American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [249]
• Wrap the condom in a tissue and throw it away. Wash your hands thoroughly with plenty of soap and hot water.
People who have chlamydia have an increased risk of becoming infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS (see page 909). Chlamydia can cause CD4 cells (the infection-fighting white blood cells that are targeted by HIV) to go to the infected area to fight the infection. If HIV is present in the infected area, it will target and infect the CD4 cells, which can then spread HIV throughout the body.
Symptoms
Because most people who have chlamydia have no symptoms, they do not seek treatment, which puts their sex partners at risk. If symptoms develop, it is usually within 1 to 3 weeks after exposure to the bacteria. In men, possible symptoms can include pain during urination, burning or itching around the urethra, a discharge from the penis, or swelling of the testicles. In women, possible symptoms can include pain in the lower abdomen, pain during sexual intercourse, vaginal discharge, and bleeding between menstrual periods. Women are less likely to have symptoms than men, but are more likely to experience long-term complications—such as infertility—as a result of the infection. Also, a pregnant woman who has chlamydia can pass the infection to her baby during delivery, which can cause pneumonia or conjunctivitis in the newborn.
Diagnosis
To diagnose chlamydia, a doctor uses a swab to obtain a sample of discharge from a man’s urethra or a woman’s cervix, for examination under a microscope. The doctor probably will order laboratory tests of a sample of urine and samples of cells taken from the penis, cervix, urethra, or anus.
Treatment
To treat chlamydia, a doctor may prescribe an antibiotic such as azithromycin or doxycycline. Because people with chlamydia may also have an STD called gonorrhea (see next page), doctors frequently prescribe a combination of antibiotics to treat both infections at the same time. In some cases, the antibiotics may be administered intravenously (through a vein) in the hospital. Both you and your partner should be treated to help ensure that the infection is eliminated. Your doctor will ask you to avoid all sexual contact until treatment is completed and you have no symptoms. Ask your doctor when you can safely resume sexual activity.
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, a tiny, one-cell parasite. In women, the microorganism infects the vagina. In men, it can infect the urethra, the epididymis, the prostate gland, or the bladder. Five million new cases of trichomoniasis occur each year in women and men in the United States. Because the infection is usually transmitted through intercourse, it is likely that your sex partner also has the infection if you have it.
Symptoms
In women, trichomoniasis produces a frothy, yellow-green vaginal discharge, often with a strong odor. Itching and irritation may develop in the vaginal area. The infection can also cause discomfort during intercourse or urination. In a pregnant woman, trichomoniasis can cause preterm delivery (see page 529). Although most men with trichomoniasis do not have symptoms, some men may experience irritation inside the urethra, a mild discharge from the penis, or a mild burning sensation after ejaculation or urination. If the infection spreads to the epididymis, it can cause pain in the testicles. Even without symptoms, men with trichomoniasis can infect their sex partner.
Diagnosis
To diagnose trichomoniasis in a woman, a doctor will perform a pelvic examination and take a sample of vaginal secretions for laboratory analysis. To diagnose trichomoniasis in a man, a doctor will take a sample of secretions from the urethra for laboratory analysis. The doctor may also order urine tests.
Treatment
The usual treatment for trichomoniasis is the antibiotic metronidazole, given by mouth in a single dose. Both partners should be treated at the same time to