed other problems like PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease). Moreover, this disease can never stay dormant for years because it should have been diagnosed in medical tests.
How to Know If I Have Chlamydia?
Although most people who are infected with chlamydia may not have symptoms, there are things that are found to be common signs for the disease that usually appear after several weeks of having sex with and infected person.
The symptoms in men may differ from the symptoms in women. However, for both men and women, chlamydia primarily affects the reproductive system. Women who are suffering from this type of disease may notice vaginal discharge, and pain when urinating. On the other hand, the symptoms in men include abnormal discharge from the penis, pain when urinating and swelling and pain in one or both testicles. In addition, men and women can also get chlamydia from having anal sex with and infected partner. This can cause rectal pain, bleeding, and abnormal discharge.
Be Informed About the Harms of Chlamydia
Although chlamydia is a curable disease, an infected person should not be complacent even if there are no symptoms. Untreated chlamydia can cause several complications like infertility for women. Chlamydia infects the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Untreated chlamydia can also result to pelvic inflammatory disease. Moreover, chlamydia can cause abdominal pain, inflammation of pelvic organs, and pain during sex. Untreated chlamydia can also affect your pregnancy.
Another danger of chlamydia is having ectopic pregnancy. For women who got infected with chlamydia while pregnant, there is the danger of passing the infection to the infant especially during vaginal child birth. If this happens, the infant is at risk of having eye infections, and pneumonia.
Why Should I Have Treatment If I Have No Symptoms?
Can you have Chlamydia for years? Even though you are not experiencing any symptoms and you are infected with chlamydia, it is still highly necessary to get treatment. Without proper treatment, the infection may spread and cause other severe complications even after months or years of getting the infection. Moreover, there is a danger of passing the infection to your sexual partners even if there are no signs and symptoms.
If you are interested to find out “can you get Chlamydia from kissing” or how people get Chlamydia, click here.
