2 minutes read2 minutes readChlamydia is the most common bacterial STI in the world, and lots of people know its primary symptoms: pain or burning during urination and, along with the subject of this blog, unusual discharge from the vagina or penis.
The tricky thing about most STIs is that they often present with no symptoms at all. And sometimes, when symptoms do appear, you may only have mild versions of one or two symptoms. So, knowing whether you have a particular STI can be tough just from symptoms alone.
Unusual discharge from the vagina or penis is a classic symptom of Chlamydia, but the presence of discharge does not necessarily mean the presence of the infection. So, how do you know if the discharge you experience is caused by Chlamydia?
In this blog post, we will explore what Chlamydia discharge smells like, how the infection is spread, its symptoms, and its treatment.
What is Chlamydia?
Let’s start with the basics. What is Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium. Sexually active people with new or multiple partners are the most likely demographic to have Chlamydia.
Many people who are infected with Chlamydia often do not show any symptoms and may unknowingly pass the infection on to their sexual partners.
How is Chlamydia spread?
Chlamydia spreads through vaginal sex, anal sex, oral sex, or sharing sex toys with someone who is already infected.
Therefore, it’s important to always use a condom when you are having sex, and to use barriers like dental dams when engaging in oral sex.
Symptoms of Chlamydia
As previously stated, many people who have Chlamydia often don’t have any symptoms.
However, when symptoms do occur, they may include a burning sensation during urination, pain or tenderness in the lower abdomen, pelvic pain, and unusual discharge from the vagina or penis.
Chlamydia can also infect parts of the body other than the genitals. It is indeed possible to get a Chlamydia infection in the eye, throat, or anus. This usually occurs when infected bodily fluids come in contact with these parts of the body, or when a person with a genital Chlamydia infection transfers bacteria to another part of the body, usually through touching their genitals and then, for example, touching their eye.
What does Chlamydia discharge smell like?
Now to what inspired this blog post: the smell of Chlamydia discharge.
In women, Chlamydia discharge can often have a fish-like odour, similar to the smell of pus. It can often appear yellowish in colour and has a thick, milky consistency.
In men, Chlamydia discharge will also have a similar foul odour. The discharge may seep out of the urethra and collect around the tip. The discharge is usually thick and cloudy, but it can also have a brown or yellow tinge.
Treatment of Chlamydia
Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. If a Chlamydia infection goes untreated, it can lead to serious complications like inflammation of the testicles, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and infertility in both men and women.
Final thoughts
If you are worried about a Chlamydia infection, one of the telltale signs is unusual discharge.
If you’re experiencing any unusual discharge, get tested with Better2Know. By getting tested, you’re taking control of your sexual health and reducing the risk of infections to yourself and your partner(s).
