Oral sex is considered by some to be a safer alternative to intimate physical contact when it comes to the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STIs). Oral sexual contact is a risk factor for the transmission of a number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Chlamydia may be cured with antibiotics in many situations; nevertheless, an untreated chlamydia infection can lead to major health issues, including early miscarriage and infertility. Antibiotics can cure chlamydia in many cases.
Types Of Chlamydia
There are three Chlamydia species that cause illness in humans. They comprise
- Chlamydia trachomatis
- Chlamydia pneumoniae
- Chlamydia psittaci
Chlamydia Trachomatis
The urethra, cervix, and rectum are only some of the various bodily parts that may get infected by C. trachomatis. Transmission occurs mostly via sexual contact between adults and may occur during pregnancy. The majority of bacterial STIs in the US are caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. Sexually transmitted infections are illnesses that may be spread from one person to another during a sexual encounter. C. trachomatis may cause the following diseases when transferred via sexual contact:
- Urethritis and, much less often, epididymitis are two of the most prevalentinflammatory diseases of male reproductive organs.
- Disorders of the female reproductive system, include cervicitis, urethritis, and pelvic inflammatory illness
- Rarely seen in females, rectal infection (proctitis), genital lymphogranuloma, and reactive arthritis all occur together.
- During delivery, a pregnant woman infected with C. trachomatis may spread the illness to her unborn child, putting the infant at risk for conjunctivitis or pneumonia.
Universal prenatal screening and treatment of pregnant women is done to avoid these illnesses in neonates. With these safeguards in place, the number of cases of conjunctivitis and pneumonia among newborns in the United States has dropped significantly. This eye illness, known as trachoma, is caused by some strains of the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. The most common infectious cause of blindness worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, is trachoma, a chronic infection of the conjunctiva. This condition often manifests in young children, between the ages of 3 and 6. Infected individuals spread the disease by touching anything that has been contaminated with their eye or nasal discharge, such as their hands, clothes, or towels.
Insects may also play a role in the disease's transmission.
Chlamydia Pneumoniae
- Pneumonia-causing C. pneumoniae (pneumonia). Droplets containing C. pneumoniae are transmitted from infected person to healthy person by coughing and sneezing in close quarters.
- C. pneumoniae is suspected in a large number of community-acquired pneumonia cases. An increased risk of contracting C. pneumoniae exists in confined communities such those found in hospitals, schools, military bases, and jails.
- C. pneumoniae has been linked to causing reactive airway illness (a diagnosis that doctors give when they suspect a person has asthma but have not yet confirmed it).
Chlamydia Psittaci
- Psittacosis, brought on by C. psittaci, is a rare form of pneumonia. Birds, including domesticated species like parrots and cockatiels and wild birds like turkeys and ducks, carry the bacterium Clostridium psittaci.
- Humans may get the disease via breathing in dust contaminated with bird faces. Workers at chicken processing factories have been experiencing outbreaks.
Causes Of Chlamydia
Sexually transmitted chlamydia infections are spread when infected vaginal fluid or sperm is exchanged between partners. All forms of sexual interaction, even those that don't involve penetration or ejaculation, are considered sexual contact. Chlamydia-causing germs may be spread via a variety of routes, including contact with vaginal discharge. There are multiple ways to happened this infection directly or indirectly.
- Intercourse. It is possible for bacteria to spread from one person's genitalia to their partner's and vice versa.
- Anal sex. Bacteria may be transmitted from one genital area to another by direct contact, or by sharing an anus.
- Oral sex. The oral cavity is a common transfer point for bacteria to the penis, vagina, and anus.
- Toys that are kept in a personal space like a bedroom. A person's mouth, penis, vagina, or anus might be contaminated with germs if they play with a toy that has bacteria on it.
- Genital or anus stimulation by manual manipulation. Conjunctivitis, an infection of the eye, may sometimes be transmitted by the introduction of contaminated vaginal fluid or sperm.
One individual may have tested positive for chlamydia and/or gonorrhoea, but their sexual partner may have tested negative for both of these infections. There are a variety of possible reasons for this.
The following are some instances of this:
- Because the majority of people who carry chlamydia and gonorrhoea do not experience any symptoms, the person who tested positive for the infection may have had it in a previous relationship but has not yet passed it on to their current partner.
- When one sexual partner tests positive for chlamydia or gonorrhoea, testing for these illnesses should be performed on all other sexual partners.
- A person who has a negative chlamydia or gonorrhoea test may in fact be infected with the diseases; however, they may not have provided a sample that is reflective of their infection
Symptoms
Few or no symptoms are often seen in the early stages of a Chlamydia trachomatis infection. When symptoms do appear, they are often subtle to the point of being missed.
The symptoms of a Chlamydia trachomatis infection may include:
- Urination which pains
- The male condition of urinating outside the genitalia
- Intermenstrual and post-sexual bleeding in women
- Men's testicular discomfort
In addition to the aforementioned, men and women experience a small number of additional symptoms uniquely. The question is, how can one know whether they have Chlamydia?
When it comes to females
- Discharge from the vagina that is white, yellow, or grey and perhaps stinky.
- Pressure to urinate increases.
- The dreaded bladder pain or burning feeling (dysuria).
- Negative impact of bleeding between periods.
- Menstrual pains.
- Negative and distressing sexual encounters (dyspareunia).
- Vaginal itching or burning.
- A dull ache in your lower stomach.
Among males, symptoms
- Fetish-like discharge from the penile tip, either clear or hazy
- Irritating Urination
- Redness, swelling, and itching at the penile opening
- Discomfort and swelling in the scrotum
- Discharge from the penis that resembles mucus or is clear and watery.
- The dread bladder pain or burning feeling (dysuria).
Diagnose And Test
You should see a doctor as soon as possible if you have any reasonable cause to believe that you could have chlamydia and are having any symptoms, regardless of where those symptoms are presenting themselves (in the throat or the genitalia).
- Using nucleic acid amplification test required by which we can detect Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae.
- To diagnose C. psittaci, a blood test is required.
- Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) on urine and vaginal swabs are the gold standard for detecting C. trachomatis.
- NAATs are designed to detect the DNA or RNA that is specific to a certain organism (which are nucleic acids). To facilitate identification of bacteria, NAATs use a method that amplifies the quantity of the bacterium's DNA or RNA.
- Nail-scratch agglutination tests (NAATs) and nasopharyngeal swabs for laboratory cell culture are both used to identify C. pneumoniae.
- People who have had frequent and prolonged contact with birds, especially parrots and parakeets, are at a higher risk of contracting C. psittaci. Currently, NAATs are being developed, but blood tests that identify antibodies are how doctors confirm a diagnosis.
Diagnose
- Although there are many chlamydia screening tests available, throat chlamydia testing is not often included in the scope of standard testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
- A nucleic acid amplification test is the method of choice for diagnosing chlamydia the vast majority of the time (NAAT). In order to collect fluid from you, your doctor may collect a sample of your urine from you or swab the inside of your vaginal or cervical canal. The sample is subsequently sent to a laboratory in order to determine which germs are responsible for chlamydia.
- A standard test for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) may also be carried out, which can include either a medical exam or a cheek swab in order to identify the visibility of infectious organisms.
Chlamydia is curable with the right treatment. However, antibiotic resistance is emerging in several STI bacteria, making treatment more challenging.
Tests
- In a week or two of antibiotic treatment, chlamydia may be cured. However, even if your symptoms improve, you should continue taking your prescription as prescribed.
- You should also make sure any sexual partners who may be sick receive treatment and refrain from engaging in sexual behaviors that might lead to reinfection as part of your therapy.
- Make careful to take all of the prescribed antibiotics, even if your condition improves or goes away completely. If treatment is stopped too soon, the infection may return.
Treatment Through Medication
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) 2015 Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) guidelines, azithromycin (Zithromax) 1 gram given orally in a single dose and ceftriaxone (Rocephin) 250 mg given entire procedure is the recommended first-line therapy for gonorrhea-chlamydia coinfection.
- Ceftriaxone and azithromycin, when used as a dual treatment, should be given on the same day, preferably at the same time, and under strict medical supervision.
- In the instance that you have an allergy to penicillin, are pregnant, or are nursing your child, your physician may recommend a different antibiotic. If the physician is concerned about the potential for significant repercussions caused by chlamydia, he or she may recommend taking antibiotics for a longer period of time.
- It's possible that some people may have more severe negative effects from their drug than others, although these instances are very uncommon. Pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting are some of the adverse responses that are reported the most often, particularly by female users.
Risks
- According to information provided by Reliable Source from the CDC, having chlamydia in the throat "may" increase the chance of contracting HIV.
- Chlamydia infection in the throat may make a person more vulnerable to illnesses caused by bacteria and viruses. Because it is concentrating its efforts on eliminating the chlamydia bacteria, your immune system will be less effective in warding off other diseases while it is doing so.
- Some of the dental problems that might arise as a consequence of this include severe tooth pain, gum disease, and tooth decay.
- The uterus, the ovaries, or the fallopian tubes are all potential sites of chlamydia transmission in females. The result might be a disorder known as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).Many major issues may arise from PID.
- Consistent sperm count below 0.5, or trouble conceiving.
- In women experiencing pelvic discomfort, the likelihood of having an unstable pregnancy increases.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and some verified laboratories has produced a list of frequently asked questions in order to provide readers with a clear understanding of chlamydia and the treatment options available for it. The following are some examples that highlight this point:
What Is The Frequency Of People Does Chlamydia Occur?
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were 131 million new cases of chlamydia infections in adults and teens worldwide between the ages of 15 and 49 in 2012. This is on top of the 128 million previous cases. There have been the most reports of cases in the Americas Region of the WHO and the Western Pacific Region of the WHO.
- In the Americas region in 2012, there were about 18.8 million women with previous conditions and 4.5 million men with preexisting conditions, with an additional 17.8 million women and 7 million men developing new conditions.
- Across the globe, chlamydia is most prevalent in young women between the ages of 15 and 19, then again between the ages of 20 and 24.
- Infection with both chlamydia and gonorrhea is common, with estimates ranging from 10% to 40%.
How Can Chlamydia Effect A Pregnant Mother And Her Unborn Child?
Pregnancy-related chlamydial infection has been associated to premature delivery and low birth weight. Babies born to moms with chlamydia are at risk for contracting the disease, which may cause serious complications such as pneumonia and eye infections.
What Information Do I Need To Know Before Starting Treatment For Chlamydia?
- Take all of your prescribed medication as directed, even if your symptoms improve before that. Before all of the antibiotics have been consumed, the illness will continue to spread throughout the body.
- You and your partner(s) should both be treated for chlamydia to prevent spreading the infection.
- Put off sexual activity for a week. Just have sex 7 days after taking the prescription if you only have one dosage. You should wait 7 days after finishing your medication before engaging in sexual activity.
- Get re - evaluated in three to four months to ensure that the infection is completely gone.
After Using Chlamydia Medicine, Is It Possible To Have Any Adverse Reactions?
In order to cure chlamydia, the medication doxycycline is often used. It is possible for there to be severe adverse effects on very rare occasions. The most common adverse reactions to doxycycline are nausea, vomiting, stomach discomfort, lack of appetite, diarrhea, skin rash or itching, skin color change, vaginal irritation, or discharge. Other potential side effects include changes in skin color.
What Are The Possible Outcomes Of Ignoring Chlamydia Treatment?
- In spite of the fact that chlamydia is quite common and, in most cases, does not produce any symptoms, the infection may become a significant problem if it is not detected and treated in its early stages.
- If not treated, chlamydia may spread to both the uterus and the ovaries if it is allowed to go unchecked. In addition, it increases the risk of developing a condition known as "pelvic inflammatory illness" (PID).
- PID may lead to a variety of long-term consequences, including pain, infertility, and issues during pregnancy, to name just a few of them. Therefore, by undergoing chlamydia testing on a regular basis, you may lower the likelihood that you will get PID.
- In the absence of treatment, a chlamydia infection in the penis has the potential to spread to the epididymis, which may result in chronic joint pain it is possible that it might result in infertility in very isolated cases.
Is It Likely That One May Get Chlamydia Via Oral Contact?
- Chlamydia may be transmitted from one person to another by sexual intercourse in any of three ways: vaginally, orally, or anally. Oral chlamydia is not nearly as frequent as the vaginal type of the disease, which is more common.
- Oral chlamydia could cause pain in the mouth and throat, in addition to redness in those areas. It is essential that you be tested for sexually transmitted infections on a regular basis.
- The majority of people who have oral chlamydia don't have any symptoms, so it may be difficult to tell whether you have the infection.
Is There Any Way To Cure Chlamydia?
Yes, it is; but, even if you have previously had chlamydia and were successfully treated for it with a round of antibiotics, you still run the risk of contracting the sexually transmitted infection (STI) again in the future.
When Will I Know If I Have Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is characterized by a discharge and pain during urination, both of which are frequent symptoms. Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease. Visit our page on the symptoms of chlamydia to learn more about the condition.
How Can I Protect Myself From Getting Chlamydia?
When engaging in sexual activity or a sexual encounter, protecting oneself by using a condom is an effective approach to do so. The strategy that has the best chance of success is avoiding any sexual contact.
When Does Chlamydia Firstly Become Evident?
The vast majority of individuals with chlamydia will be completely unaware that they have it. A chlamydia infection might be suspected if you have any kind of abnormal vaginal or penile discharge. Chlamydia symptoms may also include pelvic pain, bleeding, or discharge.
Is There A Chlamydia Odor, Or Is There None?
The odor of chlamydia is not always present. However, chlamydia is characterized by an atypical and foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
How Can Chlamydia Impact A Person's Ability To Have Sexual Relations?
When chlamydia is treated, the infection will often disappear within a week or two at the most. When treating a disease, it is essential to take all of the recommended medication until the end of the course. While you are on medicine, you should avoid engaging in sexual activity since it puts you at risk of re-infection.
Is It Possible To Recover From Chlamydia Without Going Through Treatment?
- Never make the assumption that chlamydia will cure itself on its own. If you choose not to get treatment for your chlamydia infection, it might put your health in serious jeopardy.
- Participating in sexual activity puts you at risk of catching and transmitting infections to others, which may put those around you at risk of developing life-threatening health conditions as a direct consequence.
When My Medication Is Done, How Fast Might I Expect An Improvement In My Health?
You should start to feel significantly better around one week after beginning therapy with antibiotics. Even though your symptoms may have improved, it is still important for you to complete the whole course of antibiotics that your doctor has recommended for you.
Are There Any Actions You Can Do That Won't Put You At Danger Of Getting Chlamydia?
The transmission of chlamydia requires close physical contact as well as the exchange of body fluids; however, these conditions are not always met. Chlamydia is not contagious via the following:
- Kissing.
- The act of two or more people getting together and sharing a meal or a drink.
- The act of directly contacting another person, most often via the exchange of hugs or handholding.
- Sanitization of the toilet after the someone used.
Conclusion
Chlamydia is a very infectious infection that may be passed on via close contact with contaminated blood or other bodily fluids. Chlamydia infections may present themselves in locations other than the genitalia, including the eyes, mouth, and lymph nodes, as well as the anus. Due to a lack of treatment options for reoccurring ocular chlamydia infections, trachoma is the leading avoidable cause of blindness in developing nations. It is possible to avoid getting HIV by not having sexual relations, by using condoms, or by restricting sexual activity to a single partner who is not infected with the virus. Antibiotics, namely azithromycin and doxycycline, may be used as efficient therapies for chlamydia.
References
- https://www.everlywell.com/blog/sti-testing/chlamydia-in-the-throat/#:~:text=Chlamydia%20in%20the%20throat%20may,caused%20by%20a%20bacterial%20infection
- https://www.khealth.com/learn/std/chlamydia-in-throat/
- https://lloydspharmacy.com/blogs/sexual-health/chlamydia-in-mouth-and-throat
- https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p0/p00197.pdf
- https://www.drugs.com/azithromycin.html
- https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/antibiotics-treat-chlamydia-gonorrhea-3121689/
- https://www3.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15066:infeccion-for-clamidias-preguntas-frecuentes&Itemid=0&lang=en#gsc.tab=0
- https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/infections/chlamydial-infections-and-mycoplasmas/chlamydial-infections
