Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Share with Women Share with Chlamydia and Gonorrhea What are chlamydia and gonorrhea? Two infections that youcan get from havingsex with another person are calledchlamydia andgonorrhea.They are causedbybacteria that are passedfrom your sexualpartner to you. Itiscommontohave chlamydia and gonorrhea at the same time.Theseinfectionscan move up from your vagina andcervix(opening to the womb) to infect your uterus (womb) andfallopian tubes(tubes that carryyoureggs from yourovaries to your uterus). Chlamydia andgonorrhea can also grow in the rectumand rarely in the mouth, throat, or eyes. How do I know if I have chlamydia or gonorrhea? Mostwomendonothaveanysymptoms ofchlamydia or gonorrhea. Some women haveabnormalvaginaldis- charge,burning when theyurinate (pee), or bleedingbetween periods. Many men who have chlamydia or gon- orrhea will haveadischarge (fluid that leaks) from their penis or burning when theyurinate.Yourhealth care provider will takeasampleoffluidfrom your cervix with a cotton swab or a urine sampletotest for the bacteria. How did I get chlamydia or gonorrhea? Youcan get chlamydia or gonorrhea by havingvaginal, oral, or analsex with a person who has the bacteria.A man does not havetoejaculate (release semen) to pass the bacteria.Youcan get chlamydia andgonorrhea again ifyou have sex again before your sexualpartner is treated. What are the risks of chlamydia and gonorrhea? If you have chlamydia or gonorrhea and are not treated, youcan get pelvic inflammatorydisease (PID). This is a verybad infection that can cause scarring in your fallopian tubes. If youget pregnant after havingPID,you can havealife-threatening typeofpregnancy called ectopicpregnancy, whichis a pregnancy that is outsidethe uterus andcan’t live.Youcan alsohaveinfertility, whichis not being abletoget pregnant when you want to become pregnant.There is a chance you may never beabletogive birth to a child. When should I see my health care provider to be tested for chlamydia or gonorrhea? r If you think or know you havehadsex with a person who haschlamydia or gonorrhea. r If you thinkyourinfectedsexualpartner was not treated after you were treated. r If yourmale sexualpartner hasburning or discharge from hispenis. r If you have sex with a new person or ifyou have sex with more than one person. r If you havehad another sexually transmitted infection. r All women aged25andyounger should haveatest for chlamydia onceayear. What is the best treatment for chlamydia? You will be given antibioticpills to get rid ofchlamydia.You maybe given a medicine where all the pills are taken at one time, or you maketake pills for severaldays. Takeall the pills you are prescribed. Youshould be retestedfor chlamydia 3 months after you are treated to make sure the infection isgone.Ifyou are pregnant, youshould haveanotherchlamydia test 3 weeks after finishing the pills to make sure the chlamydia isgone.You should not have sexuntilboth you andyour sexualpartner havetaken all the medicine you have been given.If you taketheone-time doseofpills, you need to wait 7days to have sex. If you takethepills for 7days, you need to wait to have sexuntilyou are done taking all the pills. What is the best treatment for gonorrhea? You will be given a shot of an antibiotic to treat gonorrhea.Because chlamydia is often found with gonorrhea, you will probably also be given antibioticpills for chlamydia ifyou are treatedfor gonorrhea.Youshould have 1526-9523/09/$36.00 doi:10.1111/jmwh.12086 c 2013 by the American CollegeofNurse-Midwives 599 g another test for gonorrhea 3 months after you are treated to make sure the infection isgone.Youshould not or have sexuntilboth you andyour sexualpartner have been treated andyoudonothaveanysymptoms. Does my partner have to be treated if I have chlamydia or gonorrhea? Anysexualpartner you havehadsexualcontactwithinthepast 60 days should betested and treatedfor chlamy- dia andgonorrhea.Ifit hasbeen more than 60 days since you hadsex, your last sexualpartner should betreated. What if I am pregnant and have chlamydia or gonorrhea? If you have chlamydia or gonorrhea andyou are pregnant,you need to betreated. The medicine will not hurt your baby. Being treateddecreasesyour chanceofgivingbirth early andgiving the infection to your baby at harewithwomen birth.Youcan protect your baby ifyou are treated right away. If you are not treated and the baby is exposed to .s the bacteria at the time ofbirth,your baby can get an eyeinfection,pneumonia (infection in the lungs), or a veryserious blood infection. www How can I prevent getting chlamydia and gonorrhea? r Ask your partners abouttheirsexual history. r Ask your partners aboutanypreviously treated infections. r Have safe sex with correct useof a condom. r Useacondom every time you have vaginal, oral, or analsex. r Get testedfor sexually transmitted infections ifyou or your partner(s) are not monogamous (only havingsex with one person). r Beabstinent (don’thave sex). Make sure your partners get treated before you have sex with them if they have chlamydia or gonorrhea! For More Information Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Chlamydia: http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/STDFact-Chlamydia.htm Gonorrhea: http://www.cdc.gov/std/gonorrhea/STDFact-gonorrhea.htm American Social Health Association Chlamydia: http://www.ashasexualhealth.org/std-sti/chlamydia.html Gonorrhea: http://www.ashasexualhealth.org/std-sti/gonorrhea.html US Department ofHealth and Human Services Chlamydia: http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/chlamydia.cfm Gonorrhea: http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/gonorrhea.cfm Healthy Women Chlamydia: http://www.healthywomen.org/condition/chlamydia Gonorrhea: http://www.healthywomen.org/condition/gonorrhea This page may be reproduced for noncommercial use by health care professionals to share with clients. Any other reproduction is subject to the Journal ofMidwifery&Women’s Health’s approval. The information and recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. For specific information concerning your personal medical condition, the Journal of Midwifery&Women’s Health suggests that you consult your health care provider. American College of Nurse-Midwives 600 Volume 58, No.5,September/October 2013.