Symptoms and Complications
People with chlamydia don't always have symptoms: 75% of women and over 25% of men won't show signs of infection. If symptoms start, they'll show up within 1 to 3 weeks of being exposed.
In men, chlamydia usually starts in the urethra. Symptoms often come and go, or might only be noticed during the first urination of the day. These include:
- painful burning on urination
- redness, swelling, burning, itching around the opening of the penis
- discharge from the penis, usually milky-white, gray, or yellow in color
Chlamydia can cause a number of complications in both men and women. Men may:
- become sterile if the infection spreads from the urethra to the testicles; this is called epididymitis
- develop prostatitis, an inflammation of the prostate
- develop Reiter's syndrome, an arthritis-like condition that can damage the joints and eyes
In women, chlamydia usually begins on the cervix. While symptoms are rare in women, they can include:
- a yellowish vaginal discharge which might have a foul odor
- painful burning during urination
- the need to urinate often
- bleeding between periods and after intercourse
- pain during intercourse
Women can also develop a number of serious complications from a chlamydia infection. If left untreated, it can cause:
- a type of arthritis
- a gallbladder infection
- an infection of the fallopian tubes, which can block them (causing infertility) or scar them; this can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a serious condition that causes chronic pain among other problems
In both women and men, chlamydia can infect the rectum. This causes:
- rectal itching and bleeding
- pain during defecation
- mucus-like discharge
If the eyes are infected by chlamydia (conjunctivitis), symptoms are:
- redness, itching, and discharge from the eyes
- swollen eyelids
In infants with chlamydia, eye infections usually occur within 2 weeks of delivery. If the infection isn't treated in time, it can lead to scarring of the cornea and permanent damage to vision. These babies also have a 20% chance of getting pneumonia, usually within 4 to 17 weeks after delivery. The chlamydial pneumonia can cause anything from mild symptoms to breathing problems that include a repetitive cough.