Diagnosing Chlamydia
There are two common methods of diagnosing chlamydia:
- Testing fluid from the vagina or penis
- Urine testing.
Diagnosing chlamydia early on in the disease can be extremely beneficial, as treatment can begin as soon as possible.
Treatment for Chlamydia
Chlamydia treatment usually consists of antibiotics, which can cure the chlamydial infection. All sex partners should be evaluated, tested, and get
treatment for chlamydia as well. People should also abstain from sexual intercourse until they and their sex partners have completed treatment for chlamydia. Doctors, local health departments, and STD and family planning clinics can offer more information about
treating chlamydia.
Complications of Chlamydia
If left untreated, chlamydia can progress to serious reproductive and other health problems, with both short-term and long-term consequences. It can cause serious problems in men and women (such as penile discharge and infertility, respectively), as well as in newborn babies of infected mothers.
Like the disease itself, the damage that chlamydia causes is often "silent."
Chlamydia in Pregnancy
Chlamydia in pregnancy can potentially harm the child. Because a baby can be exposed to the chlamydia bacteria in the birth canal during delivery, he or she may develop eye infections, pneumonia, or conjunctivitis. Many women with chlamydia may also develop PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), a serious infection of the reproductive organs, which can cause scarring of the fallopian tubes and prevent egg fertilization from taking place.
Statistics on Chlamydia
Chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial STD in the United States. In 2002, 834,555 chlamydial infections were reported to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) from 50 states and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.).
Under-reporting is substantial, because most people with chlamydia are not aware of their infections and do not seek testing. Also, testing is not often done if patients are treated for their symptoms. An estimated 2.8 million Americans are infected with chlamydia each year. Women are frequently reinfected if their sex partners are not treated.
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