25 Apr 2024 |

Oral Chlamydia: Detect and Treat to Prevent Throat Infections

Genital chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection which also infects other parts of the body. You can get Chlamydia in the mouth though it is rare but is not transmissible from kissing. However, it can be caught enjoying oral sex with someone who already has this infection. Symptoms of oral Chlamydia present as sores in the mouth, swollen lymph glands and blisters on the lips. Chlamydia is treatable by taking antibiotics similar to genital infections. Read on to find out how Chlamydia affects other parts of the body and how it is transmitted from one person to another.

Where can you get Chlamydia?

Chlamydia most commonly infects the genital areas although it can also infect:

Cervix
Eye
Mouth
Rectum
Urethra

Symptoms of Chlamydia

Oral Chlamydia infections may infiltrate the cells lining your throat. Most people with the infection are asymptomatic (have little to no symptoms) which makes them unaware that they may have been infected. It is possible to confirm oral Chlamydia symptoms with proper testing.

The most common symptom is a sore throat which comes and goes but persists for a long time. Accompanying a sore throat due to Chlamydia may have a low-grade fever and swollen lymph glands in the neck.

Other symptoms of Chlamydia in the throat are:

Painless sores in your mouth
Tonsillitis
Dry and scratchy throat
Redness with white spots which look similar to a strep throat infection
Lesions which are similar to cold sores around the mouth

Possible Chlamydia genital symptoms include:

Bloody discharge from the penis or vagina
Swollen or painful testicles
Rectal pain
Burning feeling on urination

How will I know if I have Chlamydia of the mouth?

The common symptoms of oral chlamydia includes:

Pain around the mouth
Swollen lymph glands
Fever
Sores in the mouth that do not heal
Sore throat
Blisters and sores on the lips

Genital Chlamydia may present with the symptoms of:

Bleeding between periods
Pain on urination
Pain and bleeding during or after sex
Pain and swelling of the testicles
Penile and vaginal discharge

It is important to know that Chlamydia may not be symptomatic all of the time and some people may go for months or years without even knowing they have it. So it is important to get tested for different STDs on a regular basis.

How to diagnose and treat oral Chlamydia

Testing for oral Chlamydia can be done by swabbing your throat. After a confirmed diagnosis it is possible to cure Chlamydia with a prescribed antibiotic. To avoid passing the infection to your partner it is important to abstain from sex for the 7 days while you are taking antibiotics.

Chlamydia is easy to treat. The longer without any treatment, the more likely it will turn from mild to severe which can lead to more serious reactions in the body, make healing difficult, and long-term damage.

Vaccines for Chlamydia, a sexually transmitted infection, have passed the safety test as per BBC news record.

Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-49317990

What happens if Chlamydia in the throat is not treated for a long time?

STDs like Chlamydia are infectious and spread with continual sexual contact without treatment. Serious complications from untreated Chlamydia is a possibility and can impact on sexual partners.

Chlamydia can cause reproductive complications in women. It may infect the fallopian tubes and uterus leading to infertility, premature birth, miscarriage and stillbirth.

Related Blog : How Long Chlamydia Infection Stays Dormant

When pregnancy reaches full term, certain complications may present in newborns and a postpartum mother if Chlamydia has not been treated. Half of newborns suffer conjunctivitis and they can even get urethritis. Mothers can get ear, lung, nose or throat infections.

For men, a progressed Chlamydial infection might lead to urethritis, infertility and inflammation of the prostate.

It is also possible that Chlamydia can lead to a reaction in the body causing arthritis. Other possible side effects are proctitis, conjunctivitis, open sores in the genital area, fatigue, fever, headache, Lymphogranuloma Venereum and rashes on the soles of the feet.

How to prevent Chlamydia of the throat

Talking to your partner about any concerns you may have and your present status. Necessary precautions are important where your sexual health is concerned. Make sure you protect yourself from becoming infected from oral Chlamydia.

When you engage in oral sex of the penis, using a condom or other barrier method is necessary every time you enjoy sex with your partner. If participating in oral sex of the anus or vagina, a dental dam or condom best used as a barrier between the mouth and the anus or vagina of your partner is recommended.

How to avoid oral Chlamydia and keep free of infection

Oral sex with your partner with infected genitals risks contamination of Chlamydia in your throat. Oral sex is about using the lips, mouth or tongue to stimulate arousal in your sexual partner.

The risk of transmitting an STD from oral sex will depend on several things: the specific STD, and how the common STD is.

There are more risks of spreading Chlamydia in the throat if:

You have oral sex with an already infected penis in men .
You have oral sex on a female with an infected urinary tract or vagina.
You perform oral sex on a male or female having an infected rectum.

Conversely the risks of passing Chlamydia on increases if:

Oral sex is practiced on the penis from a partner with a Chlamydia infected throat.
Oral sex is performed on the vagina from a Chlamydia infected partner with the resulting cross infection of the urinary tract or vagina.
Oral sex on the anus from a partner with chlamydia in the throat causing Chlamydia of the rectum.

How Oral Chlamydia Differs to Genital Chlamydia?

Oral Chlamydia and Chlamydia of the anus, penis or vagina is caused by the Chlamydia Trachomatis bacteria. Chlamydia of the mouth occurs from oral sex only while genital Chlamydia is caused by any form of sexual contact and has different symptoms. Both however are treatable by taking the same full course of antibiotics.

According to a Telegraph report, the disease Chlamydia is increasing double in decade. To get the full scoop of this news, you can read this! Link: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/16/hospital-admissions-stis-such-as-chlamydia-double-in-decade/

Can you get Chlamydia in your mouth from kissing?

Oral Chlamydia in mouth cannot spread through kissing. It will not be passed on through non-sexual contact i.e. sharing a towel or drinking from the same glass.

How serious is oral Chlamydia?

Oral chlamydia is a serious infection, and treatment should commence immediately on a positive test result. If it is not treated, oral Chlamydia can lead to significant health complications:

Gum disease
Pharyngitis
Secondary mouth infections
Toothache
Tooth loss
Vulnerability to other STDs like HIV

Can Oral Chlamydia resolve on its own?

Most STDs do not resolve on their own and this includes oral Chlamydia. It will need proper treatment and those with a STD will be prescribed a 7-day course of antibiotics. Once started on antibiotics you should abstain from unsafe anal, oral or vaginal sex to prevent it from spreading the infection to others or the cycle of reinfection.

Although it is less common than penile or vaginal Chlamydia, you can contract Chlamydia of the mouth. Oral Chlamydia from the bacteria Chlamydia Trachomatis can transmit via unsafe oral sex with someone who is already infected with Chlamydia but unaware of it.

Chlamydia infection in the mouth and throat can also be passed on to a partner’s genitals but cannot be passed on by kissing or non-sexual contact. Therefore it is important to use protection if practicing oral sex.

According to the UK Government data and statistics, the infection Chlamydia is increasing 24% which can push people to do more STI tests. Read the full report!

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/sexually-transmitted-infections-stis-annual-data-tables/sexually-transmitted-infections-and-screening-for-chlamydia-in-england-2022-report

Feel free to visit a STI clinic in London and get yourself as well as your partner tested in order to avoid the infection and symptoms of Chlamydia and stay protected and healthy.