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Zakhar Nikolaevich asks:

What are the consequences of untreated chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a disease that is asymptomatic in almost 50% of cases. On the one hand, this complicates the diagnosis and treatment of infection. On the other hand, many people, even knowing about their illness, are in no hurry to see a doctor. After all, if chlamydia is asymptomatic, then this does not affect their lives in any way. Such a frivolous attitude towards one's own health creates many problems for doctors. The fact is that in the first weeks or months after infection with chlamydia, the disease is easier to treat.
In addition, advanced cases of chlamydia are often accompanied by the development of serious complications. Then curing the infection itself may not be enough, and you will have to pay attention to eliminating the consequences of the infection.

If chlamydia is not treated, the disease can lead to the following unpleasant consequences and complications:
1. infertility;
2. cicatricial changes in the mucous membrane;
3. cervical erosion;
4. polyps of the uterus and cervix;
5. prostate cancer;
6. pregnancy-related complications;
7. adhesive disease;
8. infection of others.

Infertility.

The most common clinical form of infection is urogenital chlamydia. In this case, the bacteria are localized mainly in the mucous membrane of the urethral canal. Women often experience parallel damage to the cervical mucosa. Such proximity of the source of infection to the reproductive organs often begins to affect their functioning. As a rule, on early stages chlamydia does not develop these disorders because the bacteria need time to grow, multiply and spread. However, if not properly treated, within a few months the infection can spread up the cervical canal in women and along the urethral canal in men. The result is damage to the reproductive organs with serious disruption of their functioning.

As a result of the spread of urogenital chlamydia from the primary focus, the following reproductive organs may be affected:

• uterus ( endometrium – the inner lining of the uterus);
• vas deferens and seminal vesicles;
• prostate;
• testicles.

Disturbances in the functioning of any of these organs can lead to infertility. In the first stages, problems such as hormonal disorders and dysmenorrhea may appear ( menstrual irregularities) in women or erectile dysfunction in men. If this does not lead patients to a doctor for qualified comprehensive treatment, changes in organs may become irreversible. With advanced chlamydia, infertility can develop with almost equal probability in men and women.

Depending on the location of the affected mucous membrane, the following complications are observed as a result of cicatricial changes:

• Disturbances in the outflow of urine. As a result of cicatricial changes, deformation and narrowing of the urethra occurs, which leads to disruption of the outflow of urine. This complication is especially common in men, because their urethra is narrower and longer than in women.
• Risk of cervical rupture. Scars that form on the mucous membrane of the cervix may not manifest themselves in the form of any symptoms. However, they pose a serious threat during pregnancy. Due to the low elasticity of scar tissue as the fetus passes during childbirth, there is a risk of cervical rupture. This in turn will lead to severe painful shock and serious uterine bleeding.
• Decreased vision. A less common, but no less dangerous form of chlamydia is chlamydial conjunctivitis, which affects the mucous membrane of the eyes. If treatment is not started on time, small scars can form directly on the conjunctiva, which will lead to a noticeable deterioration in vision.

Cervical erosion.

Cervical erosion is a very common disease. It is characterized by a disruption of regenerative processes in the cells of the mucous membrane of the cervix. As a result, small ulcers appear on the surface of the organ, and a chronic inflammatory process develops. Unpleasant symptoms In this case, there are nagging pains in the lower abdomen, pain during sexual intercourse, and periodic light bleeding. Cervical erosion can have many different causes. One of them is chronic urogenital chlamydia. As mentioned above, bacteria penetrate the epithelial cells and gradually destroy it. Cervical erosion of varying intensity is observed in almost 50% of women with advanced urogenital chlamydia.

Polyps of the uterus and cervix.

Along with cervical erosion, disruption of the normal functioning of cells during chlamydia can also lead to the development of neoplasms. Most often they are polyps. Of course, their appearance is due not only to the presence of chlamydial infection. However, this disease significantly increases the risk of developing polyps. Along with the cervix, the endometrium may also be affected. Endometrial polyps usually form later, since chlamydia takes longer to penetrate the uterine cavity.

Oncological diseases of the prostate gland.

When chlamydia spreads up the urethra in men, the prostate gland becomes the first organ in the path of microorganisms. Bacteria are able to colonize not only the segment of the urethra that passes through the thickness of the prostate, but also penetrate directly into the tissues of the organ. Chronic chlamydial prostatitis develops over time in almost 70% of men who neglected timely treatment of chlamydia. A constant inflammatory process greatly increases the risk of prostate tumors. In particular, we are talking about the threat of adenoma and prostate cancer.

Complications associated with pregnancy.

It is especially dangerous for women to get chlamydia. reproductive age. This is due to the possible occurrence of pregnancy. With advanced chronic chlamydia, there is a whole bunch of possible risks and complications associated with fetal development and childbirth. There is a threat for both the child and the young mother.

Advanced chlamydia during pregnancy can lead to the following complications:

• intrauterine fetal death;
• fetal development disorders;
• premature birth;
• infection of the fetus in the uterine cavity or during childbirth;
• cervical rupture during childbirth ( if there are scars in this area);
• severe postpartum endometritis.

Adhesive disease.

Selected anatomical regions during development inflammatory process are prone not to cicatricial, but to adhesive processes. In this case, dense strands are formed from connective tissue, which connect various organs to each other, deforming them and limiting their mobility. Adhesions with advanced chlamydia can be observed in the uterine cavity ( as a consequence of endometritis) or directly in the pelvic cavity.

During the adhesive process in the pelvis, the following organs are often affected:

• uterus;
• fallopian tubes;
• ovaries;
• rectum.

Infection of others.

If a patient refuses treatment for chlamydia, he becomes a dangerous source of infection for the people around him. The likelihood of becoming infected is higher during an exacerbation of the disease, but even with a chronic asymptomatic course, sexual transmission of chlamydia is possible. The patient's sexual partners are primarily at risk. However, chlamydia in rare cases can also be transmitted through household contact, through household items. Thus, the patient can pose a threat to others even in the absence of sexual intercourse.

In view of the above complications, we can conclude that it is advisable to treat chlamydia in the first weeks or months after infection. During this period, complications dangerous to health have not yet developed, and the infection itself is easier to treat. It is especially important not to spread chlamydia to women of reproductive age, since the risk of complications increases many times during pregnancy.

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Chlamydia infection (chlamydia) is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. According to statistics, the disease is registered in 15% of all young and sexually active men. The wide spread of infection is explained primarily by its asymptomatic course, which leads to delayed diagnosis. Without treatment, the disease becomes chronic and is accompanied by the development of severe complications, including narrowing of the urethra. In 50% of cases, urogenital chlamydia leads to infertility.

General information about the pathogen

The causative agent of the infection is Chlamydia trachomatis. It is a gram-negative coccoid microorganism found primarily intracellularly. Lives mainly in the urogenital tract. With the flow of blood and lymph it can penetrate into other organs, affecting the conjunctiva of the eyes, the oral mucosa and joints.

Chlamydia can exist in the body for a long time without making itself known. When unfavorable conditions arise (taking antibiotics, ARVI, overheating or hypothermia), the bacteria go into hibernation, forming L-forms. In this state, chlamydia can exist for many years. The presence of L-forms complicates the selection of antibiotics and leads to the formation of persistent (existing without clinical manifestations) infection and is the main cause of treatment failure.

Transmission routes

The main route of infection is sexual. Transmission of the pathogen is possible through any form of sexual contact (vaginal, anal, oral sex). Men are less likely to become infected with chlamydia than women, which is due to the anatomical features of the structure of the urethra. The long urethra in men is a kind of obstacle to bacteria.

Chlamydia often enters a man’s body not alone, but in good company. The examination often reveals a mixed infection: the simultaneous existence of chlamydia, gonococci and other pathogenic microorganisms. Interestingly, transmission of chlamydia does not occur with every sexual contact. And if the probability of infection with gonorrhea is more than 75%, then for chlamydia this figure is 25%. In other words, only every fourth man actually gets this infection after having sex with a chlamydia carrier.

Symptoms of urogenital chlamydia

The incubation period is 14-28 days. The pathogen is tropic to the urethral mucosa. This means that the first manifestation of the disease will be urethritis - inflammation of the urethra. In men, this condition is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• scant mucous or mucopurulent discharge from the urethra;
• dysuria: burning, itching or pain when urinating;
• itching and burning on the skin of the penis in the urethral area;
• pain in the perineum, radiating to the anus.

During the examination, the doctor may see swelling and redness of the skin around the opening of the urethra. The discharge from chlamydia is not specific, so it will not be possible to immediately make a diagnosis without a laboratory examination.

When chlamydia penetrates the bladder, cystitis develops. Urination becomes more frequent and a false urge to go to the toilet occurs. All these symptoms are not accompanied by an increase in body temperature. The disease can last for years with periodic exacerbations. The duration of the remission period can be very different and largely depends on the state of the immune system.

In 46% of men, the disease is asymptomatic. The man feels completely healthy and is not even aware of the infection. Activation of the infection and the appearance of typical symptoms of the disease occur with a decrease in immunity. The following factors contribute to the exacerbation of chlamydia:

• hypothermia;
• ARVI;
• exacerbation of chronic pathology;
• taking antibiotics and other drugs that affect local immunity;
• stress;
• climate change.

Other forms of chlamydial infection

Chlamydia is not always localized only on the organs of the genitourinary system. With the flow of blood and lymph, bacteria penetrate into other parts, leading to the appearance of various conditions.

Damage to the anorectal area

This form of the disease is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• itching, pain, burning in the anorectal area;
• scanty yellowish discharge from the anus.

When the process spreads above the anal sphincter, tenesmus is observed - a false urge to empty the bowel. There is pain when defecating. Impurities of pus or blood are noted in the stool. Due to severe discomfort and pain, constipation develops, associated with the fear of experiencing unpleasant sensations again.

Conjunctivitis

Eye damage due to chlamydia is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• mild to moderate eye soreness;
• photophobia;
• severe dry eye;
• redness of the conjunctiva;
• scant mucopurulent discharge, accumulating in the corners of the eyes.

If such symptoms appear, you should see an ophthalmologist. During the examination, the doctor pays attention to the nature of the discharge, notes redness of the mucous membrane of the eyes and swelling of the conjunctiva.

Pharyngitis

Sore throat with chlamydia is rarely an independent disease and usually occurs against the background of the spread of a urogenital infection. Signs of the disease are not specific and occur in many other conditions:

• dry throat;
• sore throat that gets worse when swallowing.

On examination, swelling, redness of the throat and tonsils are noteworthy.

Inflammation of the testicles and appendages

Epididymitis - inflammation of the appendage - is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• pain in the appendage area (usually on one side)
• pain in the groin area;
• mucopurulent discharge;
• urinary disturbance;
• pain during sex.

In case of testicular damage, the following symptoms are associated:

• pain in the perineum, spreading to the anorectal area;
• pain in the scrotum and lower abdomen, projection of the sacrum.

During the examination, the doctor must palpate the testes and identify an enlarged, dense and rather painful appendage.

Prostatitis

Main article: Prostatitis in detail

Inflammation of the prostate gland is accompanied by the appearance of characteristic pain in the perineum, radiating to the rectum. Prostatitis quite often accompanies urethritis. If it lasts for a long time, it can lead to urination problems and cause erectile dysfunction.

Reactive arthritis

Aseptic inflammation of the synovial membranes, fascia and joint ligaments is not directly related to the penetration of chlamydia, but is explained by the occurrence of immunological reactions. The disease does not occur in isolation, but develops in the form of urethro-oculosynovial syndrome. This pathology is characterized by the appearance of three key signs:

• urethritis;
• conjunctivitis;
• arthritis.

In addition to damage to the joints, mucous membranes of the eyes and urethra, changes in the skin and mucous membranes are noted. Quite often, keratoderma is observed, in which the processes of keratinization in the skin are disrupted. Dense flat lesions of a yellowish-pink color appear on the palms and soles, rough to the touch. The size of the lesion can reach 5 mm. Chlamydia also causes mouth ulcers.

The inflammatory process in reactive arthritis is most often localized in these joints (in descending order):

• knee;
• ankle;
• metatarsophalangeal;
• toe joints;
• hip, etc.

Usually one joint is affected, although exceptions may occur. The first episode of the disease lasts about 6 months. Subsequently, there is an alternation of episodes of exacerbation and remission. 20% of men develop damage to the tendons of the foot, which leads to disturbances in gait and posture.

Indications for examination

Testing for chlamydia is indicated in the following situations:

• appearance characteristic symptoms chlamydial infection;
• presence of other STIs;
• unprotected sexual intercourse with a carrier of chlamydia;
• infertility;
• examination before planning a child;
• sperm donation.

Chlamydia is often combined with other STIs, including syphilis and hepatitis. Chlamydia infection significantly increases the risk of HIV infection. If the source of infection has not been established, the man is recommended to undergo testing for these infections. It is possible that the sexual partner was a carrier of these diseases, and they should be identified as soon as possible. If the result is negative, you need to repeat the examination (for syphilis after 3 months, for HIV and hepatitis after 6 months).

Diagnostic methods

The following methods are used to detect chlamydia:

• bacteriological culture (rare).

The material for the study is a scraping from the urethra, the first portion of urine, and prostate secretion. It is recommended to refrain from bowel movements before collecting urine. bladder within 3 hours. If there is heavy discharge, this interval may not be observed, and then the analysis is carried out 15 minutes after urination.

The PCR method has maximum sensitivity to chlamydia. In 98% of cases, this examination allows a diagnosis to be made. Since chlamydia is a pathogenic microorganism, additional detection of its titer at the initial stage of diagnosis is not required. There should be no chlamydia in the body. If they exist, this is a reason to prescribe therapy.

ELISA itself cannot be the only diagnostic method. Without PCR, its results are meaningless. ELISA is performed after completion of therapy and allows you to evaluate its effectiveness. During the study, antibodies to chlamydia are detected and their titer is determined. This indicator is necessary for the development of further patient management tactics.

Based on these data, the result is obtained:

• negative;
• doubtful;
• positive.

A negative result occurs in the following situations:

• no chlamydial infection;
• infection occurred less than 3 weeks ago;
• More than 9 months have passed since recovery.

Upon receipt dubious result You should retake the test in 2-4 weeks. If the answer is again questionable, it should be considered negative.

A positive result occurs in the following situations:

• there is a chlamydial infection, the infection occurred more than 3 weeks ago;
• less than 9 months have passed since the course of therapy.

With ELISA, not only the antibody titer is assessed, but also their class:

• IgM – acute or recent infection. Determined 5 days after infection. Peak – 1-2 weeks. Stored for 3 months.
• IgA - appears in the serum after 14 days, decreases by 2-4 months. The presence of these antibodies indicates reactivation of chlamydia.
• IgG – previous or chronic infection. They are detected in the blood 14-21 days after infection and persist for at least 9 months. In chronic infections, they are detected throughout life.

In clinical practice, the dynamics of antibody titer is also important. An increase in their concentration by 3-4 times indicates activation of the infection.

Principles of treatment

Antibacterial therapy is the basis for treating the disease. Antibiotics are selected taking into account the sensitivity of chlamydia:

• tetracyclines (doxycycline);
• macrolides (josamycin, azithromycin).

The course of treatment for chlamydial urethritis is 7 days. Therapy for infection of the overlying sections can last up to 21 days. 14-28 days after completion of the course of treatment, a repeat test for chlamydia is taken. If the result is negative, further observation is not indicated.

Prevention

Specific prevention has not been developed. General rules protection against STIs include:

1. Refusal of casual sex.
2. Barrier contraception (condom).
3. Personal hygiene, especially when visiting a sauna, bathhouse, swimming pool, public beach.

FAQ, or frequently asked questions

Is chlamydia dangerous for men?

Without treatment, chlamydia can lead to the development of prostatitis and give complications to internal organs, including the heart, liver, lungs. Chlamydia infection is also one of the causes of infertility in men.

Can chlamydia occur normally?

No, normally there should not be chlamydia in the human body.

Do I need to treat chlamydia if they are found in the analysis, but nothing bothers me?

Yes, because reactivation of the infection can occur at any time.

Is it possible to become infected with chlamydia at the same time as other infections (trichomoniasis, mycoplasma, gonorrhea, etc.?)

Quite often, chlamydia comes in the company of other infectious agents. It is also known that the presence of chlamydia increases the risk of HIV infection.

Is it possible to prevent illness after unprotected contact (is there emergency prevention)?

Within 2 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse, the genitals should be treated with any of the available antiseptics: Chlorhexidine, Miramistin, etc. This does not provide 100% protection, but still reduces the risk of infection. After 2 weeks, you should undergo an examination to exclude the possibility of chlamydia infection.

What is an antibody titer against chlamydia and what does it mean?

The antibody titer indicates whether the process is dynamic. If the titer increases, it means that the infection is in an active stage.

PCR gave a positive result, the antibody test was negative. What to believe?

Antibodies appear in the blood only 5-7 days after infection. At this time, PCR can already give a positive result, and this analysis can be trusted. In addition, the immune system does not always correctly recognize chlamydia, and antibodies are not formed in this case.

Can the infection “go away” on its own?

Self-cure of chlamydia is a myth. Chlamydia goes into a dormant state and can exist in the human body for many years. With a decrease in immunity, the disease will make itself felt again. You can get rid of chlamydia only with the help of antibiotics.

Does my sexual partner need treatment?

Absolutely, otherwise re-infection will occur.

Is it possible to become infected with chlamydia in a sauna or swimming pool?

Yes, but infection occurs not through water, but through use by common means hygiene, towels. If you are careful, the risk of infection is almost zero.

1. Gonorrhea and why it’s scary
2. Complications without treatment
3. Consequences if treatment was not timely

Gonorrhea (in the “folk” form - gonorrhea) is a infectious disease, transmitted to a person sexually from a partner who is sick himself or is a carrier of the gonococcus bacterium. This pathogen has the ability to penetrate the mucous membranes of organs related to the urinary and reproductive systems, penetrate into them and develop during the incubation period of 15 days or more, after which it begins to actively multiply and cause serious harm to the body of the new carrier. Complications and consequences of gonorrhea in men can become quite severe: from maddening itching of the genitals (mainly along the urethra) to the inflammatory process in certain organs of the reproductive system, which can ultimately lead to loss of reproductive function.

Gonorrhea and why it’s scary

An infected man may begin to feel the primary symptoms of a disease called gonorrhea, transmitted through sexual intercourse, 2-3 days after sexual contact with a carrier. At the very beginning, these symptoms represent unpleasant sensations in the organs of the reproductive system, then, as the disease develops, itching will appear in the organs of the reproductive system, followed by purulent discharge from the urethra. On average, the activity of gonorrheal bacteria becomes noticeable 7 days after infection (maybe 10-14 days if a man has a strong immune system or has been treated with antibiotic drugs, for example, for ARVI).

Gonorrhea is usually divided into acute and chronic forms, although experts do not always agree with this classification, since the acute phase can last up to 2 months, after which it gradually turns into the chronic stage. The anatomical structure of the reproductive and urinary system of the male body determines the following symptoms of gonorrhea:

• sensations of burning and itching (at least discomfort) in the urethra, which intensify significantly upon completion of the process of emptying the bladder;
• discharge with purulent inclusions, at first noticeable only when pressing on the head of the penis, but as the disease progresses, it becomes permanent;
• signs of cystitis caused by the upward movement of the infectious process through the urethra (a rather painful frequent need to urinate);
• spread of the inflammatory process to the prostate gland with the gonads (testicles) with pain, increased problems with urination, swelling of the tissues and lymph nodes in the groin;
• pain that occurs in the rectum when it is emptied;
• problems with erections that become prolonged and painful;
• accompaniment of sexual intercourse painful sensations, as well as discharge with inclusions in the form of blood clots.

In addition to specific symptoms, gonorrhea in men manifests itself common features intoxication of the body, that is, increased temperature, fever, followed by chills, joint, muscle and headache.

What makes this venereal disease especially dangerous, in terms of complications and consequences, is that very often it occurs with mild symptoms or is completely asymptomatic. Because of this, the patient does not have the opportunity to receive timely and comprehensive medical care, therefore, the infectious process is not suppressed and continues to destroy male genitourinary health.

If a man’s sex life falls into the category of promiscuous, and he does not use condoms in his sexual activity, he should at least regularly visit a doctor and get tested so that gonorrhea is “caught” at an early stage. This is extremely important in the case of an asymptomatic disease, although it is equally important to seek help at the first symptoms indicating the activity of sexually transmitted infections in the body.

Complications without treatment

Almost always, complications of gonorrhea in men are associated with the lack of proper treatment for this disease, and it is they that cause the increase and progression of all the symptoms listed above. The longer pathogenic gonococcus bacteria are present in the body, the more harm they cause and the more difficult it is to get rid of the consequences.

Doctors call the following inflammatory diseases the most likely complications of gonococcal infection that can manifest themselves in representatives of the stronger sex:

• balanoposthitis (damage to the tissues of the head and foreskin of the penis);
• urethritis or paraurethritis (inflammation in the urethra walls or ducts);
• cooperitis (damage to the Cooper glands);
• prostatitis (inflammatory process in the tissues and glands of the prostate gland);
• vesiculitis (inflammatory process that has spread to the seminal vesicles);
• deferentitis (inflammation of the vas deferens);
• epididymitis, orchitis, orchiepididymitis (damage to the epididymis and testicles themselves, manifested both individually and in combination);
• the formation of narrowing of the lumen of the urethra.

Prostatitis is among the most common and widespread complications of gonorrhea. Inflammation of the prostate gland occurs due to the fact that gonococci from the urethra enter its ducts, where they spread and primarily affect the surface layers of tissue. Thus, the catarrhal form of prostatitis develops, manifesting itself as discomfort in the perineum, in the urethra - burning and itching sensations, rarely - pain radiating to the rectum and perineum, intensifying after an act of sexual intimacy and during defecation.

If a man does not seek help with such health problems, he will face further development of prostatitis - its follicular form, characterized by deep damage to the glands of the organ and accompanied by similar acute form symptoms. The clinical picture is distinguished only by the greater severity of the manifestations, deterioration in general well-being and an increase in body temperature. In some cases, patients suffer from premature ejaculation, frequently recurring emissions, erectile dysfunction, decreased erection or complete absence. Often, against this background, men additionally develop serious nervous disorders.

In rare cases, advanced gonorrheal prostatitis is complicated by a prostate abscess, in which the patient suffers from chills, significant general weakness, inability to walk due to pain, frequent or, conversely, acute urinary retention.

The second, slightly less common complication of gonorrhea in men is epididymitis orchiepididymitis - inflammation of the testicle and damage to its epididymis. In the first stages, this disease is acute and has a clear symptomatic picture, including:

• a sharp increase in body temperature;
• change in the size of the inflamed testicle and, consequently, the scrotum on the same side;
• redness of the scrotal tissue;
• severe pain in the area of ​​the affected testicle;
• the patient’s inability to move normally due to severe pain in the groin.

As a complication of gonorrhea, epididymitis orchiepididymitis is extremely dangerous, since if left untreated it leads to disruption of the human reproductive system, in particular, it causes a failure in the normal process of sperm formation. If the inflammatory lesion of the testicle and epididymis is bilateral, male reproductive cells practically lose the ability to fertilize, resulting in male infertility.

Consequences if treatment was not timely

In addition to the fact that the course of the disease caused by gonococcal infection is accompanied by a lot of complications (especially if the man did not receive medical care on time or self-medicated), the development of consequences is possible even after treatment. And it’s not just about health problems associated with already developed prostatitis, which can become chronic and remain for life. The problem is not even related to epididymitis orchia, which, although it is one of the most common causes of male infertility, is still treatable.

One of the most serious consequences of gonorrhea can be a disseminated infection, that is, the spread of gonococcus bacteria to other organs and systems of the body. In this case, the likelihood of progression of lesions in the skin, joints, liver, heart and brain increases significantly. Often, a gonorrheal infection gets into the eyes, which causes gonococcal conjunctivitis to develop - a severe consequence that leads to loss of vision due to the involvement of the cornea in the inflammatory process. The consequence in the form of gonococcal conjunctivitis (also known as gonoblennorrhea) is accompanied by damage and perforation of the cornea, up to the loss of the eye. Symptomatically, this disease at the first stage is manifested by significant swelling of the eyelid, then by purulent discharge from the diseased eye, after which only timely and sufficiently powerful antibacterial therapy can help preserve vision.

In most cases, the consequences of gonorrhea in men cannot be excluded even after high-quality treatment, the reason for which is the fact that gonococcal infection almost never appears alone in the male body. Most often, gonorrheal lesions are accompanied by active work chlamydia, ureaplasma, trichomonas and other infectious agents. The danger of such a “cocktail” is that it arises mixed infection, affecting the traditional course and symptoms of gonorrhea, lengthening or shortening the incubation period, as well as providing more severe and dangerous complications. The consequences of this are difficult diagnosis, more severe course, problematic and not always successful treatment.

Separately, it should be said that a man who has become infected with gonorrhea and allowed it to “degenerate” into a chronic form has every chance of falling into the category of people with an increased risk of developing a malignant neoplasm in the bladder.

And even if there are no such serious consequences for the urinary system, the disease, popularly called gonorrhea, in any case negatively affects human health, provoking general weakness and loss of strength, fever, inflammation of the joints (up to polyarthritis), panniculitis (inflammation of the subcutaneous fat interlayers). Often, gonorrhea has a negative effect on the cardiovascular system, stimulating the development of endocarditis (an inflammatory process that affects the inner lining of the heart), leads to the development of a chronic form of meningitis, and can also cause general blood poisoning.

The only condition under which gonorrhea in men can be cured without consequences and complications is a quick treatment for medical care. Unwanted “surprises” can be eliminated, however, the patient should remember that he will have to go through full course treatment, listening to all the requirements and recommendations of the attending physician, begin to be attentive to your health, trying to notice any manifestations of symptoms of diseases of the genitourinary system, and also strictly comply with the requirements of personal hygiene. And the most important rule is that a man, during treatment, will have to avoid spontaneous (and even more so promiscuous) sexual intercourse, even if barrier contraception (condoms) is used when engaging in it. And after completing treatment, it is imperative to see your doctor every month, since many of the consequences and complications of gonococcal infection can occur when a man has already forgotten about gonorrhea itself.

He is the head of the urology department. Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney and bladder diseases, including cystitis, urolithiasis, prostatitis, urethritis and pyelonephritis.
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The first signs and symptoms of gonorrhoea

How can you get gonorrhea?

Tripper pills

How to treat gonorrhea

Prostate adenoma

Benign hyperplasia

Alopecia

Baldness and hair loss

Infertility

Reproductive dysfunction

MPS diseases

Common male diseases

• Balanitis
• Varicocele
• Vesiculitis
• Hemospermia
• Herpes
• Gynecomastia
• Gonorrhea
• Testicular cyst
• Thrush
• Orchitis
• Problems with urination
• Pimples on the penis
• Trichomoniasis
• Ureaplasmosis
• Urethritis
• Phimosis
• Chlamydia
• Cystitis
• Epididymitis

Potency

Male power

• Aphrodisiacs
• Potency products
• Erection
• Ejaculation

Prostate

Male prostate

• Prostate massage
• Prostate cancer

Prostatitis

Prostate inflammation

• Treatment
• Medicines

Tablets and drugs for gonorrhea for men

How to treat gonorrhea in men at home

Treatment of gonorrhea in men

Causes

The source of infection can be people with active manifestations of the disease. But sometimes those who are asymptomatic also play this role. The most common route of transmission of chlamydia is contact. Moreover, it does not matter what kind of contact took place. This can be through sexual intercourse and even through everyday life - through shared clothing, certain personal hygiene items, bedding or unwashed hands.

Vertical spread of the disease is also possible. The method of transmission can be antenatal (during pregnancy) or intranatal (transmitted to the baby from the mother at birth).

Symptoms of chlamydia

In half of men, the disease is asymptomatic. But still, a person is a carrier of infection and poses a potential threat to his sexual partner. The period of spread of chlamydia ranges from two weeks to a month. The first symptoms appear fourteen days after the questionable contact was made.

The signs of the disease are as follows. With acute manifestations in men, the temperature rises to approximately 37.5 ° C, sometimes a little less. There is general weakness and high fatigue. Purulent, mucous, watery glassy drops are released from the urethra. The passage of urine is accompanied by itching and a terrible burning sensation. The first drops are cloudy. Bloody discharge may occur during ejaculation or at the end of urination. The external opening of the urethra swells and turns red. Men have pain in the groin and lower back.

After infection, symptoms may decrease, and discharge will appear only occasionally in the morning. In such cases, a person is in no hurry to see a doctor. As a result, the acute phase gives way to a chronic phase, which causes a number of additional ailments, such as cystitis and prostatitis.

Treatment of chlamydia in men

The problem with modern therapy for chlamydia is, as a rule, late access to a doctor. Advanced chronic illnesses are more difficult to treat.

During therapy, preference is given to antibiotics, fluoroquinolones and macrolides. It is determined how long ago the infection occurred, what the first symptoms were, whether there is intolerance to certain drugs, the presence of allergic reactions and chronic ailments.

Next, the state of the immune system, urogenital tract, liver, pancreas and gall bladder is determined. There is currently no single treatment regimen for male chlamydia. Each case is individual, and therefore requires a qualified approach and complex therapy, taking into account concomitant diseases and age, the sensitivity of the individual patient and a number of other factors.

Chlamydia is one of the main causes of infertility in women.

This infectious disease, caused by bacteria called chlamydia, often has no symptoms, so people often don't realize they have chlamydia.

In this case, the disease can spread throughout the body for a long time, causing damage to the reproductive system in men and women.

Some epidemiologists refer to chlamydia as a "silent epidemic" because many millions of people around the world are infected with it without knowing it.

How chlamydia spreads:

• A person can become infected with chlamydia through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with a chlamydia carrier.
• If a man has chlamydia, he can infect his partner even if he has not ejaculated.
• If a man or woman has chlamydia and has been treated in the past, he or she can still become infected again through unprotected sex with someone who has chlamydia.

When diagnosing the symptoms of chlamydia in women, the doctor pays attention to signs of damage to the genitourinary system.

Patients complain of:

• clear or white-yellow vaginal discharge;
• painful urination;
• redness and itching, quite severe in the perineal area;
• pain in the abdomen and lumbar region.

If chlamydia is treated in its early stages, it is unlikely to cause any long-term problems. Not everyone who has chlamydia suffers from the effects of the disease. However, without proper treatment, the infection can spread to other parts of the body. And the longer chlamydia lasts, the more likely it is to cause complications.

The most common consequences of chlamydia in women include:

1. Dysuria

Chlamydia pathogens can enter the urethra and cause infection urinary tract, which can manifest as a burning sensation, sudden urgency to urinate, and other urinary problems (a condition called dysuria).

2. Proctitis

Chlamydia can lead to infection of the anus, leading to proctitis. This form of proctitis occurs in those who engage in unprotected anal intercourse.

3. Pelvic inflammatory diseases and infertility in women

One of the most serious consequences of chlamydia in women. Occurs when an untreated bacterial infection spreads to the upper reproductive tract. The uterus, fallopian tubes, and surrounding areas may become swollen or filled with pus. This condition can be treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Sometimes, in advanced cases, surgery is required.

Pelvic inflammatory disease is a leading cause of preventable infertility. Infertility can be defined as the inability to become pregnant despite frequent unprotected sex for one year.

Each episode of pelvic inflammatory disease increases a woman's risk of becoming infertile. The condition is also associated with ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain, and even death. Fortunately, the most serious complications of the disease are largely preventable.

4. Cervicitis

Inflammation of the cervix is ​​characterized by an unpleasant odor from the vagina, vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse or bleeding on days other than menstruation, vaginal pain, and a feeling of pressure in the pelvic area.

Many women suffering from chlamydia ask gynecologists whether the disease leads to cervical cancer. There is no evidence that chlamydia causes cervical cancer.

5. Bartholinitis

This is an inflammation of one or both Bartholin glands, which are located on either side of the vaginal opening, behind the labia.

Each Bartholin's gland is approximately the size of a small pea. Most women don't even know about their existence. The glands produce small amounts of fluid in response to sexual stimulation, and the function of this fluid is to provide lubrication to the labia.

Symptoms of bartholinitis:

• pain and tenderness in the area of ​​one of the inner labia;
• swelling in the same area;
• sometimes there is a fever.

6. Joint inflammation

It's rare, but possible consequence chlamydia in women and men, known as reactive arthritis. Sometimes accompanied by inflammation of the urethra and conjunctiva of the eyes, then the disease is known as Reiter's syndrome. More common in men than women.

Chlamydia is associated with preterm (premature) births. This may have long term negative consequences for the child's health. In rare cases, chlamydia causes stillbirth.

The disease can be transmitted to the baby during childbirth and (less commonly) before the baby is born. This can lead to inflammation of the child's eyes (conjunctivitis) and/or pneumonia. Worldwide, chlamydia eye infections are one of the leading causes of preventable blindness.

Please note

Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics when a woman is pregnant and when she is exercising breast-feeding. Antibiotics should only be prescribed by a doctor.

A pregnant woman may be offered a test for chlamydia as part of her prenatal care. The discharge for chlamydia (before its treatment) is not too abundant, but constant. They have no smell, otherwise the doctor will assume that the patient has gonorrhea. The color of the discharge is either transparent or yellowish. Yellow or green discharge indicates that other bacteria or viruses have been “added” to chlamydia.

With chronic chlamydia, the discharge may become purulent or mixed with blood. After treatment, the discharge should become colorless. In general, the consequences of chlamydial infection are potentially dangerous and can occur soon after infection.

Sexually transmitted diseases are difficult to treat and most of them are asymptomatic. Therefore, men and women only learn that they have chlamydia when they are faced with the consequences and complications. Chlamydia provokes the development of concomitant diseases and seriously affects reproductive system.

Why chlamydia is dangerous for men: complications

Chlamydia in men leads to the development of:

1. Chronic urethritis. The patient experiences itching in the urethra and constantly wants to go to the toilet. Pus with a mucous consistency is released from the genitals; sometimes men confuse it with sperm. With chronic chlamydia, urethral stricture appears.
2. Epidimitis. This complication causes inflammation of the epididymis. The man has a high body temperature and an increase in the size of the appendages. Sperm cannot move, which leads to infertility.
3. Prostatitis. Inflammation of the prostate gland has a serious impact on the entire body and is the most common complication. Prostatitis has acute and chronic forms, the severity of symptoms depends on this. Men experience aching pain in the groin, lower back and rectum. There is also no potency and discomfort is felt during urination.

Venereologists note that in men, a complicated form of chlamydia leads to the development of concomitant diseases. The most common are orchitis, vesiculitis and seminal duct obstruction.

During orchitis, one or 2 testicles become inflamed. Bilateral damage quickly leads to infertility, so it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible. People with sedentary work, mental fatigue and prolonged sexual abstinence are at risk.

If vesiculitis develops, immediate consultation with a specialist is required, since the inflammation is localized in the reproductive system. There is a disruption in the functioning of the seminal vesicles, which are responsible for the ejaculation process. Most often, vesiculitis occurs in men whose inflammation of the prostate gland has become chronic. Obstruction of the vas deferens is a form of infertility. It appears in the background:

• infections;
• genital injuries;
• tumors.

The disease is eliminated surgically.

Consequences of chlamydia in women

1. Inflammation of the appendages. IN fallopian tubes Adhesions may appear, which is very dangerous for women's health.
2. Endometritis. Chlamydia penetrates the inner lining of the uterus and begins to multiply there.
3. Ectopic pregnancy. An infected woman may have problems conceiving due to the formation of adhesions and scarring in the fallopian tubes. The photo on the right shows what an ectopic pregnancy looks like.
4. Endocervitis. Damage to the cervical canal provokes uterine cancer.
5. Peritonitis. Occurs when the abdominal cavity is damaged. Rarely encountered, but requires immediate treatment.

Women are more susceptible to chlamydia and more often than men become infected with it. The advanced form of the disease leads to disruption of work cardiovascular system, joints and kidneys.

Does chlamydia affect sperm count?

Chlamydia directly affects male fertility. According to statistics, every 6 couples cannot have a child and in 50% of cases the problem is in the man’s health.

The asymptomatic course of the disease can cause infertility and negatively affect the quality of sperm. Chlamydia affecting the male body causes concomitant diseases and deprives a man of the ability to have children.

Chlamydia and infertility

Concomitant diseases also affect the patient's condition. Infertility occurs as a consequence or complication of chlamydia in men and women.

As a complication, women develop ectopic pregnancy; an important factor in this case is the period at which chlamydia infection occurred. The development of the embryo occurs outside the uterus, which naturally leads to its death. In this case, the pregnant woman may also die.

Consequences of chlamydia in children

Infants become infected with chlamydia from a sick mother or through personal hygiene products. From a pregnant woman, a child becomes infected during the prenatal period or during passage through the birth canal.

The disease negatively affects the joints, heart, spine and other systems. There is a possibility of developing pulmonary chlamydia, conjunctivitis, bronchitis, etc.

We list the most common types of complications found in children:

• pharyngitis, during which cold symptoms appear, so parents try to use home treatment methods, which is unacceptable;
• inflammation of the eyes, during which pus is released and the eyelids stick together;
• bronchitis, accompanied by high fever, dry cough and general weakness;
• disorders in the genitourinary system, itching and pain appear during urination, urogenital chlamydia has more vivid symptoms compared to the disease in children;
• gastroenteropathy, intestinal obstruction appears;
• disruption of the nervous system, with this pathology convulsions and respiratory arrest occur;
• pneumonia, a wet cough, shortness of breath and bluish skin occurs.

Reiter's disease

During this disease, there is inflammation of the joints, conjunctiva of the eyes and genitourinary organs. Symptoms of this disorder are often erased, which prevents the timely detection of pathology. Reiter's disease can manifest itself in 3 (2) directions at once or in just one.

Typically, patients turn to rheumatologists with suspected arthritis and during a diagnostic examination they find chlamydia. The joints are affected a month and a half after infection, which means the disease has already reached the chronic stage.

To eliminate the complications of chronic chlamydia, doctors are developing individual therapy that can partially or completely suppress the disease. The acute form of the disease is treated with drugs based on azithromycin or doxycycline. Popular antibiotics are sumamed, azivok, vilprafen, doxal, sumizid. The price of these medications varies greatly and depends on the region.

With rapid progression of complications, in addition to antibacterial agents, physiotherapy, massage or immunotherapy are prescribed. Doctors recommend using vaginal suppositories for women, and regular instillations for men. Application traditional methods treatment or independent selection of medications is unacceptable, otherwise the patient’s condition will only worsen.

In order to avoid the development of complications, it is enough to undergo regular examinations with a doctor and immediately seek help when the first symptoms of a disorder occur.

In men, this disease is asymptomatic, which is where its greatest danger lies. Indeed, after months, the disease becomes chronic, causing serious complications, including infertility.

There are several types of chlamydia that cause disease in humans:

1. Chlamydia psittacy and Chlamydia pecorum - cause ornithosis, transmitted from birds and domestic animals;
2. Chlamydia pneumonia - transmitted by airborne droplets, provokes respiratory diseases (laryngitis, sinusitis, tracheitis, bronchitis and others);
3. Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common type, which will be discussed.

Routes of transmission

In men, chlamydia most often appears as a result of sexual contact, leading the list of STDs. Therefore, the victims of the disease are mainly young people 20-40 years old and adolescents 13-17 years old. The statistics of the disease are impressive - about 100 million people on the planet per year, in Russia - 1.5 million!

The infection is transmitted through all types of sex, through contact with infected semen, or vaginal discharge.

A contact-household route of infection is also possible (through personal hygiene items, for example), but its likelihood is low. Outside the body, chlamydia quickly dies.

How does the infection develop?

In the asymptomatic form, the disease makes itself felt after several months. The peculiarity of chlamydia trachomatis is that they live only inside the cells of the body, affecting the genitourinary system and intestines. This makes them less vulnerable.

The incubation period of the disease lasts 2-4 weeks. At this time, chlamydia rapidly multiplies and spreads throughout the body with lymph and blood.

In men, the mucous membrane of the urethra becomes infected, and in the case of perverted sexual intercourse, the rectum and pharynx become infected. Possible damage to the testicles, appendages and prostate.

How does chlamydial urethritis manifest?

Inflammation of the urethra is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Mucous, glassy or mucopurulent discharge in the morning;
• When urinating in the urethra, itching and burning are felt, the process itself can be painful;
• Swelling and redness around the urethral opening.

In most men, these symptoms are either absent or pass quickly, the disease becomes chronic and manifests itself during other illnesses and provoking factors.

If the rectum becomes infected during anal sex,
discharge from it and discomfort. If the infection gets into your eyes,
pain, redness and swelling of the mucous membranes, purulent discharge from the eyes appears,
chlamydial conjunctivitis develops.

Aggressive attack of infection

The exacerbation of chlamydia is influenced by:

• Food poisoning;
• Viruses, colds, hypothermia;
• Weakened immunity;
• Overwork;
• Stressful situations.

With acute urethritis in men, the temperature rises to 37.5°C, and
fatigue, spotting during ejaculation and at the end
urination.

Complications of chlamydia

Due to the latent course of the disease, patients rarely consult a doctor in a timely manner, without even suspecting that they are sick. This significantly undermines men's health and leads to multiple unpleasant consequences that are difficult to treat:

Consequences

Damage to the sperm membrane as a result of chronic chlamydia causes infertility. Even if conception occurs, due to sperm dysfunction there is a high risk of miscarriage.

The gluing of sperm and loss of their motility occurs due to the tendency of chlamydia to attach to them. Both the shape and number of sperm may change.

In some cases - men are 20 times more likely than women - Reiter's syndrome develops, when inflammation of the prostate gland is accompanied by reactive arthritis of one or more joints and severe conjunctivitis.

Effect on joints

Despite the fact that the main blow from an attack of chlamydia falls on the genitourinary system, other organs, such as joints, can also suffer.

For many years a person may suffer from joint pain, attributing it to arthritis, fatigue, stress and various other reasons. Without giving them of great importance the patient does not go to the doctor until the pain becomes too intense.

Then the rheumatologist, using a comprehensive examination, identifies the true source of deterioration in the condition of the musculoskeletal system. Any joints of the arms, legs, and fingers can be affected. In addition, there may be pain in the heels, lower back, and tendons.

Diagnostics

By external signs It is almost impossible to determine the presence of a pathogen. chlamydia often masquerades as other diseases. A regular smear test in a clinic will not give a reliable result in 90% of cases, since chlamydia is too small and similar to a virus.

Therefore for effective diagnosis more specific and expensive methods are needed: PCR (polymerase chain reaction method), ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The success of diagnostics is determined by the level of equipment and specialists of the organization, as well as an integrated approach.

Treatment of chlamydia in men

There are no home remedies to get rid of this disease. By self-medicating in this situation, you can only harm yourself.

Chlamydia should be treated by doctors - venereologists or urologists. Most often they are faced with an advanced chronic disease. They also deal with a whole “bouquet” of sexually transmitted diseases in 70-85% of cases.

For successful therapy and minimizing side effects, it is important to determine the state of the immune system, internal organs, urogenital tract, and intestinal microflora.

Treatment regimen for infection

Treatment of infection includes a set of measures aimed at:

1. Destruction of the pathogen;
2. Strengthening immunity;
3. Prevention of candidiasis and dysbacteriosis due to the use of antibiotics.

Chlamydia trachomatis is an intermediate link between viruses and bacteria, and therefore conventional antibacterial drugs do not work on it.

When prescribing bacterial therapy, the high sensitivity of chlamydia to doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, and azithromycin is taken into account. Drugs based on them, tetracycline antibiotics, are prescribed. Their effectiveness is 97%.

Duration of treatment

If 2 weeks after treatment the pathogen is again detected in bacterial culture, another antibiotic is prescribed. In some cases, it becomes necessary to combine two drugs at once. This, in turn, leads to a disruption of the intestinal microflora and provokes the development of candidiasis. Treatment can be lengthy and debilitating for the body.

Antifungal agents in the treatment complex inhibit the uncontrolled proliferation of fungi of the genus Candida. If the patient does not take treatment seriously, candidiasis (or thrush), which occurs as a result of taking antibiotics, will aggravate the manifestation of chlamydia with unpleasant and painful phenomena in the penis area.

A consequence of taking strong antibacterial drugs is the suppression of the immune system. Immunomodulators will help strengthen it: Interferon, Neovir, Viferon, Eleutherococcus extracts, Echinacea decoction.

To prevent dysbiosis, probiotics are used - Linex and its analogues.

Treatment of chronic chlamydia is carried out with 3-4 courses of antibiotics, which may take several months. If one of the partners has an infection, both need to be treated.

Traditional medicine to help

Of course, the main treatment for chlamydia should be drug therapy. But also folk remedies are able to support the body in the fight against illness and side effects from medications.

To increase immunity, ginseng (alcohol tincture), Eleutherococcus senticosus (extract), Rhodiola rosea (tincture), decoction of herbs and Echinacea roots are widely used.

Herbal teas are also effective for increasing the body's resistance. They include: wormwood, licorice root, raspberry and birch leaves, rose hips, mint, lungwort, dandelion root.

Prevention of infection

A person does not develop immunity against chlamydia even after suffering from the disease, which means it is necessary to be protected from it under any circumstances.

Preventive recommendations will help protect the body from infection:

• Sexually active young people should be tested for chlamydia once a year, and ideally after each change of partner;
• Sexual contact should be protected. Using condoms – best way prevent STDs;
• It is necessary to keep the genitals clean and perform daily hygiene;
• We need to support our immunity and try to healthy image life;
• It is important to use only individual personal hygiene items.

Think beyond yourself

Chlamydia is a complex disease, the insidiousness of which lies in its asymptomatic course, difficult diagnosis, side effects during treatment, many complications. There is only one sure way to good men's health - take care of yourself and be responsible to your woman.

By not using protection during sex, by frivolously and indiscriminately changing partners, a man risks not only his well-being, but also the health of his future children. After all, the disease is very often diagnosed when the woman is the first to know about it.

During pregnancy, comprehensive tests for STDs are required. Chlamydia detected in an expectant mother means that her partner also has an infection. It is almost impossible to determine who is to blame in such a situation. But how cruel and unfair it is for a future child to receive such a “gift” from his parents!

Dangerous legacy

Every man should know what chlamydia poses to his descendants. In babies under three months of age, chlymydia causes pneumonia. In its acute form, the infection affects the eyes, causing conjunctivitis. Internal organs may also be damaged, even such vital ones as the heart, brain, central nervous system.

The prospect is terrifying. And maybe such a forecast will force the future father to change his behavior and engage in self-discipline in time.

Conclusion

So, chlamydia in men has its own specifics:

And most importantly, chlamydia is a disease that can be prevented by following simple rules and avoiding many problems.

The information presented in the article is for reference purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation for use. At the first signs of illness, consult your doctor!