Chlamydia Singapore | HIV PEP
Chlamydia in Singapore: Chlamydia in Singapore is a common and curable sexually transmitted disease (STD). If left untreated, it can lead to pregnancy-related complications in women.
Keywords: Chlamydia in Singapore, Singapore Chlamydia, Chlamydia
Definition
In Singapore, chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease that affects both sexes. Chlamydia is a bacterial infection, which often has no symptoms but can cause serious health problems. Chlamydia is usually transmitted by any type of sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. The bacteria that cause chlamydia can also live in the throat of an infected person and cause soreness. Even after proper treatment, repeat infection of chlamydia is common in both males and females. Chlamydia is similar to gonorrhea, in terms of the symptoms and the mode of transmission. Chlamydia patients are often diagnosed with gonorrhea as a co-infection.
In symptomatic and asymptomatic chlamydia infections, the bacteria are present in the vagina, cervix, penis, eye, urethra, throat and rectum of an infected individual.
Chlamydia in Singapore and around the world is common in young, sexually active women and men who are under 25 and have unprotected sex. Gay and bisexual men are more susceptible to chlamydia infection, because a sexual encounter between two males generally involves riskier behavior (such as anal sex). A mother with chlamydia can also pass on the infection to her infant via vaginal delivery. The newborn is at risk of pneumonia and eye damage as a result.
Chlamydia can be easily treated. However, if left untreated, chlamydia can cause long-term, irreversible complications, such as infertility, bone and joint disease, pelvic inflammatory disease, and tubal pregnancy.
What are the causes of chlamydia infection?
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease caused by infection with a bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis. The symptoms of chlamydia are very similar to those of gonorrhea. Most infected people remain asymptomatic and unaware of the infection. A different strain of Chlamydia bacteria cause lymphogranuloma venerum, which is another type of sexually transmitted disease.
You can acquire chlamydia through unprotected sexual activities, including oral, vaginal and anal sex. An male can transmit the infection to a woman via intercourse, even if he does not ejaculate. Rarely, chlamydia infection spreads by touching your eyes with an infected hand. An infected pregnant woman can pass chlamydia to her baby during childbirth. However, chlamydia is not transmitted through casual contact such as hugging, shaking hands and sharing toilets.
Risk factors
Some of the risk factors for acquiring chlamydia are:
- Having unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex
- Young age, particularly under 24 years
- Being sexually active with a new sex partner or with multiple sex partners
- A previous history of sexually transmitted disease(s).
- Gay and bisexual men who perform anal and oral sex.
- An infected mother can pass the infection to a newborn.