HiTOPS.org ~ Chlamydia

Chlamydia

What is it?

Chlamydia is caused by a bacteria. Chlamydia is the most common STD among teenagers and young adults. Two to four million cases occur annually. Chlamydia is so common that public health experts recommend testing all sexually active females under age 25 at least once a year for this infection.

How do you get it?

Spread during vaginal sexual intercourse with someone who has chlamydia.

Incubation period

Symptoms show up 1 - 2 weeks after having sex.

Symptoms

Most women and some men usually have NO symptoms, otherwise:

Symptoms for women include:

Unusually heavy discharge from the vagina
Burning or pain during urination
Bleeding between periods
Pain in abdomen (sometimes with fever and nausea)

Symptoms for men include:

Watery, white drip from penis
Burning or pain during urination

Diagnosis

To test for chlamydia, a health care provider uses a swab to collect a sample from the cervix in women. The testing for men uses a urine sample. Males requesting gonorrhea or chlamydia testing should not urinate for two hours before the test.

Treatment

Antibiotics are taken orally.

What happens if you don't get treated?

You can give chlamydia to your sexual partner(s).
A more serious infection can occur, possibly damaging reproductive organs and causing infertility.
A mother with chlamydia can give it to her baby during childbirth, causing eye infections or pneumonia.

Note: All sexual partners of anyone treated for an STD must also be treated. If you are treated for an STD and do not tell your partner(s) to get treatment, the STD will spread rapidly and you could be re-infected. Using a condom every time you have sex can help keep you well.