Introduction
Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the two most common bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This means that both these infections are most commonly transmitted from one person to another through unprotected sex acts -vaginal, oral, or anal.
They can also be transmitted through nonsexual ways such as from an infected mother to the baby or through transfusion of infected blood.
Both these common STDs have symptoms that are similar and many a time it may be difficult to differentiate one from another.
Secondly, both these diseases often coexist. A study found 20% of men and 42% of women with gonorrhea were also infected with chlamydia.
If STDs are left untreated, these infections can lead to short-term and long-term complications with serious ramifications.
If you’re sexually active, you must screen yourself for STDs once every six months. Even people in monogamous relationships should screen themselves once every year.
Regular screening for STDs helps in early diagnosis and prompt treatment. Fortunately, there are antibiotics that completely cure both gonorrhea and chlamydia.
This article compares the causes, symptoms, complications, screening guidelines, and treatment criteria for gonorrhea and chlamydia. It points out the similarities and differences between these STDs.
The United States has the highest prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases among developed countries.
According to a study estimate, 45 and 77% of all cases of gonorrhea and chlamydia, respectively, never exhibited symptoms.
As a result, 86 and 95% of cases of gonorrhea and chlamydial infection, respectively, remained untreated because they were asymptomatic.
Causes and risk factors
Both gonorrhea and chlamydia, are bacterial infections. Gonorrhea is caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium while chlamydia is caused by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium.
Any sexually active person can become infected, but there are some risk factors that make you more prone to catch the STD infection.
The risk factors that make you prone to get gonorrhea and chlamydia include:
- Unprotected sex
- Being in the young age group below the age of 25 years
- A habit of multiple partners
- Visiting prostitutes
- Homosexual men
- A high STD-risk lifestyle
- Drug users
- Ethnicity. STD infections like gonorrhea are seen more in African Americans than the general population.
- Decreased immunity
- Please note that pregnancy does not increase your risk.
Risk of catching gonorrhea by single unprotected sexual intercourse
- A man who has vaginal intercourse with an infected woman has a 20% risk of catching gonorrhea through a single intercourse.
- In homosexual men, the risk is higher.
- A woman has a 60% to 80% risk of getting this disease with a single act of vaginal intercourse with an infected man.
Risk of chlamydia infection from one unprotected sexual encounter
The quantum of risk varies in men and women. It is:
- In men: 20%
- In women: 40%
Symptoms
Symptoms of gonorrhea in womenGonorrhea symptoms include:
Symptoms of gonorrhea in men
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Symptoms of chlamydia in womenDue to a vaginal infection
Symptoms of rectal infection from anal sex
Symptoms of chlamydial infection of the throat due to oral sex are rare
Chlamydia symptoms in men
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Complications
Complications of gonorrhea in men
Complications in women
Complications during pregnancy
Complications in the newborn
Long-term complications of gonorrhea
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Chlamydia complications common in both men and women
Complications in women
Complications in men
Complications in pregnancy and newbornChlamydia complications in pregnancy include
Complications in newbornThe newborn delivered naturally through the vaginal canal gets exposed to the infection and it can develop complications such as
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Diagnosis
Both gonorrhea and chlamydia are diagnosed using similar diagnostic tests. One or more of these tests are done to ensure that the diagnosis is accurate and that the right treatment is given:
- physical examination to look for symptoms
- urine test to test your urine for the bacteria that cause chlamydia or gonorrhea
- blood test to test for signs of bacterial infection
- The culture of the swab sample taken from the urethra, vagina, anus, or throat is tested in the lab to look for the relevant bacteria.
Treatment
Chlamydia and gonorrhea, being bacterial infections require treatment with antibiotics.
Neither can be effectively treated at home. It requires the choice of the right antibiotic, which your health provider will decide.
Your provider will likely recommend retesting after you finish the complete course of antibiotics.
In addition, your health provider may recommend testing for other STIs. He will also recommend abstaining from sex for at least one week after finishing treatment.
- The best treatment for gonorrhea is an injection of the antibiotic ceftriaxone followed by an oral course of another antibiotic (usually azithromycin or doxycycline).
- Chlamydia is generally treated with a single dose of oral azithromycin or a prescription of oral doxycycline that is taken twice a day for one week.
Prevention
Both infections are sexually transmitted, which means they can spread through unprotected vaginal, oral, and anal sex.
Abstinence can eliminate your risk of getting either disease, but may not be practical. Practicing safe sex with the use of protection is often a more practical preventive measure.
To prevent getting these infections during sex, use latex condoms. They also reduce the risk of catching other STIs.
In addition, being monogamous with a partner who has been tested for all STIs will ensure prevention.