Chlamydia Gonorrhea

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Chlamydia Gonorrhea are often seen together and are two of the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infections. Chlamydia is usually seen first and occurs in up to 3-4 million people each year. Gonorrhea is often an infection that coexists with Chlamydia with new infections of gonorrhea reaching 700,000 each year. Chlamydia and Gonorrhea affect both men and women and leave those affected at risk for many other diseases and conditions.

Both these infections can be transmitted by all types of sexual contact including anal and oral, and can be passed from mother to child during a vaginal delivery. Gonorrhea can exist not just in the genitals but also in the eyes, mouth and throat. While most people will exhibit symptoms of either or both, there are some who will have no symptoms at all.

Symptoms in women for chlamydia and gonorrhea include irregular bleeding or spotting, unusual vaginal discharge, burning or pain while urinating, vaginal burning and possibly pelvic pain should the bacteria have progressed beyond the vaginal area. Risk factors in women for these two bacterial infections include pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancies and infertility.

The symptoms in men with chlamydia and gonorrhea are usually milder than in women, and may include burning during urination and a change in discharge from the penis. Often symptoms in men will resolve themselves in men without treatment but they still need to be treated as the infection is most likely still present. The presence of either of these two bacterial infections will increase a male’s chance of other infections such as testicular and prostrate infections.

Diagnosing chlamydia and gonorrhea usually requires taking samples of the cells from the affected areas or sometimes a urine sample may show the bacteria. Most health agencies recommend that both men and women that are sexually active should be routinely screened for these STD’s as well as others such as hepatitis, syphilis and HIV.

Treating chlamydia and gonorrhea entails both sexual partners taking antibiotics at the same time while abstaining from sexual intercourse until seven days after the medication has been completed. You will most likely need two separate antibiotics if you have both chlamydia and gonorrhea which is quite common and many doctors will treat this way just as a precaution. If both partners do not comply with these requirements the chance of re-infection is high.

Prevention of chlamydia and gonorrhea entails safe sex practices such as not having sexual intercourse unless you are in a long term monogamous relationship. While condoms can help they are not perfect at preventing sexual transmitted disease and should not be relied on.