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A Rising Trend in Teen Sex Lives |
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Written by Chrissy S.
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Friday, 15 September 2006 |
Chlamydia - A Rising Trend in Teen Sex Lives
One can now buy an at-home test for chlamydia, which is an especially good thing for adolescents because a teenager is highly unlikely to make a doctor's visit to find out if they have this sexually transmitted disease. It is hard enough being a teenager with all the accompanying pressures. Teenagers embarrass easily and the sheer thought of having possibly contracted a disease rates right up there with all the other things they are not about to tell any adult. Because they are likely to avoid seeing a doctor when they they should, chlamydia will only get worse.
This disease comes without warning. It sneaks in, mimicking other symptoms that do not seem as serious, such as urinary tract infections. If the teenager or adult misreads these symptoms and does not make an appointment with a doctor, they may opt to buy an over-the-counter medication. Sometimes the symptoms of chlamydia may actually subside. Don't be fooled into thinking that it has gone away. The symptoms will reoccur and this time will be more intense than the last. Down the line you will have to make a medical appointment so you are better off to do it at the beginning of symptoms and avoid the discomfort and added risk that waiting can bring.
Chlamydia is spread from person to person through sexual contact, either through the vagina or anus. This infection is a bacterium. The risk you pose to other sexual partners is something you may not be aware of if you are unsure you have this disease or have misdiagnosed the symptoms. If you have tried to treat it yourself and you have not told any of your sexual partners, you have now put them at risk of the disease. If you are not in a monogamous relationship, they can, in turn, spread the disease to whom ever they sleep with and it begins to rage out of control.
If you think you may have chlamydia, some symptoms to watch for are a yellowish vaginal discharge for women and a penile emission for men. You may also suffer some pelvic pain as the symptoms advance. If you get no treatment for chlamydia and simply turn a blind eye to it, women are risking infertility and men can experience a very unpleasant infection in the testes or prostate.
Chlamydia is contracted through unprotected sex with an infected partner. The chances of getting chlamydia are heightened through engaging in high-risk behavior with multiple partners. The possibility of becoming infected with chlamydia can be minimised by avoiding risky sexual behavior. To reduce your risk you should use latex or polyurethane sheaths during sex and limit your sexual partners.
In women, symptoms of chlamydia may include a yellowish vaginal secretion, bleeding after sexual relations, spot bleeding in between periods, and pelvic discomfort. Symptoms of chlamydia in men may include a yellowish discharge from the penis, a burning sensation during urination, and painful or swollen testicles.
In women, untreated chlamydia can spread into the pelvic area and infect the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, leading to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) the symptoms of PID include abdominal pain, lower back pain, pain with intercourse, spot bleeding between your cycles, and a high temperature. In men, untreated chlamydia can target the testicles, leading to swelling and pain along with infertility. Pelvic inflammatory disease is a serious disease and does require medical attention. It may cause lasting damage to a woman's reproductive organs and can lead to infertility.
What is the impact of chlamydia on pregnancy? Chlamydia can cause early labor and delivery and can be passed from mother to baby during birth. If an infant
were to be infected with chlamydia, they can develop conjunctivitis and pneumonia. If the baby does not receive treatment for this, there can be serious and permanent visual impairment.
The diagnosis of chlamydia is done by a laboratory with a urine sample you give to your doctor or a swab taken of the cervix. If you are a man, either a urine sample or a swab of your urethra will be taken.
Is chlamydia curable? Chlamydia can be easily treated and cured with antibiotics. Often if you have chlamydia, there is a high probability that gonorrhea is also present so you would be treated for both at the same time. |