Chlamydia Symptoms in Women

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and it can affect women without causing noticeable symptoms. In this article, we will explain the symptoms of chlamydia in women and how they manifest in detail.

Chlamydia Symptoms in Women

In fact, 75% of women infected with chlamydia do not show any symptoms. For this reason, chlamydia is often referred to as the "silent disease." In many cases, it does not cause any symptoms at all, or it may cause very mild symptoms that go unnoticed or are mistaken for something else. This is one of the key reasons behind its widespread occurrence.

However, if symptoms do appear, they usually show up within one to three weeks after the bacteria enter the body, but in some cases, they may take months to develop. The symptoms of chlamydia in women include:

• Painful urination.
• Pus in the urine.
• Unusual vaginal discharge, which is usually white, yellow, or gray and may have an odor.
• Abdominal or pelvic pain.
• Pain during and after sexual intercourse.
• Bleeding after intercourse.
• Bleeding between menstrual periods.
• Painful menstrual periods.
• Itching and burning in and around the vagina.
• Fever in some cases.

Chlamydia can lead to serious complications in women. The bacteria may spread to the uterus, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is a major cause of ectopic pregnancy and infertility in women. Symptoms of PID include:

1. Fever.
2. Severe pelvic pain.
3. Nausea.
4. Abnormal vaginal bleeding between periods.

Other Symptoms of Chlamydia

Chlamydia symptoms in women are not limited to the reproductive system. Women can also develop chlamydia in other parts of the body, such as:

• Rectum: Pain, discomfort, and persistent bleeding.
• Throat: Sore throat, redness, ulcers in the mouth and throat, and white patches at the back of the mouth.
• Eyes: Redness, pain, and discharge from the eyes.

Chlamydia Diagnosis

After discussing symptoms, the doctor will perform a physical exam to look for any sores, spots, or abnormal discharge that may indicate chlamydia.

Depending on the patient's health condition and medical history, the doctor may request one or more tests to diagnose chlamydia.

The most common test is the Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT), which involves taking a swab from the vagina, cervix, urethra, or rectum, or a urine sample to detect the bacteria causing chlamydia.

Blood tests may also be ordered to detect chlamydia antibodies. While chlamydia is not transmitted through blood, blood tests can identify antibodies and confirm whether a previous or current infection is present.

Blazma offers blood tests to detect chlamydia infection, including Chlamydia Trachomatis Ab-IgM and Chlamydia Trachomatis Ab-IgG, which do not require any prior preparation for the test.

Chlamydia Complications in Women

As mentioned earlier, if left untreated, chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can damage the uterus, cervix, and ovaries. 

Chlamydia can also lead to infertility in women because the fallopian tubes can become scarred. In pregnant women, the infection can be passed to the baby during delivery, causing eye infections and pneumonia in newborns.