Conference turris::womannotes-v2

The name of the disease is Chlamydia.

Chlamadyia is very dangerous because it is often symptomless, especially
in men.  They can carry it for a long time and not know about it.  Also the
test for it is expensive and more difficult than for (some) other problems.

Chlamydia can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), sterility, pelvic
infections, and a higher chance of an ectopian pregnancy.  In men, if they
have symptoms, it will look similar to gonorrhea.

(the above is from my Human Sexuality book)

Remembering what the instructor said, Chlamydia is a very common STD (the most
common among college students.)  A man can go a long time carrying it without
realizing it.  I don't know *how* long, but it doesn't seem all that unlikely
that the man could have been carrying it from before he was married, depending
on how long they have been married.  Also, she could have had it for a while
without knowing.

The book does not mention that there is any *other* way of getting Chlamydia
than through sexual contact.

D!

    Deb,
    
    Believe the nurse.  Chlomidea (or however it's spelled) shows
    no symptoms in men, and men aren't even tested for it until a
    female partner is diagnosed with it.  I think (I'm not sure, mind)
    that it is antibiotic-resistant too, so it can survive even if
    its host is flooded with antibiotics for other diseases.
    
    						Ann B.

    My mother had it last year.  She's 75 and hasn't been anywhere
    near a sexual partner since dear old Dad left (20+ years ago).
    Since she's the world's most incredible prude,  there must be
    either one heck of an incubation period or another method of
    transmission.
    
    -maureen
    

	 Relax.  It's cureable with treatment.

	 I've exhibited symptoms for years.....however, ever test I've
	 taken has come back negative, so they're sure it's just some
	 weird yeast infection.


	 When I last had my series of tests (3 years ago, I guess).  I
	 was told that 2 out of 5 tests give false negatives or false
	 positives.  I don't know if the tests have changed any, but
	 that is something to think about.

	 Yes, it can lay dormant for years........in fact, some people
	 might be carriers and never get the symptoms.  Suggest to her
	 that her husband get checked IMMEDIATELY.  There is no
	 telling whether she was the original carrier or he (unless of
	 course, one of them only has ever had one sexual
	 partner...then it's pretty obvious).

	 But it's not rare...in fact, it's the most common STD I
	 believe there is......and it's treatable/cureable.


	 kath
	 

    
    according to the planned parenthood training session i was at
    a couple of months ago, chlamydia is indeed very common and
    treatable. however, for women it is particularly dangerous
    since in the long run it can lead to serious damage to the
    uterus, et al. and to sterility. some doctors are theorizing
    that the apparent increase in sterility is chlamydia related.
    it is true that men are not usually tested for it unless their
    female partner has tested positive for it, at least partly
    because the test for men is very involved and painful (i leave
    it to the reader to guess what may be involved %^) and the
    test for women can (and probably should) be done along with
    a pap.
    

    I had chlamydia which was diagnosed once I started treatments for
    infertility.  They actually found it when my husband noticed some
    symptoms, and that's what he had.  It was then that they checked me. 
    It turns out that I most likely had the infection lying dormant for
    quite some time, and we figure that he had to give it to me from one of
    his girlfriends a long time ago since my husband is the only person I
    have had relations with.  That means that I had to have this for about
    6 years before it flared up.  It turns out that the test to check for
    clear tubes has been known to aggravate chlamydia if it is present, and
    they believe that that is what changed the infection from dormant to
    active.  We both had to take some oral medication to clear up the 
    infection.
    
    Tell your sister not to assume that her husband is cheating just
    because of this infection.  It is very possible that it has been lying
    dormant for quite some time, and is just now flaring up.
    

nit (which really isn't so minor):

As I understand it (as I say, from Sex Ed class) it doesn't "lie dormant", it
"reamins symptomless".  The difference is that if it is *dormant*, it isn't
doing any damage.  Sort of in remission.  But with Chlamydia, that isn't true,
and is a dangerous perception.  Because while it might not show any symptoms
that your average person would notice enough to go to a doctor, it can be
doing real damage to your body.  (As previously mentioned, it can cause
infection, PID and infertility...)  "Dormancy" gives to feeling that it is
benign, which it is not.

Have hope, though, my book says a weeks on anitbiotics is usually sufficient
to treat it.

(Kath, if you are showing symptoms of Chlamydia, I would recomment getting
retested...last time I was tested the Doc told me a new test had been 
developed recently that was more accurate - perhaps since after your last
test?)

D!

    
    
      Thanks for all the info.  As soon as I started to get responses
    from this note yesterday, I told my sister to put her suspicions
    on hold until I send her all these replies.  I'll send them this
    afternoon.  Thanks I'm sure it will put her mind at ease and in
    all likelihood "save a marriage".
    
    Debbie

    
    A friend of mine had Chlamydia and she took some antibiotics and is
    fine now.  One idea for your sister.  It sounds like chlamydia can lie
    symptomless for years.  However, it can also flare up right away.  My
    girlfriend got it a couple of weeks after sexual contact with an
    infected male.  So, what I'm trying to say is, yes assume the best, but
    perhaps she should ask her husband about his loyalty.  I'm just saying
    this because if he is cheating on her and contracting a sexual disease,
    then she is in a dangerous position.  It's a good idea to trust your
    husband, but the Russian idea of "trust but verify" is a safer one.
    (I think that's on of Gorby's mottos)  She could even word it like, "I
    know chlamydia can be symptomless for years, but I have to ask this:
    have you been with another woman since we were married?"
    

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	Mez

I can verify what D! said in .7 - there is a new test, so new that many health
providers don't know about it. I can also say that the test for men is not
painful in the least (or the MD I went to was extremely skillful...)

As someone else said, misdiagnosis of Chlamydia is common.  If you have
recurrent UTIs or any of the symptoms, do get tested. If they tell you the test
is expensive and/or painful, go elsewhere, as it is neither.

John

    urinary tract infections