Chlamydia: Facts About Chlamydia Infection

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted disease, especially among teens. It is anticipated that three million people are infected with Chlamydia annually in the United States, which is prevalent in both men and women. The major problem with this infection is that there usually aren't any symptoms because most women don't know they have the infection. When symptoms occur, they may be mild and may disappear within a few days. Noticeable symptoms may not occur unless the infection is severe; symptoms that you could have are: vaginal discharge, spotting or irregular periods, lower abdominal pain, and burning with urination.

The infection can be transferred to partners during oral, anal or genital sex. The organism can be carried by hand to your eyes and it can also be passed to a newborn during birth if the mother is infected. Complications occur often because people do not know they have Chlamydia, so it goes untreated in the early stages. The complications in women include: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). Chlamydia usually infects the vagina and cervix, but the infection can ascend and involve the uterus and fallopian tubes; An increased risk of getting HIV; Blindness caused by Trachoma which is a severe eye infection coming from Chlamydia getting into the eye; Lymphogranuloma venerum that causes open sores in the genital area and swollen lymph nodes; and Reiter's syndrome which is a form of arthritis. Infants who are delivered vaginally by mothers with active Chlamydia infection are at risk for acquiring an eye infection and pneumonia.

The infection is diagnosed with a pelvic exam and vaginal swab to check for the organism. If you have any symptoms of the disease, your health practitioner will test for it. The CDC suggest annual Chlamydia screening test, with a pelvic exam and vaginal swab, for all sexually active women under the age of 25 and for women over the age of 25 who have new or multiple sexual partners. Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics so if you have, it is important to take the necessary antibiotics prescribed and to complete any follow-up tests your health practitioner recommends. It is also imperative that all of your sexual partners will be treated; if only one partner is treated, you can re-infect each other.

Since it is transmitted sexually, obviously abstinence or having sex only within a mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner will prevent infection from occurring. If you have new or multiple sexual partners, condoms can provide some, but not complete protection against Chlamydial infections. You can transfer Chlamydia without vaginal penetration, though, so the condom or some other barrier should be worn with any genital-genital, genital-anal or genital-oral contact.

Chlamydia is a grave health threat since it is becoming so widespread and it can cause serious complications. Most people have even no idea if they are infected; and the disease is reaching epidemic magnitude particularly among teens. Safe sex practices are the key to prevention; early detection and treatment through routine screening of people who are at risk can we avoid complications.


Source : Readbud