Chlamydia
Chlamydia (“kluh-MID-ee-uh”) is a very common sexually transmitted infection (STI). It can spread from one partner to another through vaginal, anal, or oral sexual contact.
Treat chlamydia right away and it won’t cause problems. But you might have serious problems if it isn’t treated:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) : an infection of your pelvic organs which can cause infertility or ectopic pregnancy
- Pregnant women can pass chlamydia to their babies during delivery. The infection can cause serious problems like pneumonia and even blindness if it gets in the baby’s eyes.
- Having chlamydia increases the chance of getting HIV.
Some women who have chlamydia also have other STIs, such as gonorrhea. If finding out that you have an STI makes you feel bad about yourself or about sex, counseling or a support group may help you feel better.
Chlamydia symptoms
Many women don’t have symptoms so you can pass it to your sex partners without knowing it. You are contagious until you have been treated.
Symptoms can include:
- Pain when you urinate
- Cloudy urine
- Abnormal vaginal discharge
Diagnosing chlamydia
It’s likely you won’t know you have chlamydia until you get tested. So it’s smart to get tested once a year if you are sexually active and in your mid-20s or younger. Check with your doctor, local health departments or family planning clinics about low-cost testing.
Testing is quick and easy. It usually just takes a sample of your urine or a swab from your cervix, vagina, or urethra. You may be tested for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at the same time.
Treating chlamydia
Getting treatment as soon as possible helps prevent the spread of the infection and lowers your risk for other problems, such as pelvic inflammatory disease.
Antibiotics are used to treat chlamydia. Let your sex partners know you have chlamydia so they can be treated too, otherwise you’ll just end up passing the infection back and forth.
Tell everyone you’ve had sex with in the past 2 months. If you have not had sex in the past 2 months, contact your last sex partner.
Avoid all sexual contact while you are being treated for an STI.
Preventing chlamydia
It’s easier to prevent chlamydia than to treat it:
- Talk with your partner about STIs. Find out whether he or she is at risk for them. A person can be infected without knowing it.
- Remember, every time you have sex with a new partner, you’re being exposed to all the infections their partners may have.
- Do not have sex with anyone who has symptoms or has been exposed to a STI.
- Use a latex or polyurethane condom every time you have sex to keep out the viruses and bacteria that cause STIs.
- Be responsible. Don’t have sex if you have symptoms or are being treated for an STI.
- Save sex for later. Delay sex with a new partner until both of you have been tested for STIs.
