What is Chlamydia?
Chlamydia (pronounced kla-mid-ee-uh) is a common sexually transmitted bacterium that is causing a national epidemic. An estimated three million Americans get Chlamydia infections each year, making it three times more common than gonorrhea and thirty times more than syphilis. Chlamydia may infect both men and female. It can be the cause of nongonococcal arthritis (infection of the urinary tract), cervicitis (infection of the cervix) salpingitis (infection of the fallopian tubes), procititus (infection of the rectum) and infections of the eyes and lungs of newborn babies. In the U.S. Chlamydia infections are most often spread by direct sexual contact. Babies can get Chlamydia during birth if the mother has this infection.
How would I know if I had a Chlamydia infection?
Symptoms of Chlamydia may appear within two weeks to a month after exposure to someone with the infection. It is still not known how long Chlamydia can stay in the body without causing symptoms. The way to find out if you have Chlamydia is by having a test at a clinic or at a doctor’s office.
Symptoms For Women
- Vaginal discharge may be a sign of Chlamydia
- Chronic abdominal pain, bleeding between menstrual periods, and low-grade fever may be later symptoms of infection.
- Burning and pain on urination
- 80% of women will have no noticeable symptoms until complication set in.
Symptoms For Men
- Burning and itching around the opening of the penis.
- Discharge from the penis and/ or burning when urinating.
- Many men will have no noticeable symptoms, or symptoms so mild that they go unnoticed.
Can Chlamydia Be Dangerous?
Yes, if left untreated it can cause: painful infections that may require hospitalization, permanent damage to the reproductive organs and infertility (inability to achieve pregnancy) in both males and females. Complications in pregnancy can be caused by Chlamydia and babies can get eye, ear and lung infections.
How Is Chlamydia Diagnosed and Treated?
Tests that give accurate, quick results are now available to diagnose Chlamydia. These simple tests can be taken even when there are no symptoms. Chlamydia is usually treated with an antibiotic called Doxycycline for 7-10 days. Other antibiotics that can be effective are tetracycline and erythromycin. Your partner (or partners) must be treated. Avoid intercourse or use condoms until treatments completed. A test of cure appointment is usually advisable. It is important to follow instructions carefully and to take all of the medication.
How Can I Prevent Getting A Chlamydia Infection?
- Know your partners. You get STDs from someone who is infected. If neither you nor your partner has a disease, neither will be exposed.
- Limit the number of partners. Your risk of getting an STD increases as your number of sexual partners increases.
- Latex condoms when used properly provide good (though not perfect) protection.
- If you do not get an infection or suspect that you have been exposed, get to a clinic or doctor’s office. Early diagnosis and treatment are necessary to avoid complications and the spread of infection to partners.
- If you or your partners have other sexual contacts, you should get regular check-ups. Be sure to ask for a test for Chlamydia.
