Chlamydia Overview
- Caused by a bacterium called chlamydia trachomatis
- Chlamydia is the most common bacterial STD in the United States
- Women ages 15-19 years old and men
ages 20-29 years old have the highest
rates of Chlamydia in LA County
- At least 75% of women and 90% of men who are infected have no symptoms
- Chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics
- Having chlamydia can increase your chances of getting HIV
How do you get it?
You can get chlamydia by having unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with a person who has chlamydia. It is passed through contact with semen, vaginal fluids or discharge. Most people with chlamydia do not know they have it, but they can still pass the disease. In women, chlamydia infects the cervix and can be found in vaginal fluids. In men, chlamydia infects the urethra (where urine and semen come out). Chlamydia can also infect the rectum. A pregnant woman with chlamydia can pass it to her newborn baby during childbirth.
Symptoms
Most people with chlamydia have no symptoms. If symptoms develop, they are often mild and may appear 1-3 weeks after infection. Symptoms may include burning or pain during urination; a white, cloudy, or watery discharge from the penis; or increased discharge from the vagina. Women may also have pain in the abdomen, fever, unusually heavy periods or bleeding between periods, or pain during sex.
Complications
If chlamydia is not treated, it can spread in the reproductive organs. In women, untreated chlamydia can cause scarring and inflammation of the fallopian tubes and ovaries, a condition called
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). PID can cause infertility and chronic pelvic pain, and can increase the risk of a life threatening ectopic (tubal) pregnancy. In men, untreated chlamydia can lead to a painful infection of the testicles known as epididymitis, which can cause sterility. A newborn baby born to a mother with chlamydia may develop infections in the eyes or lungs.
Testing
To get tested for chlamydia, go to a doctor or a health
clinic.
All sexually active women under age 25 should be tested for chlamydia every year
and women 25 years and older should be tested if they have a new partner,
multiple partners, or a partner with an STD. Men who have sex with men should be
tested at least once a year, and as often as every 3 to 6 months depending on
your sexual behavior. Pregnant women should be tested for chlamydia. Chlamydia
tests that require only a urine sample from the patient are now available at
most clinics. In women, a test for chlamydia can also be done by swabbing the
cervix or vagina during a pelvic exam. For men who have sex with men and for
some other patients, your doctor may swab your throat or rectum to test for
chlamydia or sometimes you collect the rectal sample yourself.
Treatment
Chlamydia can be treated and cured with certain antibiotics (taken orally). It takes one week for the medicine to completely cure chlamydia. Make sure both you and your sex partner(s) are cured before having sex again. Because different antibiotics cure different diseases, see a doctor before taking any medications. You should not attempt to diagnose yourself or take any medicine that was not prescribed to you. Do not share medications.
Prevention
Latex condoms provide excellent protection against chlamydia. The female condom and polyurethane (plastic) condoms are equally effective. Sexually active persons should be tested for chlamydia every six months to a year
depending on your age and sexual behavior. Pregnant women should seek prenatal care early, to prevent passing chlamydia to the newborn.
Chlamydia Information Brochure
(English)
(Espaņol) -
Updated Nov. 2021
