Chlamydia In Women - The First Signs And Symptoms, How To Treat?

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Chlamydia symptoms in women, how to treat?

Chlamydia in women is an infectious disease that is provoked by the penetration into the body of pathogens belonging to the chlamydia group. Chlamydia can affect almost all systems: genitourinary, cardiovascular, respiratory, visual, and also the musculoskeletal system. Of particular prevalence is urogenital chlamydia, a characteristic symptom of which is a vitreous discharge from the vagina.

Chlamydial infection is a serious health hazard, as it causes many different complications. The woman may develop an ascending urinary tract infection, infertility, and other serious reproductive problems. At the same time, chlamydia does not belong to either viruses or bacteria. However, these microorganisms have the ability to exert a pathological effect not only on the genitals, but also on the lungs, heart, kidneys, joints, teeth, etc.

Most often, these pathogens affect the genitourinary system of women, causing them to have a disease called chlamydia. Its insidiousness also lies in the fact that it can proceed with either minimal symptoms, or even without them. It is possible to determine the presence of a parasitic microorganism only after passing tests.

According to statistics, the issue of urogenital chlamydia is very acute. The disease affects both men and women between the ages of 20 and 40, but women are most susceptible to the disease. This infection is often found in adolescents. Up to 90 million new cases of infection are diagnosed each year, and those people who have immune problems are more susceptible to the disease.

Content:

• The first signs and symptoms of chlamydia in women
• The causes of chlamydia infection
• Consequences of chlamydia for women
• Diagnosis of chlamydia in women
• How to treat chlamydia in women?

• Answers to popular questions

  • Is it possible to have sex with chlamydia?
  • Is it possible to get chlamydia in the household?
  • Is chlamydia spread through kissing?
  • Is it possible to get pregnant with chlamydia?
  • Can you get chlamydia through oral sex?

The first signs and symptoms of chlamydia in women

The characteristic manifestations of chlamydia in women may be absent altogether. Pathological symptoms are noted by only 33% of infected patients. The latent course is very dangerous not only for the patient herself, but also for her sexual partner. In addition, chlamydia, not detected before pregnancy, can harm the baby in the womb.

The following diseases can be signs of infection:

• Colpitis. Microorganisms parasitize not only in the vagina itself, causing its inflammation, but also in the glands located next to it. The symptoms of chlamydial colpitis are especially pronounced during pregnancy, during menopause and in childhood, that is, in all conditions when there is a lack of estrogen in the body. Patients complain of a burning sensation and itching in the vaginal area, pain in the lower back and in the lower abdomen. There may be a slight increase in body temperature and disorders of urination. See also: colpitis in women - what is it, what are the symptoms, how to treat it?

• Cervicitis. The longer microorganisms are present in the genitals, the larger areas they cover, eventually reaching the cervical canal. The uterus itself becomes edematous and inflamed, increases in size. If a woman does not receive proper treatment, then this pathological process leads to the development of erosion. See also: causes and symptoms of cervicitis.
• Endometritis, salpingo-oophoritis, salpingitis. If the infection moves up the genital tract and at the same time the immune forces of the female body cannot cope with it, then serious diseases may develop. A gynecologist can detect their presence.

There are also certain disorders on the part of the female reproductive system - these are pathological pains, itching and burning in the genital area. Sometimes the body temperature rises. However, self-observation of the discharge will not give a woman information that she has chlamydia. In addition to this infection, there may be others in the body, for example, trichomoniasis, herpes, thrush, gonorrhea, etc.

Chlamydia can be suspected by the following signs:

• An increase in body temperature to subfebrile levels. This is observed with an exacerbation of the pathological process;

• Pain may occur. They have varying degrees of intensity. The place of their localization is the lower abdomen, lower back;
• If the urethra is involved in the inflammation process, then the manifestations of chlamydia may be similar to those of cystitis. That is, at the beginning and at the end of the act of urination, a woman will experience cutting pains;
• Normal vaginal discharge is leucorrhoea. When infected, they can become mucopurulent, as indicated by their yellow tint and an unpleasant odor. In such favorable conditions, not only chlamydia, but also other infectious agents can multiply;
• In the genital area, there is a burning sensation, a feeling of discomfort;
• Chlamydia may be indicated by cervical erosion. However, this symptom can only be detected by a doctor during an examination.

How long does it take for chlamydia to appear?

After penetration into the genital tract of a woman, chlamydia takes a certain time to begin to actively reproduce. Most often, the incubation period is two weeks after unprotected intercourse with a carrier of the infection has occurred. Although this time can take up to a month.

Once in the body of its owner, chlamydia goes through several successive stages:

• Penetration of a microorganism into the mucous membrane;
• Reproduction inside the cell. This process in chlamydia has certain differences when compared with viruses and bacteria. Chlamydia, represented in the human body by reticular bodies, begin to actively divide, if there are favorable conditions for this. In this case, after 2-3 days, the cell in which the chlamydia lived dies;
• The last stage is inflammation of the mucous membrane of the organ that has been affected. When a cell dies, the reticular corpuscles exit and attack new, healthy cells.

Thus, the multiplication of microorganisms occurs, for the beginning of which they will need an average of 14 days.

The causes of chlamydia infection

The causes of chlamydia infection directly depend on how the contact with the pathogenic microorganism occurred. He himself is represented by a small pathogenic agent that parasitizes the cells of the human body.

There are four ways in which infection can occur:

• The most common way of transmission of chlamydia is through sexual intercourse. In the process of inflammation, the mucous membrane of the woman's vagina is first involved, and then the infection spreads further. The fallopian tubes, and the urethra, and the cervical canal are also affected. As the disease progresses, various complications develop, including infertility. Sexual contact with a male carrier without a condom will inevitably lead to infection. This includes oral, anal and genital sex. Only the location of the inflammation will depend on the type of contact;
• Transmission of chlamydia from a sick mother to a newborn child is not excluded during its passage through the genital tract. After birth, the baby often develops chlamydial conjunctivitis, possibly involving the respiratory system in the process. Some experts are of the opinion that infection can occur already while the baby is in the womb, but this fact is not scientifically confirmed;
• There is also no evidence that the disease can be transmitted through household contact. However, this possibility cannot be completely ruled out. This applies to the use of one linen, personal hygiene items, which were also used by an infected person. Intrafamilial infection through toiletries or bedding is possible, but this is quite rare. Especially dangerous are people who actively excrete chlamydia into the external environment. It has been proven that these microorganisms are capable of maintaining their vital activity on natural tissues for up to 48 hours, if at this time the ambient temperature is 18-19 ° C;
• It is possible to become infected with chlamydia by airborne droplets, but this happens extremely rarely, since only patients with chlamydial pneumonia are the source.

Consequences of chlamydia for women

Complications of chlamydia in women can be very serious and directly depend on how long the pathogen has been in the body. Chlamydiae cause a variety of lesions of the female reproductive system.

The higher the infection spreads, the larger areas it covers:

• As she becomes involved in the inflammatory process of the cervix, a woman may develop endocervicitis. In addition, the risk of developing neoplasms of the cervix increases several times;
• If the mucous membrane of the uterine cavity is affected, then the woman develops endometritis;
• With the defeat of the fallopian tubes, salpingitis is formed, and salpingo-oophoritis - with inflammation of the uterine appendages. This further leads to the formation of adhesions and cicatricial changes in the fallopian tubes. As a result, the woman is diagnosed with tubal infertility. Possible ectopic pregnancy, miscarriages;
• Chlamydia can spread not only along the genitourinary system, but also affect other organs, such as the pharynx, intestines, joints, kidneys, bronchi, etc. This leads to the development of ophthalmochlamydia, chlamydial pneumonia, etc.;
• Possible deformation of the urethra, followed by urination disorders. So, penetrating into its mucous membrane, chlamydia destroys normal cells, which are subsequently replaced by scar tissue. As a result, the canal narrows, which provokes problems with emptying the bladder. This is expressed in pain, frequent trips to the toilet with the release of small portions of urine, in a false urge to urinate. In addition, the risk of a secondary infection - cystitis, and subsequently pyelonephritis increases;
• The local protection of the vagina and internal genital organs of a woman falls due to the negative effect of chlamydia. As a result, a favorable environment is formed there for the reproduction of conditionally pathogenic flora, which previously did not harm a woman's health. A frequent companion of chlamydia is vaginal candidiasis;
• Reiter's disease is a complication of chlamydia, which manifests itself in arthritis, urethritis and conjunctivitis.

If we turn to statistics, then chlamydial inflammation in 50% of cases becomes the cause of infertility and in 40% - the cause of various gynecological diseases.

Diagnosis of chlamydia in women

The detection of chlamydia in women is in the competence of the gynecologist. For this, it is necessary to examine a general cytological smear from the vagina and cervix. Based on the results of this analysis, the infection cannot be detected, but it can be suspected. The smear will show an increase in the level of leukocytes. In addition, the doctor will be able to see signs of inflammation during a standard examination. Suspicion of chlamydia is a reason for contacting a venereologist.

The venereologist uses the following methods to diagnose the disease:

• Linked immunosorbent assay. A simple and inexpensive way to detect an infection, but a false negative result is not excluded;
• The PCR method is more reliable in terms of detecting chlamydia. It is carried out quite quickly and at this point in time is the most reliable and frequently used method for determining chlamydia;
• Transcriptional amplification. A new molecular method for detecting infection, which allows the detection of RNA of a microorganism in endocervical material. The reliability of this method is 99%.

If the woman's diagnosis is confirmed, then it will be imperative to check the permanent sexual partner. In 80% of cases, a man is also a carrier of the infection.

Errors in diagnosis

Treatment of chlamydia in women is not an easy task. The fact is that even the most modern antibacterial drugs are not always effective enough. The inflammatory process can be extinguished, but not get rid of it. This becomes the reason that acute chlamydia becomes chronic, which is very difficult to cure.

The leading role in the appointment of the correct treatment is played by high-quality diagnostics. It often happens that it is at this stage that mistakes are made:

• Test systems may be of poor quality. Sometimes errors occur due to the inexperience of laboratory diagnosticians. The rules for delivering material for analysis to the laboratory often suffer;
• As a result of misdiagnosis - ineffective treatment and aggravation of the pathological process;
• Sometimes therapy is terminated prematurely. As a result, the woman remains untreated, and the next time chlamydia will already be immune to the drug used;
• Test results can be misinterpreted. If, after a comprehensive treatment regimen, chlamydia is found again in the research materials, then it makes no sense to immediately prescribe another course of antibiotics. First of all, you need to send a woman to re-take tests, since there is a risk of a diagnostic error.

How to treat chlamydia in women?

How to treat chlamydia in women is treated exclusively by a doctor. It is not possible to recommend any single treatment regimen, since it simply does not exist. The therapy is based on an integrated approach. It is important to take into account the state of the patient's immunity, the presence of concomitant diseases.

It is impossible to start taking certain medications on your own, since only a specialist can identify the pathogen after conducting complex laboratory tests.

• Taking antibiotics. Antibiotics are used to treat chlamydia, but not every drug is suitable, but only one that can kill the microorganism inside the cell. Most often, agents from the group of macrolides, tetracyclines or fluoroquinolones are prescribed. It is also important to conduct tests to identify other sexually transmitted infections. This allows you to choose the most effective remedy.
• Taking antimycotic drugs. Antifungal agents such as Nystatin, Pimafucin, Fluconazole are used as part of complex therapy. This is because chlamydia is often accompanied by a fungal infection.
• Immunomodulatory drugs. Immunostimulants and immunomodulators are widely used to treat the disease. This is true for both chronic and acute forms of infection. It can be drugs such as Viferon, Timalin, Cycloferon, Lysozyme, Methyluracil. The drug Polyoxidonium is especially popular with venereologists. It is effective even for atypical forms of chlamydia. After taking the drug in the body, increased production of antibodies begins, and the body's resistance to other infections increases. Recovery occurs in a shorter time frame, and side effects from taking drugs are reduced. However, it should be understood that immunomodulators should be prescribed by a doctor. Their independent reception is unacceptable.
• Taking vitamins. Vitamin therapy for chlamydia should be long-term and cannot be less than 2 months.
• Taking auxiliary medications. As auxiliary medicines, the doctor may prescribe:
• Enzymes for normalizing the digestion process - Creon, Festal, Mezim, Pancreatin.
• Hepatoprotectors - Phosphogliv, Essliver Forte, Essentiale Forte.
• Bacteriophages, for example, Coliphage, staphylococcal bacteriophage or other drug. It depends on the identified co-infection.
• Probiotics for the normalization of intestinal microflora - Acipol, Hilak Forte, Bifidumbacterin, RioFlora Immuno, etc.

Read more: treatment regimen for chlamydia in women and men

How is acute and chronic chlamydia treated?

Treatment of acute chlamydia in combination with other bacterial infections involves the appointment of the following treatment regimen:

• The basis is made by antibacterial drugs. It can be Doxycycline (Unidox Solutab, Vibramycin), which is taken for three weeks, 2 times a day, 100 mg. It is also possible to use Vilprafen at a dosage of 500 mg twice a day. To stimulate immunity, Polyoxidonium, Amiksin are prescribed. Basic treatment also includes taking vitamins. After 7 days, enzyme therapy is added to the scheme. If the presence of mycotic flora is confirmed, then additionally Pimafucin, Nystatin, Fluconazole are prescribed;
• The next stage of treatment is aimed at restoring the body. For this, physiotherapy techniques are widely used. It is possible to use local microclysters, baths with a solution of Perftoran, Chlorhexidine. Sometimes Longidaza candles are prescribed for 10 days.

Treatment of the chronic form of the disease involves a slightly different scheme:

• The preparatory stage before the main treatment is important. This includes immunotherapy, which is carried out for 2-3 weeks (taking immune drugs - Amiksin, Polyoxidonium). Amiksin is taken orally for 30 days, and Polyoxidonium is injected. The total number of injections is 10, 6 mg each, with an interval of 1 day. In addition, local treatment is carried out using trays, microclysters. Enzyme systemic therapy is carried out for two weeks;
• The next step is basic therapy. It starts after 10 days from the start of the preparatory phase. Its scheme is similar to that for acute chlamydia;
• The recovery stage is reduced to a woman undergoing physiotherapy treatment, taking hepatoprotectors. You can continue to do microclysters, take baths with Perftoran. If the doctor deems it necessary, he will prescribe tampons with antioxidants and eubiotics in the vagina. Also used is the drug Bifikol, which belongs to lyophilisates.

The appointment of hyaluronidase is effective:

• Longidaza for 10 days, 1 candle;
• Longidaza in the form of injections for 10 days at intervals of a day (1 injection per day);
• Lidaza No. 15, 64 units each.

If a lesion of the cervix of any nature is found, then before starting treatment, it is necessary to wait for the results of colposcopy and cytology. This will make it possible to exclude cancer. If the result is negative, then the therapy is supplemented with enzymes that enhance proliferation. Also, local treatment is prescribed, aimed at the destruction of the affected tissues.

As for getting rid of chlamydia in pregnant women, an individual approach, complex therapy and taking into account all possible side effects from taking drugs not only for the mother, but also for the fetus are important. Most often, Rovamycin is prescribed for 14 days, or Erythromycin for the same period. Doxycycline and fluoroquinolones are not prescribed for pregnant and lactating women.

Answers to popular questions

• Is it possible to have sex with chlamydia? With such a disease, sex life is completely prohibited. This applies to both partners, since chlamydia is easily transmitted during any type of sexual intercourse.
• Can you get chlamydia in the household? There is such a possibility, although this happens extremely rarely. The fact is that chlamydiae live long enough on moist matter, from where they get on the skin of a healthy person. It remains only to rub your eyes with your hands, and the microbe enters the favorite epithelium.
• Is chlamydia spread through kissing? It is theoretically possible, but this probability is extremely small. For infection to occur with a kiss, the saliva of an infected person must contain chlamydia in a sufficiently high concentration. This happens in very rare cases, with severe forms of generalized chlamydia.
• Is it possible to get pregnant with chlamydia? Yes, you can.
• Can you get chlamydia through oral sex? Yes, you can. The main areas of chlamydial lesions are the urethra in men and the vulva in women.

The author of the article: Lapikova Valentina Vladimirovna | Gynecologist, reproductologist

Education: Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology received at the Russian State Medical University of the Federal Agency for Healthcare and Social Development (2010). In 2013 completed postgraduate studies at N. N. N. I. Pirogova.