Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STD). It is very common in the United States.

Chlamydia often has no symptoms. Sometimes, there can be mild pain in the lower abdomen when the infection starts. For females, there can be lower abdominal pain even after getting treated. For males, chlamydia can cause pain in the penis and liquid discharge from the penis.

Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics.

Transmission/How it is Spread:

Spread through anal, oral, and/or vaginal sex.
Infection found in throat, anal, and genital areas.
Can be passed from mother to child during a vaginal birth.

Complications:

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID).
Increases risk of getting HIV, if exposed.
Risk of ectopic pregnancy, infertility, and chronic pain.
Serious eye and/or lung infection in baby.

Prevention:

Abstain from sexual activity.
Faithful marriage or mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner.
Latex condoms, when used the right way all the time, reduce but do not eliminate the risk.
Annual screening with a health care professional for sexually active females 25 years or younger.

Treatment/Cure:

Treatment and cure available with antibiotics.
Antibiotics cannot undo the damage done before treatment.

Chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the United States.

Chlamydia is spread during vaginal, anal, or oral sex and can be passed from mother to child during a vaginal birth. Having a chlamydia infection also increases the risk of spreading and getting HIV.

Symptoms in females are often mild or go unnoticed. If symptoms do appear, they may include an abnormal vaginal discharge or a burning sensation when urinating, lower abdominal pain, low back pain, nausea, fever, pain during sex, and bleeding between menstrual periods. Left untreated, chlamydia may cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection of the reproductive organs. PID may cause infertility, and ectopic pregnancy.

Symptoms in males include discharge from the penis, a burning sensation when urinating, burning and itching around the opening of the penis, or pain and swelling in the testicles. Left untreated, chlamydia may cause an infection in the urethra. The infection sometimes spreads to the epididymis (tubes in the testicles that carry sperm), causing pain, fever, and possibly infertility for males.

Chlamydia infection during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery. Babies who are born when their mothers are infected can get chlamydia infections in their eyes (conjunctivitis) and lungs (pneumonia).

Antibiotics will kill the chlamydia bacteria and prevent further damage to the body, but will not repair any damage already done. Treatment and cure does not mean a person can not get infected again. Re-screening of women with chlamydia is recommended because of high rates of re-infection

Back to Common STDs

Last revised: April 21, 2008