Chlamydia
Infection
Chlamydia are bacteria that infect the mucous membranes of the urethra and glans, the throat and the rectum. So, if you have sex with a man who has chlamydia, you will almost inevitably come into contact with the bacteria. Much like gonococci – the bacteria that cause gonorrhoea – you can also become infected with chlamydia if, after masturbating or touching your partner’s bottom, bacteria from your fingers transfer to your penis or into your mouth (smear infection). You can also become infected with chlamydia through oral sex.
Disease Progression
A chlamydia infection may be asymptomatic. However, symptoms usually appear between one and three weeks after infection.
You may notice chlamydia in the penis due to a milky-white discharge from the urethra and a burning sensation when passing urine. If left untreated, the inflammation can spread to the epididymis and the prostate.
A chlamydia infection in the throat feels like a normal sore throat. So if you go to the doctor because of a sore throat and difficulty swallowing, you should ask them to take a swab so they can rule out chlamydia as the cause.
Chlamydia in the anus causes itching, a burning sensation and mucus in the stools. You’ll also constantly feel the need to go to the toilet. Anal sex whilst you have a chlamydia infection can be painful.
Treatment
There are antibiotics available to treat chlamydia. The treatment is usually completed after ten days.
Tips:
- Sexual partners whom you may have infected must also be treated. Otherwise, the so-called ‘ping-pong effect’ may occur, meaning you could become infected again straight after treatment.
- Condoms reduce the risk of contracting chlamydia, but do not offer 100 per cent protection.
- Chlamydia doesn’t always cause noticeable symptoms. If you have more than ten sexual partners a year or are HIV-positive, you should get tested for chlamydia once a year to be on the safe side. You can combine this with a test for gonorrhoea, which is transmitted in a similar way and causes similar symptoms to chlamydia.
- At Mann-O-Meter, you can find doctors who are not only experienced in diagnosing and treating chlamydia, but who are also comfortable discussing details of gay life!