Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) because the bacteria that causes the infection transfers from person to person through sexual contact. The bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis infects the urethra and cervix in females. This common infection is the most reported among all STDs and infected more than 1 million people in 2006, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recognizing the symptoms associated with chlamydia is important so the infected individual can take antibiotics to cure the infection. Chlamydia infections in women can mimic other STDs such as gonorrhea.
Asymptomatic
Although males will begin to display symptoms of a chlamydia infection seven to 28 days after exposure to the chlamydia bacteria, many females experience no symptoms associated with the infection. Up to 90 percent of infected women have no symptoms of a chlamydia infection, according to Stanford University. A complication of not having chlamydia symptoms is that the woman may not realize an infection occurs and treatment will not begin, resulting in complications such as infertility or complications with pregnancy. Mothers also can pass the active infection to a baby during birth and cause eye infections or pneumonia in a newborn, according to Medline Plus. Once signs and symptoms of chlamydia occur, they may be mild, and women may overlook them or attribute them to other conditions.
Pain
Pain with a chlamydia infection may occur in several different ways. Some women experience painful urination. This burning sensation during urination occurs because of the bacteria in the urethra, which is the tube that connects the bladder to the outside of the body. Women also may experience pain during sexual intercourse because of the bacterial infection on the cervix. Pain in the lower abdomen, lower back and the pelvis may also occur with a chlamydia infection. The pain in the lower body signifies that the infection spread to other reproductive organs such as the uterus and the fallopian tubes.
Discharge
An increase in vaginal discharge may occur for females infected with chlamydia. The discharge does not usually change in color or have an increased odor. Vaginal bleeding may follow episodes of painful intercourse. Bleeding between normal menstrual periods may happen to some women with a chlamydia infection.
Sore Throat
Women who perform oral sex on a man with a chlamydia infection can contract chlamydia of the throat. A chlamydia infection in the throat causes pain when swallowing or a generalized pain in the throat.
Anal Pain
Women who have anal sex with an infected partner can contract chlamydia in the rectum. The bacteria also may spread from the vagina to the anus. Symptoms of anal chlamydia include a yellow, mucous discharge and pain.
Eye Pain
Without proper hand washing, it is possible to spread chlamydia to the eye. This infection causes women to experience redness, swelling and pain in the conjunctiva, which is the white portion of the eye.
