My girlfriend just told me she was being treated for chlamydia. Should I get tested? Is this proof that she was cheating on me?
Yes, you should definitely get tested! No, thisdoesn't "prove" she was cheating. Unfortunately chlamydia is an STD that is often "silent," or doesn't have symptoms, but has serious complications. Either one of you could have been the culprit. Both men and women can be "asymptomatic," with women having fewer symptoms than men. As many as 85 percent of women with chlamydia are asymptomatic and 40 percent of men are asymptomatic, according to the Web site WebMD.
Men are more likely to "give" STDs, especially chlamydia and gonorrhea, than women. Men have keratinized epithelium, which can decrease the transmission rate. Keratin is a hard protein that is "protective," which is good because the male genitalia is external. Women have unkeratinized mucosa epithelium in the vagina, leaving them more susceptible. Also men ejaculate semen, which is a perfect mode of transportation for many STDs. This being said, men are less likely to get tested for chlamydia and often go undiagnosed.
Chlamydia is one of the most common STDs in the United States, with an estimated four million new cases a year, costing about $2.4 billion. It is caused by chlamydia trachomatis, a bacterium that lives inside of cells most of the time. Symptoms show up between one to three weeks after infection, including: abnormal discharge (mucus or pus) from the vagina or penis, pain while urinating or painful intercourse. Untreated infections have serious complications. Women can get PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease), which can lead to infertility. It is estimated that PID causes infertility in 100,000 women every year! Twenty percent of women with PID have infertility problems. PID is serious and sometimes causes abscesses. Perihepatitis is another complication, where fibrous adhesions attach the liver to the diaphragm. It looks like guitar strings between the liver and chest wall. Men can develop epididymis, which can lead to pain in the testicles or prostititis (prostate infection). Chlamydia rarely leads to infertility in men. Men are more likely to get Reiter's syndrome arthritis, uveitis and urethritis, or pain in your joints, eyes and penis, respectively. They can also have infections in the anus, eye (causing blindness) and throat.
Gonorrhea and chlamydia are traveling companions. If you have one, you have a greater chance of having the other. Doctors will usually test and treat you for both. The treatment for Chlamydia is a seven-day supply of doxycycline or a one-time dose of azithromycin, but other antibiotics can be used. Do not have sex until you and your partner(s) have been treated successfully! Remember you should always use condoms. It not only protects you from paternity, but will protect you from other STDs.
Lisa Hermann is a Cavalier Daily Health & Sexuality columnist. She can be reached at lisa@cavalierdaily.com or through the Sex & Balances submission page at cavalierdaily.com/sex.asp. This column is used for educational purposes only and is not meant to substitute advice from your doctor.
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