Chlamydia

Topic Overview

What is chlamydia?

Chlamydia (say “kluh-MID-ee-uh") is an infection spread through sexual contact. This disease infects the urethra in men . In women, it infects the urethra and the cervix and can spread to the reproductive organs . It is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Chlamydia does not cause problems if you treat it right away. But left untreated, it can lead to serious problems, especially for women:

• If it spreads it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease. This serious infection can make it hard or impossible for a woman to get pregnant.
• Pregnant women who have chlamydia often pass it to their babies at birth. If the infection gets in a baby’s eyes, it can cause blindness. They can also have other problems, like pneumonia. Pneumonia can be deadly in a newborn.
• Having chlamydia makes a person more likely to get HIV from someone who is infected with HIV. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

What causes chlamydia?

A certain kind of bacteria causes chlamydia. It can spread from one partner to another during vaginal, anal, or possibly oral sex. A pregnant woman can pass the infection to her newborn during delivery.

What are the symptoms?

Most people don't have symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they can include pain when you urinate, cloudy urine, or an abnormal discharge from the penis or vagina.

You can spread chlamydia even if you do not have symptoms. You are contagious until you have been treated.

How is chlamydia diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask you questions about your past health and your sexual history, such as how many partners you have. You may also have a physical exam to look for signs of infection.

Several types of tests can be used to diagnose chlamydia. Most use a sample of urine or a swab from the cervix or urethra. For women, this requires a pelvic exam.

Since chlamydia can cause serious problems but may not cause symptoms, it’s a good idea to get tested once a year if you are sexually active and age 30 or younger. Local health departments and family planning clinics usually offer low-cost testing.

How is it treated?

Antibiotics are used to treat chlamydia. It’s important to take all of the medicine as directed. Otherwise the medicine may not work. Both sex partners need treatment to keep from passing the infection back and forth.

As soon as you find out you have chlamydia, be sure to let your sex partners know. Experts recommend that you notify everyone you've had sex with in the past 2 months. If you have not had sex in the past 2 months, contact the last person you had sex with.

Having a chlamydia infection that was cured does not protect you from getting it again. If you are treated and your sex partner is not, you probably will get it again.

Some people who have chlamydia also have gonorrhea, another STD.

Finding out that you have an STD may make you feel bad about yourself or about sex. Counseling or a support group may help you feel better.

How can I prevent chlamydia?

It’s easier to prevent an STD like chlamydia than it is to treat it:

• Don't have more than one sex partner at a time. The safest sex is with one partner who has sex only with you. Every time you add a new sex partner, you are being exposed to all of the diseases that all of their partners may have.
• Use a condom every time you have sex. Latex and polyurethane condoms keep out the viruses and bacteria that cause STDs.
• Be responsible. Don't have sex if you have symptoms of an infection or if you are being treated for an STD.
• Wait to have sex with a new partner until both of you have been tested for STDs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learning about chlamydia:	What is chlamydia? What causes it? What are the symptoms? What increases my risk of getting it? Who is affected by chlamydia? What other health problems could chlamydia cause? When do I need to see my doctor?
Being diagnosed:	How is chlamydia diagnosed? What tests will I need? Do I need to see a specialist?
Getting treatment:	What treatment will I need? Do I need to take medicine? Is treatment different if I am pregnant? Will treatment cure me?
Ongoing concerns:	Will chlamydia come back?
Living with chlamydia:	How will my sexual relationships be affected? What are common feelings about having chlamydia?

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Author:	Sabra L. Katz-Wise Ralph Poore	Last Updated January 18, 2007
Medical Review:	Renée M. Crichlow, MD - Family Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH - Infectious Disease
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