Chlamydia is a curable sexually transmitted disease (STD), which is caused by bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis.
An estimated 2.8 million Americans get chlamydia each year. Women are often reinfected, meaning they get the STD again if their sex partners are not treated. Reinfections place women at higher risk for serious reproductive health complications, including infertility.
How Is Chlamydia Transmitted?
Sexually active women and men can get chlamydia through sexual contact with an infected person. Chlamydia can be passed during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
Because there are often no symptoms, people who are infected may unknowingly pass chlamydia to their sex partners.
An infected mother can also pass chlamydia to her baby during childbirth. Babies born to infected mothers can get pneumonia or infections in their eyes, also called conjunctivitis.
The more sex partners a person has, the greater the risk of getting infected with chlamydia. Chlamydia is easily confused with
gonorrhea, another STD. Gonorrhea and chlamydia have similar symptoms and can have similar complications if not treated, but the two STDs have different treatments.
Symptoms of Chlamydia
Symptoms of chlamydia may affect both men and women who have the sexually transmitted disease. Chlamydia is often known as a "silent" disease, because most people who are infected show no symptoms. Common
chlamydia symptoms in women, if they do occur, may include abnormal vaginal discharge or a burning sensation when urinating. Men with
chlamydia signs and symptoms might have discharge from their penis or a burning sensation when urinating.
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print