Chlamydia and gonorrhea are sexually transmitted bacterial infections that share symptoms, including painful urination and genital discharge. However, they are the result of different bacteria overgrowths.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea are both extremely common.
In 2018, chlamydia had a rate of
This article will look at how a person can tell the difference between chlamydia and gonorrhea, and what they can do if they notice any symptoms.
According to the
The same goes for chlamydia. If a person does experience symptoms, they might not appear for
As the symptoms can be similar and may overlap, it is important for a doctor to test for the infections before prescribing any treatment.
Overlapping symptoms
The overlapping symptoms may differ slightly between females and males.
For example, females may experience a burning sensation during urination and abnormal or increased discharge from the vagina.
Males may experience:
- a burning sensation during urination
- discharge from the penis
- painful swelling of the testicles and penis, though this is
less common
A person may also experience symptoms in the rectum. Symptoms in the rectum may include:
- pain or soreness
- discharge
- bleeding
A person can also experience chlamydia and gonorrhea in the throat.
Symptoms specific to gonorrhea
If a female has gonorrhea, they may experience vaginal bleeding between periods.
For males, both chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause penile discharge. If gonorrhea is the cause, the discharge may be yellow, green, or white.
If a person experiences gonorrhea in the rectum, they may experience anal itching and painful bowel movements.
According to the CDC, there are
- Get treatment: Without treatment, the infection may cause complications.
- Tell any previous or current sexual partners: They will require testing and may need treatment. This might be an uncomfortable conversation, but it is critical in helping stop the spread and for the health of both partners. A person can talk with a doctor about the best way to handle the conversation, and they might be able to provide strategies or tools that can help.
- Get retested: After
3–4 months , a person should get retested to ensure that the infection is completely gone from their system.
A person can meet with a doctor to get a diagnosis for either of these infections.
The doctor will collect bodily fluids to test for the infection. The test can use either a urine sample or a sample from the vagina or penis, which a doctor will collect with a cotton swab.
Because both chlamydia and gonorrhea can present with no symptoms, it is important that people who are sexually active get tested regularly.
After a doctor has determined which infection a person has contracted, they will prescribe an antibiotic.
People should take the full course of antibiotics and wait an additional
A person can contract both chlamydia and gonorrhea again, even if they have already experienced and treated the STI before.
Treatment for chlamydia
In 2006, the American Academy of Family Physicians recommended the antibiotics azithromycin or doxycycline to treat chlamydia.
A person may only require one dose, or they may have to take the antibiotic every day for 7 days.
Treatment for gonorrhea
The
Antibiotic resistant gonorrhea has become
Any person who is sexually active has a risk of STIs. A person can transmit or contract STIs through oral, anal, or vaginal sexual intercourse.
To prevent contracting either of these infections, a person should use barrier methods, such as condoms, and get tested regularly.
Even when they do not cause any symptoms, these infections can cause complications.
If a person does not seek treatment for gonorrhea, for example, there may be a
In females
Without treatment, either infection may cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID occurs when either infection migrates into a female’s reproductive organs.
Symptoms may include:
- lower abdominal pain
- unusual discharge from the vagina
- bleeding during sexual intercourse
- a burning sensation when urinating
- bleeding between periods
If a person does not seek treatment for PID early enough, complications may occur, including:
- infertility
- scar tissue forming in the fallopian tubes, which may cause tubal blockage
- ectopic pregnancies
In males
In some rare cases,
Women should inform a doctor if they have chlamydia or gonorrhea while pregnant. They may pass the STI to the newborn during delivery.
If a pregnant person does not receive treatment for gonorrhea, they may experience:
- pregnancy loss
- premature birth
- low birth weight
- chorioamnionitis, which is an infection of the fetal membranes
It can also cause eye infections in newborns.
Untreated chlamydia during pregnancy can cause:
- preterm labor
- low birth weight
- premature rupture of the amniotic sac before labor begins
Untreated chlamydia can also cause eye and lung infections in newborns.
A person should see a doctor if they experience any symptoms of chlamydia or gonorrhea. However, as both infections may not show any symptoms, a person should get regular STI checks.
The
A person can contract chlamydia or gonorrhea as a result of unprotected sexual contact. Both are treatable using antibiotics.
Because there may be no symptoms at all, it is important to undergo regular STI checks and communicate the results with any sexual partners.
To prevent the spread of STIs, if a person suspects that they have either chlamydia or gonorrhea, they should immediately abstain from sex, seek medical advice, and inform their sexual partner(s) once a doctor has made a diagnosis.
As long as a person seeks treatment quickly, there should not be any long-term damage or health consequences from an STI such as chlamydia or gonorrhea.