Difference Between Chlamydia And Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Chlamydia and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) are common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK. While they are both STIs, they have different causes and different symptoms. If either one is left untreated, there is a potential for more serious complications to develop.
Difference Between Chlamydia and Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Chlamydia is a common STI caused by the bacterium chlamydia trachomatis. It can be easily treated, but if it isn’t treated it can result in damage to the reproductive system. HPV, or the Human Papilloma Virus, is a pathogenic infection that causes genital warts to appear. It is also the main cause of cervical cancer in women.
Symptoms of Chlamydia and HPV
Chlamydia and HPV can both present with no symptoms, meaning you can have the STIs without realising it. Successful treatment and management requires the earliest possible detection so if you are sexually active with different partners, it’s important to get tested for STI’s regularly. If you do experience symptoms, they can include pain when urinating and unusual discharge.
Chlamydia infections can happen in the genitals, mouth, and anus and depending on the location the symptoms can vary. In the anus, you may experience pain, discharge, or bleeding. If you have an infection in your mouth or throat, you may get a sore throat, cough, or fever.
Men tend to have little to no symptoms of chlamydia when compared to women, but it is still possible for them to experience symptoms like yellow or green discharge from the penis, stomach pain, and testicular pain.
Other symptoms of chlamydia:
- Spotting between periods
- Conjunctivitis in the eye by getting vaginal or seminal fluid in the eyes
- Pain during sex
- Swelling of the anus and genitals
- Burning or itching in or around the vagina
Unless you develop the genital warts HPV can cause, you may not notice any symptoms of HPV unless it is a high risk form of HPV that has progressed. This is usually in the form of cells that have changed abnormally and could become cancerous.
HPV has been linked to cancers such as:
- Cervical cancer
- Penile cancer
- Vaginal cancer
- Anal cancer
- Some head and neck cancers
Since HPV can lay dormant, it’s possible to have HPV for years or even decades without knowing you have it. It’s even possible to have HPV if you haven’t changed partners or had sex for a long time. Because of this, it’s recommended that women get regular pap smears so that any pre-cancerous cells in the cervix and genitals are detected early.
Chlamydia Treatment
Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. When taken correctly, antibiotics are up to 95% effective at clearing up the sexually transmitted infection. You should wait until after your course of antibitoics have been completed to have sex again. Some Chlamydia medications may recommended you wait an addition week. Commonly used antibiotics for chlamydia are azithromycin tablets and doxycycline capsules.
HPV Treatment
HPV has no cure, but the vaccine is very effective at preventing infections. If you develop genital warts, there are topical genital warts medications like Aldara Cream you can use to reduce their size and appearance. Aldara Cream can even help with any painful or uncomfortable symptoms as well as prevent your warts from recurring.
To treat STI’s, visit Pharmacy Planet where you can buy Azithromycin Tablets, Aldara Cream sachets, and Doxycycline Capsules online in the UK. We will have your medications shipped discreetly, safely, and quickly to your door.
Authored By
HARMINDER ‘HARMY’ KAUR
BSc(hons) Pharmacy
GPhC Number: 2061107
Reviewed By
GURDEV SEHMI
BSc Pharm, MRPharmS, Independent Prescriber, Superintendent Pharmacist, Clinical Lead
GPhC Number: 2050925