Chlamydia Infection – Symptoms, Causes And Risk Factors, And Natural Treatments

According to a 2012 study, the prevalence of chlamydia in women aged between 15 to 49 years is 4.2% (1). Millions are affected by sexually transmitted infections every year – with chlamydia being one of the most common among them.

If you have been experiencing pain while urinating, and this is followed by colored vaginal or penis discharge, there are high chances that you’ve got chlamydia. It is extremely important for you to treat this condition as soon as you can because, if left untreated, chlamydia can pose a risk to your chances of getting pregnant. For more information about the treatment options available for curing chlamydia, keep reading.

What Is Chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection. The affected individuals usually do not exhibit any physical symptoms in the early stages. However, it can cause complications in the long run by endangering pregnancy. Chlamydia is caused by a bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis, and it can affect both men and women. While women mostly develop this infection in their cervix, rectum, or throat, men can get it in their urethra, rectum, or throat.

The signs and symptoms of chlamydia are as follows.

Signs And Symptoms

Most individuals affected by chlamydia don’t show any symptoms. However, some may notice a few symptoms 1 to 3 weeks after the infection has developed. They are:

• A burning sensation while peeing
• Yellow or green discharge from the vagina or penis
• Lower abdominal pain
• Pain in the testicles
• Pain during sexual intercourse in women (dyspareunia)

For some women, the chlamydia infection may also spread to the fallopian tubes and can cause a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

If chlamydia has affected the anus, it may result in symptoms like:

• Pain
• Discharge
• Bleeding

If you indulge in oral sex, chlamydia can also affect your throat and may cause symptoms like a sore throat, fever, and cough. Some may even carry the bacteria in their throat without knowing it.

Let us now look at what can cause chlamydia.

Causes And Risk Factors

Unprotected sexual intercourse or intercourse without condoms remains the leading cause of chlamydia. Other triggers for chlamydia include:

• Spreading of the infection from the mother to the newborn
• In rare instances, oral or genital contact with the eyes can spread the infection to the eyes.

Some factors can also increase your risk of developing chlamydia. They are:

• Gender – Women are more likely to be affected than men.
• Intimate relations with more than one person.
• Age – Younger women are at a higher risk, although older women develop the infection too.
• A medical history of any sexually transmitted infections.
• A history of sexual assault.

Often, the concerned individuals might confuse chlamydia with a yeast infection. Listed below are a few differences between the two to help you understand if you have contracted chlamydia or a yeast infection.

Yeast Infection Vs. Chlamydia

Yeast Infection

• It occurs in women.
• Most yeast infections are not contagious, but they can sometimes be transmitted during sexual intercourse.
• It is caused by a fungus called Candida.
• The symptoms include an itchy vagina, a burning sensation while urinating, soreness, pain during intercourse, and a white discharge.

Chlamydia

• It can occur in men and women.
• It can be contracted by sexual intercourse.
• It is caused by bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis.
• The symptoms include a yellow or green discharge from the penis or vagina, swelling of the testicles, and pain during sexual intercourse in women.

If you are unable to pinpoint your condition, your doctor can help you with it. The following are some diagnostic procedures they may use to detect chlamydia.

Diagnosis

Your doctor may first begin by discussing your symptoms. If the symptoms don’t match, you may be further probed about your previous sexual encounters.

One of the most effective diagnostic tests for chlamydia includes taking a vaginal swab test in women and a urine test in men.

An infection in the throat or anus may also need a swab test to diagnose the condition.

Once you are diagnosed with chlamydia, your physician may prescribe the following medical treatments.

Treatment For Chlamydia

Chlamydia is rather easy to treat. The treatment mainly includes taking antibiotics like Azithromycin or Doxycycline. You must follow the dosage instructions provided by your doctor carefully to clear the infection completely.

You must also steer clear of any sexual encounters during the recovery period.

If you are looking for natural alternatives to treat chlamydia, the ones listed below can provide relief when used in combination with the prescribed antibiotics.

Home Remedies For Chlamydia

1. Echinacea
2. Garlic
3. Goldenseal
4. Sage
5. Cat’s Claw

Natural Remedies To Treat Chlamydia

1. Echinacea

You Will Need

• 1-2 teaspoons of dried echinacea
• 8 ounces of water

What You Have To Do

1. Bring 8 ounces of water to a boil.
2. Add one to two teaspoons of dried echinacea to it.
3. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
4. Strain the mixture and allow it to cool for a while.
5. Drink the warm echinacea tea.

How Often You Should Do This

You can drink this tea twice daily.

Why This Works

Echinacea can strengthen your immunity by enhancing your innate and adaptive immune functions (2). It is also an effective antimicrobial agent (3). Thus, echinacea can help you in your struggle with chlamydia.

Caution

Do not use echinacea on a long-term basis.

2. Garlic

You Will Need

2-3 peeled garlic cloves

What You Have To Do

Consume two to three peeled garlic cloves daily.

How Often You Should Do This

You can have garlic twice daily, preferably before your meals.

Why This Works

Allicin is the active compound of garlic. It possesses impressive antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties that can enhance your immunity and help you in your recovery from chlamydia (4).

3. Goldenseal

You Will Need

• 1-2 teaspoons of dried goldenseal
• 1 cup of hot water

What You Have To Do

1. To a cup of hot water, add one to two teaspoons of dried goldenseal.
2. Steep for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Strain and drink the warm tea.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink goldenseal tea at least twice daily.

Why This Works

Goldenseal possesses significant antimicrobial properties that can help fight infection by enhancing your immunity (5).

4. Sage

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of dried sage
• 1 cup of hot water

What You Have To Do

1. Add a teaspoon of dried sage to a cup of hot water.
2. Steep for 5 to 7 minutes and strain.
3. Drink the warm sage tea.

How Often You Should Do This

You can drink sage tea twice daily.

Why This Works

The excellent antibacterial properties of sage can enhance your immunity, thus assisting in your recovery from chlamydia (6).

5. Cat’s Claw

You Will Need

• 1-2 teaspoons of ground cat’s claw
• 1 cup of hot water

What You Have To Do

1. Add one to two teaspoons of ground cat’s claw to a cup of hot water.
2. Simmer for 5 to 7 minutes and strain.
3. Drink the warm tea.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink this concoction twice daily for 2 weeks.

Why This Works

Cat’s claw is antimicrobial and can thus fight infections in the body. Many alkaloids present in the roots of cat’s claw can also stimulate immune responses that can help you recover faster from chlamydia (7).

A healthy diet is also necessary for those diagnosed with chlamydia. The following are some diet tips to help those suffering from the condition.

Diet Tips For Chlamydia

Include more nutrient-rich foods in your diet like:

• Green leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach.
• Protein-rich foods like grass-fed meat.
• Probiotic-rich foods like kefir and yogurt.
• Fiber-rich and alkaline-forming foods like beans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and organic nuts.

These foods aid the detoxification of your blood and also help in restoring your body’s pH balance, thereby making it easier for your body to combat the infection.

You also need to avoid certain foods to prevent chlamydia from progressing. They are:

• Processed foods or foods containing saturated fats
• Red meat
• Whole-fat dairy
• Caffeine
• Alcohol

Other than these remedies and tips, it is also necessary for you to follow the below tips to prevent recurrence of the infection.

Prevention Tips

• Use a condom during sexual intercourse.
• Limit the number of sexual partners or practice abstinence.
• Get yourself tested for STDs regularly if you are sexually active.
• Abstain from sexual intercourse if you have developed chlamydia until you have completed the course of your treatment successfully.

Early detection and treatment reduce the risk of complications from chlamydia to a large extent. Hence, be aware and take the necessary action (in other words, tests) if you have had unprotected sexual intercourse with a new partner.

Do you have any more doubts about chlamydia that need to be addressed? Ping us in the comments box below.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for chlamydia to go away?

Chlamydia can only be cured by following your treatment plan diligently. It will most likely disappear in about 7 days on taking antibiotics.

What happens if you have chlamydia for too long?

If you leave chlamydia untreated for too long, it can lead to complications, such as the development of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which has the potential to cause infertility and tubal pregnancies.

What are the complications of chlamydia?

Those who have developed chlamydia are at a higher risk of developing other STIs like gonorrhea and HIV infections. It can also lead to a medical condition called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) that may further result in infertility or ectopic pregnancies.

What are the antibiotics used to treat chlamydia?

The two most commonly used antibiotics for treating chlamydia are Azithromycin and Doxycycline.

Is chlamydia a bacterial infection?

Yes, chlamydia is a bacterial infection that is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis.

Was this article helpful?

Author

Shaheen NaserHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Shaheen holds a postgraduate degree in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology from Bharathiar University. She is a Geneticist with proficiency in Biotechnology, Immunology, Medical Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Genetic Counseling.

Read full bio of Shaheen Naser