Five Things Every Student Needs to Know About Chlamydia & Gonorrhea

August 9, 2022
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STIs and STDs (Sexually Transmitted Infections and Diseases) are a  topic you may not want to discuss, but let’s face it, it’s a serious problem. 


For example, did you know that 1 in 4 college students have had an STD? And the CDC estimates that 1 in 5 people in the U.S. has an STI. To clarify, an infection becomes a disease when symptoms are present. 

 

With over 66% of new chlamydial infections occurring in youth aged 15-24 years, chlamydia is the most commonly reported bacterial STD among young people.1  Gonorrhea is the second most commonly reported bacterial STD in the United States. More than half of these infections occurring in individuals 15-24 years of age.2

 

So, let’s start the conversation.

 

1 - What are Chlamydia and Gonorrhea?

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection transmitted through sexual contact. Gonorrhea (also called the “clap” or “drip”) is a bacterial infection that often co-exists with chlamydia (but not always) and is also transmitted through sexual contact. 

 

These STDs are most commonly spread by having vaginal, oral, or anal sex with someone infected. If your sex partner is male, you can still get chlamydia and gonorrhea even if he doesn’t ejaculate. If you have unprotected sex with somebody infected, you can get that STD again, even if you had a past treatment.

 

Chlamydia and gonorrhea can have additional consequences if you’re pregnant. Infections can pass through your birth canal to your baby, causing severe issues during childbirth and beyond. 

 

2 - How Will I Feel if I Have Chlamydia or Gonorrhea?

There’s no simple answer to this question. With chlamydia and gonorrhea, there are often no symptoms, especially for women. Some studies estimate that up to 95 percent of women and approximately 90 percent of men with a confirmed infection will not develop symptoms.  


Why is it such a big deal if most people don’t have symptoms? Well, this is one of the reasons why chlamydia and gonorrhea are among the most prevalent STDs. These diseases spread rapidly because many people don’t know they have it, so they continue to pass it on, not knowing that they have infected others.

 

You might wonder how anybody can tell that they have either of these STDs. The fact is, some symptoms can still show up with both of these diseases.

 

Chlamydia symptoms can start 5-6 days after being infected. In the infrequent event that symptoms exist, a woman could possibly experience painful intercourse, abnormal vaginal discharge, or burning urination. A man may have abnormal discharge from his penis and painful, burning urination.  

 

Gonorrhea in women often goes undetected because they think they have either a mild vaginal or bladder infection. If they have symptoms, they initially include dysuria (meaning it hurts to pee), increased vaginal discharge, or vaginal bleeding between periods. However, women with gonorrhea risk developing severe complications from the infection, regardless of the presence or severity of symptoms.

 

If men have symptoms of gonorrhea, there is a urethral infection with dysuria or a white, yellow, or green urethral discharge that usually appears 1-14 days after infection. Men with gonorrhea may also complain of testicular or scrotal pain.

 

Occasionally men and women can experience pain, swelling, discharge, and bleeding from the rectum with chlamydia and gonorrhea.

 

3 - How Do I Know for Sure That I Have Chlamydia or Gonorrhea?

You have to get tested; there are no other options. You might already be anxious about making that appointment with thoughts running through your head: How will I pay? This is so embarrassing; what if somebody finds out? At Collage, we provide confidential testing and treatment for chlamydia and gonorrhea at no cost to you.³ 


Being tested for both of these infections  is very simple. You’ll meet with a licensed health care professional (LHCP) who will ask you some questions to find out how we can best help you, and then you’ll need to give a urine sample. When we get your results back from the lab (generally 5-7 days) your LHCP will call you with your results and set up a follow up appointment for treatment if you test positive. 

 

4 - What Happens if I Don’t Get Treated for Chlamydia or Gonorrhea?

An STD is not something you should ignore. You’re placing your sexual health and future at risk, as well as any current or future partner’s health. If left untreated, the repercussions can be serious. 

 

With chlamydia and gonorrhea, women are at risk for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), infertility, and potentially an ectopic pregnancy. 

 

For men, these infections can spread to the tube that carries sperm from the testicles, causing pain and fever. It’s rare but possible that both chlamydia and gonorrhea can prevent a man from being able to have children. In addition, if gonorrhea is left untreated in men, it can spread to the blood and cause Disseminated Gonococcal Infection (DGI). The characteristics of DGI are arthritis, tenosynovitis, and/or dermatitis. This condition can be life-threatening.

 

5 - Can Chlamydia and Gonorrhea be Treated if I Test Positive?

Thankfully, there is a treatment for both diseases. However, it is crucial that if you do test positive for these STDs, you get medication. 

 

For these treatments to be successful, you need to follow these directions:

  • Take all the medication prescribed.
  • Don’t have any sexual contact during treatment. 
  • Don’t have any sexual contact for 7-10 days after completing treatment.

 

These standards apply to your partner(s) also. You should retest at 3 months if possible but no later than 1 year after being treated. 

 

How Can I Make Sure Not to Get Chlamydia or Gonorrhea?

Most people have heard that wearing a condom during sex will protect you from getting an STD, but condoms aren’t perfect. There’s only one fool-proof way to avoid contracting any STDs. That’s to refrain from having any form of sex until you are in a mutually exclusive relationship with an uninfected partner.  


Some people think STDs aren’t a big deal, especially since bacterial STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea can be treated. We believe otherwise. STDs can cause strains in your relationship, both physically and emotionally. There can also be harsh health consequences if an STD is left untreated. 

 

We’re here to help you if you think you’ve contracted chlamydia or gonorrhea. Feel free to reach out to Collage to continue the conversation.

How Does Abortion End My Pregnancy?

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If you’ve recently learned you are pregnant unexpectedly, we understand how overwhelming this might feel right now. If you're considering abortion as an option, taking time to understand how the process works is important so you can make an informed decision. Collage is here to help provide you with confidential support and abortion information at no cost. We offer a safe space, free of judgment, where you can think calmly about your options, receive lab-quality pregnancy testing, and get a complimentary ultrasound so you can get the facts around your pregnancy and learn what options are available to you. Schedule your free appointment today. Medical Abortion Medical abortion, also known as the abortion pill, ends a pregnancy by using two drugs taken at different times. The first pill, mifepristone, works by blocking progesterone and causes the embryo’s death. The second drug, called misoprostol, is usually taken a day or two after and causes the uterus to contract, expelling the pregnancy tissue through cramping and bleeding. Common side effects can include bleeding and cramping, bleeding with blood clots, and a low-grade fever. Medical abortion is only approved through ten weeks of gestation by the FDA . Follow-up care is typically recommended after a medical abortion to make sure the process is complete. Surgical Abortion Surgical abortion terminates a pregnancy in a clinic or medical setting and involves removing pregnancy tissue from the uterus through a suction device or a tool called a curette. This can also be called dilation and evacuation or dilation and curettage . Common side effects of surgical abortions are bleeding and cramps. You may also have a late or early period as your uterus has to build a new lining after the procedure. What Are The Risks Of Abortion? Medical and surgical abortion both have possible risks that you should be aware of. Some women may also experience emotional responses afterward. Complications that can arise from abortion are: Infection. Scar tissue on the uterine wall, known as Asherman's syndrome . Heavy bleeding that may not stop. Diarrhea and digestive pain. An incomplete abortion. Confirm Your Pregnancy With An Ultrasound Before making a pregnancy decision, it is important to verify your pregnancy with an ultrasound. An ultrasound provides important medical details such as how far along you are, the location of the pregnancy, and whether a heartbeat is detected. These details are important since the abortion pill is not FDA-approved for over ten weeks, and it also rules out ectopic pregnancy, which requires urgent medical attention. As many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage, and you can still get a positive pregnancy test result for days or weeks after a miscarriage because it takes time for hCG to leave the body. An ultrasound will confirm whether or not you have miscarried. We provide no-cost pregnancy services at our center, including limited OB ultrasounds, so you can get informed about your pregnancy and options. Get Pregnancy Support at College If you're considering your next step after learning you are unexpectedly pregnant, we are here to give you a safe place to ask questions and learn more about your options. Collage provides confidential appointments and no-cost pregnancy services, including medical-grade pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and STD testing . You don’t have to figure this out alone. We are here to listen. Schedule your free confidential appointment to learn more about your options. Collage does not provide or refer for abortions; however, we do offer pre-abortion screening through our no-cost services.

What Are the Side Effects of the Abortion Pill?

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3 Things to Know if You Are Considering Mail-Order Abortion

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Facing an unexpected pregnancy can bring a lot of emotions, and often, a sense of urgency to make a decision quickly. You may have seen options online to order abortion pills by mail and wondered if it’s a simple solution. Before making a decision, it’s important to understand how this option could affect your health and what steps you can take to make a fully informed decision. 1. Your Health Should Always Come First Mail-order abortion often skips important medical safeguards. In many cases, there is no in-person evaluation before receiving the drugs. That means key health factors, such as your medical history and potential risks, will not be fully considered. There can also be uncertainty about the source of the drugs, including how they were handled, stored, or dosed. In fact, the FDA does not recommend this option because the drugs’ quality, safety, and effectiveness cannot be guaranteed. Taking time to understand your health first is a smart and proactive way to protect yourself. 2. You Need Clear Answers About Your Pregnancy A pregnancy test alone doesn’t give you the full picture. Before considering abortion, it’s important to confirm details about your pregnancy through an ultrasound. An ultrasound can tell you: How far along are you? Whether the pregnancy is developing (or if you’ve miscarried ) Where the pregnancy is located These details matter more than you might think. Abortion pills are FDA-approved only through 10 weeks of gestation, and without accurate dating, it’s possible to miscalculate how far along you are. An ultrasound can also detect an ectopic pregnancy , which occurs outside the uterus and requires immediate medical attention. Abortion pills will not treat this condition. What’s more, if you’ve experienced a miscarriage, you may require medical follow-up to prevent complications. Getting these details first helps ensure your safety. We offer limited OB ultrasounds following positive lab-quality pregnancy testing with us. 3. It’s Important to Understand the Process and Risks Mail-order abortion may sound straightforward, but it’s important to know what it may actually involve. The process includes significant cramping and bleeding as the body expels the pregnancy, with some women describing the pain as being unexpectedly severe . Other side effects can include: Nausea or vomiting Fever or chills Diarrhea Headaches There are also potential risks , such as heavy bleeding, infection, or an incomplete abortion that may require additional medical care. Without in-person support, it can be difficult to know what’s expected and when something may need medical attention. You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone When everything feels overwhelming, it can help to take a moment to evaluate your next steps and get the information you need. At Collage, we provide no-cost, confidential services so you can ask questions, gather accurate information, and explore your options at your own pace in a one-on-one setting. Schedule your appointment today. Collage does not provide or refer for abortions; however, we do offer pre-abortion screening through our no-cost services. All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
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