A rise in the number of STI outbreaks in Ireland in 2021 has experts publish a handy list of things to watch out for.
After a serious outbreak of syphilis earlier this year, doctors are warning of other STIs that are causing issues for younger people.
Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection in Ireland.
Most cases occur in young people under the age of 25.
Thankfully, those at sexualwellbeing.ie have issued helpful advice for dealing with the STI.
How do I get chlamydia?
In most cases, chlamydia is passed from one person to another from:
- unprotected sex (oral, vaginal or anal)
- using unwashed sex toys
- mother-to-baby during delivery
You cannot catch chlamydia by:
- hugging
- kissing
- swimming
- sitting on toilet seats
- sharing cutlery or towels
Chlamydia symptoms to watch out for
Most people with chlamydia don't experience any symptoms.
If symptoms do occur, they are more likely to develop between one and 28 days after sexual contact with someone who has the infection.
If you do have symptoms, how they show will depend on where the infection is.
Men
- No symptoms in half the men infected.
- Discharge from the tip of the penis.
- Pain or discomfort passing urine.
- Bowel symptoms such as diarrhoea, pain, mucus discharge or bleeding from the back passage.
- Pain and swelling in one or both testicles.
Women
- No symptoms in 7 out of 10 women with the infection.
- Bleeding after sex.
- Bleeding between periods.
- Change in your normal vaginal discharge.
- Pain passing urine.
- Pain in your abdomen (tummy).
How can I find out if I have chlamydia?
Testing for chlamydia is simple and painless.
Chlamydia is diagnosed by taking a urine sample in men and a vaginal swab in women.
Sometimes a swab is also taken from the rectum (back passage) or pharynx (throat).
