The compassionate gynecologists at All About Women discuss two common and dangerous sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
You might think that if you had a sexually transmitted infection, you would know, but the fact is that some STIs are usually asymptomatic in women. Two of these silent STIs are chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Depending on your age and risk factors, your gynecologist may screen you for both of these STIs at your annual checkup. That’s because if you do have one of these infections and it’s left untreated, it can cause infertility later on.
Read on to learn more about why you should take chlamydia and gonorrhea screening seriously.
About Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
Chlamydia and gonorrhea are both sexually transmitted infections that are caused by bacteria. They are spread through sex with an infected person, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. A man can spread chlamydia or gonorrhea to his sex partner even if he doesn’t ejaculate.
In 2023 alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that there were 1.6 million cases of chlamydia and over 600,000 cases of gonorrhea diagnosed in the U.S. Both of these STIs are most common in women between the ages of 15 and 25.
You are more at risk for these STIs if:
- You are under the age of 25 and sexually active.
- You have a new sex partner.
- You have multiple sex partners.
- You don’t use a male condom correctly when having sex.
What are the signs of chlamydia and gonorrhea?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) notes that most women who have chlamydia or gonorrhea will have no signs. Those women who do have signs may mistake them for symptoms of a UTI or vaginal infection because they are so mild. Warning signs that you have an STI rather than a vaginal or urinary tract infection might include:
- Painful or frequent urination
- Vaginal bleeding or spotting between periods
- Yellow vaginal discharge
- Rectal bleeding or pain
Again, most women will have no symptoms, but if symptoms do occur, they will appear two to three weeks after the time of infection.
What happens if you leave chlamydia or gonorrhea untreated?
The bacteria of chlamydia or gonorrhea move upward through a woman’s reproductive tract, first infecting the cervix before potentially moving on to the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. These bacteria can also infect the urethra and rectum. If either of these STIs moves past the cervix into the reproductive system, it can cause several complications, including:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID refers to inflammation of the female reproductive organs, usually caused by bacteria from sexually transmitted infections spreading to the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries.
- Ectopic pregnancy. This potentially deadly type of pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tube rather than the uterus. If not caught early enough, ectopic pregnancies can cause massive bleeding that requires emergency surgery.
In addition to these complications, expectant mothers who have gonorrhea or chlamydia can also spread the STI to their babies during the birth process, which can lead to complications in the newborn.
For chlamydia, these complications can include:
- Conjunctivitis
- Pneumonia
The complications of gonorrhea can include:
- Blindness
- Joint infection
- Life-threatening blood infection
Chlamydia and gonorrhea can be treated during pregnancy, and the ACOG recommends that obstetricians screen all pregnant women for these infections during the first trimester.
Can STIs cause infertility?
Yes, they can. Both chlamydia and gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is a common cause of infertility. According to Yale Medicine, STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea cause at least 24,000 cases of preventable infertility every year.
How are gonorrhea and chlamydia diagnosed and treated?
Because of the frequency of these STIs and their serious potential complications, both the CDC and the ACOG recommend that all women under the age of 25 be screened at their annual gynecological checkup for both chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Women over the age of 25 who have a new sex partner or who have more than one sex partner should also be screened annually.
Your gynecologist can diagnose chlamydia either through a urine test or through a sample collected by swabbing the cervix, urethra, or rectum.
Both chlamydia and gonorrhea are treated fairly easily through the use of antibiotics. Damage that might already be done by the disease, however, is not reversible. Your gynecologist will encourage you to take the following steps to prevent another case of gonorrhea or chlamydia:
- Make sure you complete your round of antibiotics.
- Have your sex partner screened and, if positive, also treated. Otherwise, you can catch the infection again, and multiple infections increase the likelihood of infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
- Abstain from sex until both you and your sex partner have completed your antibiotics and are clear of the STI.
- Come in to be retested for the STI in 6 months.
While both chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause some serious complications, their treatment is surprisingly easy and effective. Preventive screening at your annual gynecological or well woman checkup can ensure that any infection you may or may not know about is caught and treated quickly in order to preserve your long-term health.
What’s the difference between STI and STD?
The terms STI (sexually transmitted infection) and STD (sexually transmitted disease) are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference.
An STI refers to an infection that may or may not cause any symptoms, while an STD means the infection has led to noticeable symptoms or disease.
STI is now the more commonly used term because many infections don’t cause symptoms but can still be spread to others.
If you suspect you have an STD or you’re at risk of contracting an STI or STD, it’s important to have regular STD screenings done by your gynecologist.
How a gynecologist can help if you have or suspect you have an STI
While the possibility of having a sexually transmitted infection can sometimes feel upsetting or embarrassing, it’s important to reach out to a gynecologist for support and answers right away. They can evaluate your symptoms, perform the appropriate tests, and provide treatment if needed. Gynecologists can also offer guidance on how to manage an STI, protect your partners, and maintain your overall reproductive health.
At All About Women, our experienced Gainesville and Lake City gynecologists provide compassionate STI testing and care to keep you healthy and informed.
Whether it’s time for your annual exam or you’re worried about possible STI symptoms, we’re here to help, so schedule an appointment today.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, November 12). National overview of STIs in 2023. STI Statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/sti-statistics/annual/summary.html
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). (n.d.). Yale Medicine. https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases
