When Can I Have Unprotected Sex After Chlamydia Treatment
Even if your chlamydia infection has been cured, its not recommended to practice unsafe sex. Having your STD treated doesnt guarantee that the infection will never come back. In fact, many people become infected with STDs multiple times because they continue to have unprotected sex with partners who have untreated STDs.
If you have a regular sexual partner, tell them about your infection so they can get treatment as well. Once youre sure you both got treated, you have to wait until the treatment has had time to be effective before you start having unprotected sex again.
Why Am I Spotting Between Periods
It can be a little unnerving to experience spotting or bleeding at unexpected times between your periods. There are many reasons women may spot between periods, and while some of those reasons are nothing to worry about, others are more serious.
At Kelly Morales OB/GYN, our team provides compassionate, patient-centered gynecological care to women in the San Antonio, Texas, area using the latest evidence-based medicine. Dr. Morales understands the frustration and worry that unexpected spotting can bring.
Our care team has curated this information on spotting between periods to help you understand whats normal and whats cause for concern.
Why You Should Never Ignore Bleeding Between Periods
Although few women say they enjoy having regular periods, a bigger problem could be at hand if you experience bleeding between your periods. Many factors can cause irregular menstrual bleeding. While some causes of bleeding between periods are no big deal, other causes are more serious.
You should never ignore bleeding between periods consult your doctor about your symptoms or come visit one of our state-of-the-art clinics in Cary and Morrisville, North Carolina.
We at Cary OB/GYN want to share with you some potential causes of bleeding between periods and why they can potentially point to something serious.
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How Do I Know If I Am Experiencing Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
While many women, especially adolescents, have irregular periods, it’s still important to be aware of what your normal menstrual cycle looks like and what symptoms you have regularly. If your periods suddenly become less frequent, heavier, or you experience spotting, it’s important to speak with a healthcare provider.
Tracking your menstrual cycle each month helps you stay aware of any potential changes in your health. Irregular periods may be caused by a hormonal imbalance. If you notice that you have experienced mood changes, feel depressed, or experience headaches, you might want to take a hormone imbalance test.
How Do You Catch Chlamydia
You can get chlamydia through:
- Unprotected oral sex and sex without a condom. You dont even have to experience penetration to get it as you can transmit the bacteria by only touching genitals together.
- Sharing sex toys.
- Infected mothers who have the infection might transfer it to their newborn baby during birth. For this reason, all expecting mothers should double-check for chlamydia with their OB-GYN.
You cant catch chlamydia through kissing, hugging, sharing baths, towels, swimming pools, toilet seats, or cutlery.
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What Does Chlamydia Do To Your Body
Although chlamydia doesnt usually cause any symptoms, it can be serious if you dont get treatment early on.
The bacteria can spread to your fallopian tubes and uterus. If this happens, it might cause pelvic inflammatory disease which results in abdominal and pelvic pain. Even if PID does not cause abdominal and pelvic pain, it can still do permanent damage to your reproductive system. PID can lead to an inability to get pregnant, long-term pelvic pain, and ectopic pregnancy.
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- Do I have an STI? Can it be cured?
- What kind of treatment will I need?
- Can I have sex with my partner without passing on my STI?
- Can I spread an STI if I dont have symptoms and dont even know I have it?
- How do I prevent getting an STI?
- What long-term problems might I have if I have an STI?
- If Im pregnant, can I pass my STI onto my baby?
- Are there any STI support groups in my area?
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What Are The Signs Of Chlamydia
According to Hilary Reno, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor of medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, chlamydia symptoms usually start a week after you contract the infection, but really there is no set timeline. Adding to the confusion, when you do get chlamydia symptoms, they can often be mild or reminiscent of other common ailments like a urinary tract infection or a yeast infection, or even another sneaky STI, gonorrhea.
You know your body best, so if you feel like something isnt quite right, its best to see a doctor. If something has changed, and you know what your sexual activity has been, and you are having symptoms, that is an alert that you better get checked, James Grifo, M.D, Ph.D., program director at NYU Langone Fertility Center and chief executive physician at Inception Fertility, tells SELF. In the meantime, here are some prominent chlamydia symptoms to be on the lookout for:
Now, changes outside of what is normal for your bodyvaginal discharge color, smell, and feelcould signal a larger issue. And there are a lot of things that can account for this outside of chlamydia, according to the Cleveland Clinic, including a yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. If your discharge is smelly or white, yellow, or gray in color, though, that may be chlamydia.
How Common Is Chlamydia
In the United States, chlamydia infection rates are on the rise, making chlamydia the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection in the country. In 2016, almost 1.6 million cases of chlamydia were reported to the Centers for Disease Control .
In the U.S., women are about twice as likely to be reported to have chlamydia as men. However, this is likely due to screening practices, since women are often screened during their annual pelvic exams. Men do not generally have similar annual screenings of their reproductive organs.
Since women are more likely to be asymptomatic, the number of people who actually have chlamydia could be even higher. Also, as testing becomes more sensitive and screening becomes more common and available, this trend is expected to continue to rise.
People aged 15 to 25 years old make up almost two thirds of all chlamydia cases reported in 2016 to the CDC . More specifically, up to 1 in 20 sexually active young women aged 14-24 could have chlamydia in the US .
Outside of the US, chlamydia is also very common. In 2012, the worldwide estimate of chlamydia infections was around 131 million new cases of chlamydia per year . This number is close to that of the entire population of Japan.
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Can An Sti Or Std Cause Irregular Or Missed Periods
Frustratingly, some of the most common STIs dont actually cause easily identifiable symptoms, which means they spread from partner to partner before anyone even realises they have one. Well played, infection. Well played
Irregular or missed periods are a good indicator that something isnt working as it should be in your body, but most STIs or STDs wont affect your periods unless they progress to become a more severe infection. That said, in some cases STIs could cause the characteristics of your period to change, so keeping track of what yours typically looks and feels like is handy.
Where Is Everlywell Now
In March 2021, Everlywell acquired PWNHealth and Home Access Health Corporation and formed parent company Everly Health. With a user-first digital experience, easy-to-use, self-collected mail-in lab tests, and providing access to telehealth options with a national clinician network working to improve early detection and prevention of disease, Everly Health is committed to transforming lives through high-quality diagnostic care.
Learn more about all our at-home lab tests.
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Painful Or Frequent Urination
Painful or frequent urination is one of the most common symptoms of STDs, particularly gonorrhea. Women often mistake this symptom as a sign of having a urinary tract infection. They may try home remedies, such as drinking cranberry juice or taking mild pain relievers such as Tylenol. Unfortunately, as with genital sores, these symptoms may appear at the onset of the disease and then disappear. This leaves the person still infected and untreated. Any time you experience urgency, burning, or pain with urination, a visit to the doctor is warranted.
First How Can Untreated Chlamydia Affect Your Health
Untreated chlamydia is especially problematic for people with uteruses, because it can have very serious consequences on reproductive health. For one, it can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease , an infection of the reproductive organs, David Soper, M.D., director of the division of benign ob-gyn and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Medical University of South Carolina, tells SELF. When it comes to the numbers, he says the condition affects about 10 to 15% of people assigned female at birth with untreated chlamydia.
Some people who develop PID from chlamydia then go on to develop an even more serious issue called perihepatitis or Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome. While rare, this causes inflammation in the lining of the stomach and tissues surrounding the liver. One tip-off that you do have this condition is upper quadrant pain, Dr. Soper says. Its often paired with other symptoms like fever or chills.
Infertility is another concern. Both PID and untreated chlamydia can cause permanent scarring in the reproductive organs, blocking sperm and eggs from meeting. In fact, about 25% of infertility cases are due to obstructed fallopian tubes, Meike L. Uhler, M.D., a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist at the Fertility Centers of Illinois, tells SELF. In some cases, this can be fixed surgically, but not always.
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Top Things To Know About Chlamydia:
- Chlamydia is often asymptomatic, meaning that many people donât know they have it
- Chlamydia symptoms can include pus-like yellow discharge frequent or painful urination spotting between periods or after sex and/or rectal pain, bleeding, or discharge
- Untreated, it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy, and/or infertility in women and people with female reproductive tracts
- Antibiotics are used to treat chlamydia infections
How Can I Treat Vaginal Bleeding Caused By A Sexually Transmitted Infection
If your doctor has diagnosed that your bleeding is because of a sexually transmitted infection your partner also needs to be treated otherwise you will continue to reinfect each other. STIs can also cause unusual or increased vaginal discharge which will also go away after the infection has been treated. If the infection is thrush , your partner may not need treatment as just treating you is enough.
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How Are Irregular Periods Treated
Treating irregular periods requires an accurate diagnosis. When you visit Ideal Gynecology, LLC, with irregular periods, your provider takes a medical history and performs a comprehensive physical exam. In some cases, they may order laboratory tests, an ultrasound, or an endometrial biopsy.
An IUD with progesterone, hormonal birth control, a polypectomy or an endometrial ablation may be right to treat your irregular periods. Some women receive prescription medication designed to control heaving bleeding. Depending on the cause of your bleeding, you may be a candidate for a progesterone IUD or an endometrial ablation.
To find out the cause of your irregular periods and receive treatment, schedule an appointment online, or call Ideal Gynecology, LLC, today.
Why It Happens And What To Do About It
Monique Rainford, MD, is board-certified in obstetrics-gynecology, and currently serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Yale Medicine. She is the former chief of obstetrics-gynecology at Yale Health.
Bleeding during or after sex is common and not always a reason to worry. As many as 9% of people have experienced vaginal bleeding after sex that was not related to their menstrual period. It’s also called postcoital bleeding.
Between 46% and 63% of postmenopausal people will experience dryness, itching, tenderness, or bleeding during or after sex that’s related to hormonal changes affecting the vaginal tissue.
This article will go over seven common reasons for bleeding during or after sex. While many of the causes are not serious, it’s still a good idea to let your healthcare provider know if you are bleeding outside of your typical menstrual cycle.
Verywell / Joshua Seong
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Seven Signs That You Might Have An Std
April is National STD Awareness Month, a perfect time for the medical specialists at PGOMG to educate the public on symptoms that may be caused by sexually transmitted disease , as well as when its necessary to get screened. When should you suspect that your symptoms are related to an STD? There are seven major signs that may indicate that your discomfort is more than just a passing phase.
1. You had unprotected intercourse.
Contraception like the birth control pill or an IUD can prevent pregnancy, but it does not protect against STDs. Proper use of a condom during intercourse is incredibly important in order to prevent contracting an STD.
Do I need to get tested? Yes. Please contact your PGOMG provider immediately and request STD screening.
2. Intercourse is painful.
There are a few reasons why intercourse may be painful, and the presence of an STD is one of them. Intercourse is most often painful or uncomfortable due to gynecological changes, such as vaginal dryness, itching, or burning, all of which are common STD symptoms.
Do I need to get tested? Maybe. Your PGOMG provider can advise on whether STD screening is appropriate. Painful intercourse can be a sign of other underlying medical conditions, so even if you do not suspect an STD, it is still important to contact PGOMG if sex is painful.
3. You have discharge.
4. You are experiencing spotting.
5. Urinating is painful.
6. You developed a rash or a sore.
7. You are experiencing abnormal uterine bleeding.
Chlamydia In Women: A Complete Guide
To help women protect themselves against this common type of sexually transmitted disease , Flo has prepared a guide that explains the basics of chlamydia.
STDs are infections that are transmitted from one person to another via sexual contact. Today, there are over 20 types of STDs and chlamydia is one of them.
Whether you suspect that you might have it or want to educate yourself, let this guide help you find all the answers you were looking for.
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Female Chlamydia Symptoms To Watch For
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection that can affect both males and females.
Up to 95 percent of females with chlamydia dont experience any symptoms, according to the This is problematic because chlamydia can cause damage to your reproductive system if left untreated.
But chlamydia can occasionally cause symptoms. Heres a look at the common ones you might notice.
Just remember, you could still have chlamydia without these symptoms. If theres a chance you may have been exposed to the bacteria, your safest bet is to get tested as soon as possible.
Chlamydia can cause unusual vaginal discharge. It might be:
Chlamydia can also affect your rectum. This can result from having unprotected or a vaginal chlamydia infection spreading to your rectum.
You might also notice mucus-like discharge coming from your rectum.
Chlamydia sometimes causes inflammation that leads to bleeding between your periods. This bleeding may range from light to moderately heavy.
Chlamydia can also lead to bleeding after any type of sexual activity involving penetration.
Why Is My Period So Heavy
1. Hormonal imbalances
Menstruation occurs due to the complex interaction amongst several hormones within the female body. If these hormones are imbalanced, heavy bleeding can occur. Multiple factors impact hormone balance, including but not limited to: lifestyle, stress, illness and medication use.
2. Fibroids
Growths within the walls of your womb are called fibroids. They occur commonly amongst pre-menopausal women, and can cause heavy or prolonged bleeding.
3. Polyps
Small areas of tissue growth from the surfaces of your womb or cervix can be sensitive and prone to bleeding. This can take the form of heavy bleeding during the period, in between periods , or bleeding after sex.
4. Endometriosis
The endometrium is the lining of the womb that develops during each menstrual cycle, and is shed during the period. Abnormal, excessive growth of endometrial tissue can result in heavy bleeding, and painful periods.
5. Cancer
Whilst rare, heavy menstrual bleeding can sometimes be a sign of cancer of the cervix, uterus, endometrium, or ovaries.
6. Pregnancy-related
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilised egg implants in an area outside the uterus, usually along the Fallopian tube. Ectopic pregnancies, along with miscarriages, are pregnancy related complications that can cause a delayed period and heavy menstrual bleeding.
7. Bleeding disorders
8. Medications
9. Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Click to find out more about STDs, bleeding after sex, and vaginal discharge.
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How Do I Know If I Have Pid
There are no tests for PID. A diagnosis is usually based on a combination of your medical history, physical exam, and other test results. You may not realize you have PID because your symptoms may be mild, or you may not experience any symptoms. However, if you do have symptoms, you may notice
- Pain in your lower abdomen
You should
- Be examined by your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms
- Promptly see a doctor if you think you or your sex partner have or were exposed to an STD
- Promptly see a doctor if you have any genital symptoms such as an unusual sore, a smelly discharge, burning when peeing, or bleeding between periods
- Get a test for chlamydia and gonorrhea every year if you are sexually active and younger than 25 years of age.
- Have an honest and open talk with your health care provider if you are sexually active and ask whether you should be tested for other STDs.