by Josue

Created on: June 06, 2008   Last Updated: June 09, 2008

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease (SDT) very common between persons who have unprotected sex with multiple partners, persons younger than 25 years and with a medical history of SDTs. Chlamydia is caused by a bacterium known as Chlamydia trachomatis which infects the reproductive organs both in women and in men. Chlamydia can appear on the anus and throat in persons who have anal and oral sexual intercourse with an infected partner. Chlamydia also can affect the urethra and the eyes. The majority of the persons find out that they have Chlamydia when it is late because symptoms are mild or nonexistent.

The SDT Chlamydia can present symptoms between 1 to 3 weeks after the infection. The 70 % of the infected women does not present symptoms and the half of the infected men are unaware of their condition. Chlamydia symptoms can present:

1. vaginal discharge after having sexual relations
2. burning feeling when urinating
3. abdominal pain
4. bleeding between menstrual periods
5. pain during the sexual relations
6. discharge from the penis
7. nausea
8. fever
9. itching and secretion from the eyes
10.pain, itching, and bleeding from the anus

Chlamydia is diagnosed by a laboratory test. For some tests a sample of urine is enough but, in other cases there is necessary a sample from cervix or from the penis. Chlamydia diagnostic and treatment can be done in a health care provider, hospital clinics, at family planning health centers, health departments, STD clinics, or your private doctor. But it is important to do the tests to detect if you have Chlamydia or gonorrhea. The SDTs Chlamydia and gonorrhea present similar symptoms but their treatment is different.

Chlamydia treatment includes a dose of the antibiotic azitromicina. Also can be treated with doxiciclina two times a day for one week. The persons infected with Chlamydia must abstain from having sexual relations while they receive the treatment as well as theirs sexual partners. If sexual relations are had without having finished the Chlamydia treatment it runs the risk of re-infection. It is important to continue with the treatment although the symptoms should have gone away because the infection can still be in the body. Women who suffer several Chlamydia infections have a high risk of enduring infertility or ectopic pregnancy. Therefore, women must repeat the Chlamydia test regularly especially if they do not know that their partner was exposed again to the bacterium.

If it is suspected that you have become infected with Chlamydia you must come as soon as possible to your doctor. Your doctor is the indicated person to diagnose correctly the disease and to recommend the treatment adapted for you and your sexual partner.

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