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chlamydia reinfection for GI tract
I have recently seen some studies suggesting that chlamydia can reside chronically in your intestinal tract possibly causing an infection in the female genital track later via auto inoculation. How common is this?
my wife and i have been together for 20 years. I was tested for common stds before we go married ( at the time in relationship with my wife and I were negative for all ) my wife has been tested over the years during all 4 of her pregnancies with negative results. We both had one instance each in college ( one night stands ) other than that we have only been with each other. with our negative tests over the years are they conclusive that we are free and clear of chlamydia even though she has never been tested for anal infection? could it be there and could she possible transfer it one day to her gental tract? is this not something to be concerned about? it can be hard to tell on the internet because one article will say its possible but rare and then the next will say happens all the time. Dr handsfield says recent research suggest this can happen but appears to be rare? but how rare is it? like getting stuck by lighting rare? should I have fear of this or move on with life haha! I have followed this forum for years and appreciate what you all do with the information you provide!
my wife and i have been together for 20 years. I was tested for common stds before we go married ( at the time in relationship with my wife and I were negative for all ) my wife has been tested over the years during all 4 of her pregnancies with negative results. We both had one instance each in college ( one night stands ) other than that we have only been with each other. with our negative tests over the years are they conclusive that we are free and clear of chlamydia even though she has never been tested for anal infection? could it be there and could she possible transfer it one day to her gental tract? is this not something to be concerned about? it can be hard to tell on the internet because one article will say its possible but rare and then the next will say happens all the time. Dr handsfield says recent research suggest this can happen but appears to be rare? but how rare is it? like getting stuck by lighting rare? should I have fear of this or move on with life haha! I have followed this forum for years and appreciate what you all do with the information you provide!
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If Dr. Handsfield says it's rare, then I'd certainly believe that. What I've read about it being common is based on animal models, not reality.
You've been married for 20 years. You and your wife have been tested numerous times, all negative, and have healthy children. I think it's safe to say you are free of chlamydia. You also probably have much bigger things to worry about, being the parents of (presumably) 4 kids.
Let it go now, and enjoy life. :)
You've been married for 20 years. You and your wife have been tested numerous times, all negative, and have healthy children. I think it's safe to say you are free of chlamydia. You also probably have much bigger things to worry about, being the parents of (presumably) 4 kids.
Let it go now, and enjoy life. :)
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thank you so much for the answer.
I am not trying to worry but about 3 years ago my wife did test positive for HPV but normal pap. At first is shocked my wife and I especially with us being together so long and each of us only having on other sexual partner ( drunken college night ) We now no from her gyno its not rare etc. for hpv to show up years later and that 80% of people get it so just having a few other partners it is still common to get etc ( not concerned about this anymore ) BUT this is what kicked off my "research"
I just didnt want another "suprise" like that this to come up.
Dr handsfield said on Healthtap it "appears" to be rare but could be the cause of some " new " infections in women that are really old and have resided in the GI tract. I know from reading this forum you have a lot of exp. in this field so I didnt know if you have personally being see this as an issue etc.
I think at some point of the pregancy etc it would have enevtaully showed up so prob just worrying about nothing here.
thank you again for all you do for this forum!
I am not trying to worry but about 3 years ago my wife did test positive for HPV but normal pap. At first is shocked my wife and I especially with us being together so long and each of us only having on other sexual partner ( drunken college night ) We now no from her gyno its not rare etc. for hpv to show up years later and that 80% of people get it so just having a few other partners it is still common to get etc ( not concerned about this anymore ) BUT this is what kicked off my "research"
I just didnt want another "suprise" like that this to come up.
Dr handsfield said on Healthtap it "appears" to be rare but could be the cause of some " new " infections in women that are really old and have resided in the GI tract. I know from reading this forum you have a lot of exp. in this field so I didnt know if you have personally being see this as an issue etc.
I think at some point of the pregancy etc it would have enevtaully showed up so prob just worrying about nothing here.
thank you again for all you do for this forum!
what do you think the odds would be that we have had chlamydia for years and was hidden in her GI tract and never picked up on any of our test ( being mine was urine test and hers where vaginal swabs over the years) can you give me a wild guess on what you think the odds would be. I know in medicine you cant ever really say 0 but is my odds of this scenario 1 and 100 / 1 and 1000 / 1 and 10,000 ?
just trying to total walk away from this thought altogether and as you said move on, enjoying life
just trying to total walk away from this thought altogether and as you said move on, enjoying life
I would say zero. I can't see how it wouldn't have made either of you sick somehow, or reinfected either of you, and you'd never get sick. I don't know how your babies wouldn't have gotten it.
I don't know why you are focused on this, but you can let it go. If you can't, especially after what Dr. handsfield said, you should seek counseling for anxiety/OCD. I say that with kindness, not judgement.
I don't know why you are focused on this, but you can let it go. If you can't, especially after what Dr. handsfield said, you should seek counseling for anxiety/OCD. I say that with kindness, not judgement.
sounds good thank you. not trying to worry needlessly.... when we went through the whole hpv ordeal there was a lot of questions/shock/stress/anxiety etc at first... so just trying to be informed if this is real concern or not. thanks again for your answers and your time!
You're welcome. :)
I have one more question more for just a knowledge basis. All my wife's deliveries where C-sections. before each C-section she was administered IV antibiotics, for reducing the risk of infection during surgery etc. wouldn't those rounds of antibiotics cured any chlamydial infection as well? I don't know the name of them but assuming it was administered by IV I would imagine them being "strong"?
I have never struggled with anxiety in the past but I guess I am with this issue because when the HPV came up in our relationship it caused a lot of stress etc. bc trust became an issue until we learned it is something we could have gotten years and years ago
Most of the time from what I understand when new Chlamydia infection is presented in a monogamous relationship its not thought to be something you can have for years and years without knowing BUT with this new theory of it possible staying in the gi tract for years and then in re-infecting the genital tract. Like Dr Handsfeild stated it appears to happen just rarely. I found another post of his on ASHA website where a couple has been together for years and she just tested positive. He states there could be a few possibilities and that her chronically carrying it in her GI tract for years is possible and it reinfected her gental now. wish I could know how "rare" it actually happens there is just hardly any data on this subject out there.
I guess it is what it is and just need to let it go.... if it pops up then ill deal with it then
I have never struggled with anxiety in the past but I guess I am with this issue because when the HPV came up in our relationship it caused a lot of stress etc. bc trust became an issue until we learned it is something we could have gotten years and years ago
Most of the time from what I understand when new Chlamydia infection is presented in a monogamous relationship its not thought to be something you can have for years and years without knowing BUT with this new theory of it possible staying in the gi tract for years and then in re-infecting the genital tract. Like Dr Handsfeild stated it appears to happen just rarely. I found another post of his on ASHA website where a couple has been together for years and she just tested positive. He states there could be a few possibilities and that her chronically carrying it in her GI tract for years is possible and it reinfected her gental now. wish I could know how "rare" it actually happens there is just hardly any data on this subject out there.
I guess it is what it is and just need to let it go.... if it pops up then ill deal with it then
I don't know what the HPV issue is, so I can't address that.
I did find two questions on ASHA that address this that you might read.
Question #6999
Question #7491
You can enter the number into the search bar.
Both emphasize that chlamydia in the GI tract are based on animal studies, and we don't know how often, if ever, it happens in humans. Also - pay attention to this - it would only happen in females. The male body isn't able to do this. If your wife had this, and reinfected you, there is no way that you wouldn't show symptoms for this long. It wouldn't happen.
If your wife has ever taken azithromycin or doxycycline, it would kill it - IF she had it. That's extremely unlikely in the first place.
Please get counseling. HPV (or any other STD that can remain dormant for a time) can mess with your mind. Chlamydia isn't one of them. There's no way you'd both not have symptoms for 20 years. There just isn't.
I did find two questions on ASHA that address this that you might read.
Question #6999
Question #7491
You can enter the number into the search bar.
Both emphasize that chlamydia in the GI tract are based on animal studies, and we don't know how often, if ever, it happens in humans. Also - pay attention to this - it would only happen in females. The male body isn't able to do this. If your wife had this, and reinfected you, there is no way that you wouldn't show symptoms for this long. It wouldn't happen.
If your wife has ever taken azithromycin or doxycycline, it would kill it - IF she had it. That's extremely unlikely in the first place.
Please get counseling. HPV (or any other STD that can remain dormant for a time) can mess with your mind. Chlamydia isn't one of them. There's no way you'd both not have symptoms for 20 years. There just isn't.
I will read those.
Just to be clear I know it would only happen in females. what I am saying is lets say she got it years ago and cleared it YET it is still in her GI Tract which Dr H says does not appear to self eliminate over time Like it does in the genital tract. So lets say she has had it in her GI Tract for 20 years but clear in her Genital ( thats why she never had a positive test at those times ) then is somehow one day goes back to her genital tract ( like how E coli can cause a UTI from Anus to Vagina ) looking like a 'new" infection but it really was from a long time ago and just now infecting her genital tract again. I know this is a long shot but its just the scenario I have come up with in my head
i prob just beating a dead horse here
Just to be clear I know it would only happen in females. what I am saying is lets say she got it years ago and cleared it YET it is still in her GI Tract which Dr H says does not appear to self eliminate over time Like it does in the genital tract. So lets say she has had it in her GI Tract for 20 years but clear in her Genital ( thats why she never had a positive test at those times ) then is somehow one day goes back to her genital tract ( like how E coli can cause a UTI from Anus to Vagina ) looking like a 'new" infection but it really was from a long time ago and just now infecting her genital tract again. I know this is a long shot but its just the scenario I have come up with in my head
i prob just beating a dead horse here
Right, and I'm saying that any thought of it going to her genital tract is based on animal models. We don't have definitive proof that it happens in humans. IF it does, we don't know that it would take 20 years to go from the rectum to the vagina.
We DO know that if it has gone from the rectum to the vagina, it would be impossible for you both to be asymptomatic all this time. Men show symptoms far more than women, but I sincerely doubt that in the last 20 years, a chlamydial infection would have escaped either your or your wife's knowledge.
Also, if she has taken azithromycin or doxy for any reason, it would have cured it.
Yes, this is a dead horse.
E coli doesn't just sit in the GI Tract and move to the urethra. It gets transferred there. usually by sex or improper wiping.
I wish I had magic words that would allow you to let this go.
We DO know that if it has gone from the rectum to the vagina, it would be impossible for you both to be asymptomatic all this time. Men show symptoms far more than women, but I sincerely doubt that in the last 20 years, a chlamydial infection would have escaped either your or your wife's knowledge.
Also, if she has taken azithromycin or doxy for any reason, it would have cured it.
Yes, this is a dead horse.
E coli doesn't just sit in the GI Tract and move to the urethra. It gets transferred there. usually by sex or improper wiping.
I wish I had magic words that would allow you to let this go.
I wish you had the words as well! its just confusing bc when you read DR H post of 7491 he even states " this is not far fetched"
other post by him tell people that if they have been an monogamous relationship for 10 years then only possiblity is hpv and herpes.... no way for gono, chy. etc. ( but on the other hand you could have chy show up 8 years later in 7491 bc it can reside in the GI tract harmlessly that long )
I guess when I see Dr H telling others who have been together for years that this is a possibility and no one cheated then I just wonder why it couldnt happen to us? I know it hasnt been in her vagina or my penis for 20 years ( we would have symptoms for sure no doubt ) but if it is "harmlessly in the GI tract then transfers over to her tomorrow for example.
I have had anal sex with her prob 5 times over the 20 years so I guess that Further proves your point that I would have prob gotten it that way and had symptoms etc. if it was persisting there
I know over the years she has taken varies antibiotics.... a few sinus infections.... she got mastitis one time from breast feeding.... also the IV antibotics before each surgery.... I just dont know the name of them so hopefully at some point it was one of the two you mention.
other post by him tell people that if they have been an monogamous relationship for 10 years then only possiblity is hpv and herpes.... no way for gono, chy. etc. ( but on the other hand you could have chy show up 8 years later in 7491 bc it can reside in the GI tract harmlessly that long )
I guess when I see Dr H telling others who have been together for years that this is a possibility and no one cheated then I just wonder why it couldnt happen to us? I know it hasnt been in her vagina or my penis for 20 years ( we would have symptoms for sure no doubt ) but if it is "harmlessly in the GI tract then transfers over to her tomorrow for example.
I have had anal sex with her prob 5 times over the 20 years so I guess that Further proves your point that I would have prob gotten it that way and had symptoms etc. if it was persisting there
I know over the years she has taken varies antibiotics.... a few sinus infections.... she got mastitis one time from breast feeding.... also the IV antibotics before each surgery.... I just dont know the name of them so hopefully at some point it was one of the two you mention.
Any comments on my last post? After that I’m going to drop it…. Just wish there was more available data on it and see how “rare” it truly happens.
What you are missing in #7491 is that in 2015, she was symptomatic for chlamydia. You and your wife have had no such symptoms.
There is also the possibility that her husband cheated. Or she had a false positive.
If this were more common, we'd know a lot more about it, and we wouldn't all be guessing in 2022, right?? Chlamydia is one of the most common STDs. Dr. Handsfield, one of the most preeminent experts in the world, isn't entirely sure.
There's no data on it because it's all theoretical. We aren't even sure if it happens in humans.
YOU have no evidence that this has happened to you and your wife. There's no reason to believe that it has. This is all anxiety-driven.
It sounds like your wife has been on several antibiotics. I don't know what they give for c-sections, or mastitis, but you can let this go. Seriously. There is no sign that you or your wife ever had this.
If you can't, please get counseling. I understand that the HPV issue caused some trauma, but there's no evidence that anything else is lingering. I say that only with compassion.
There is also the possibility that her husband cheated. Or she had a false positive.
If this were more common, we'd know a lot more about it, and we wouldn't all be guessing in 2022, right?? Chlamydia is one of the most common STDs. Dr. Handsfield, one of the most preeminent experts in the world, isn't entirely sure.
There's no data on it because it's all theoretical. We aren't even sure if it happens in humans.
YOU have no evidence that this has happened to you and your wife. There's no reason to believe that it has. This is all anxiety-driven.
It sounds like your wife has been on several antibiotics. I don't know what they give for c-sections, or mastitis, but you can let this go. Seriously. There is no sign that you or your wife ever had this.
If you can't, please get counseling. I understand that the HPV issue caused some trauma, but there's no evidence that anything else is lingering. I say that only with compassion.
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