In America, Chlamydia trachomatis infects about three million people each year. Only 20% of infected women, and 50% of men, develop chlamydia symptoms.

Known as the "silent" STD, chlamydia is the most common bacterial STD in America. Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria usually spread through sexual contact. Chlamydia symptoms appear in one to three weeks.

Of all STDs, chlamydia is one of the hardest to detect without testing, but chlamydia treatment is easy. Antibiotics usually kill Chlamydia trachomatis.

Chlamydia Trachomatis
Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria travel through body secretions, and attack mucous membranes such as the vagina, anus and urinary tract. Most at risk are sexually active women, from adolescence to mid-twenties; and people with multiple sexual partners.

Chlamydia trachomatis can infect the eye, and rarely, the throat. A mother may transfer Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria to her baby. People with chlamydia are also more susceptible to the HIV virus.

Casual contact, such as shaking hands or using the same toilet seat as the infected person, cannot transfer Chlamydia trachomatis.

Chlamydia Symptoms
Chlamydia symptoms are often absent, but untreated chlamydia causes serious complications.

Chlamydia symptoms in women include:

abdominal pain
vaginal discharge, inflammation and pain
bleeding between periods
painful intercourse
fever

Chlamydia symptoms in men include:

abnormal discharge from the head of the penis
tender or swollen testicles

Chlamydia symptoms in both men and women:

painful urination
rectal discharge, inflammation and pain
pain and inflammation of the throat
conjuctivitis (pink eye; inflammation of the eye)

The common chlamydia symptoms in newborns are pneumonia and conjuctivitis.

Complications of Chlamydia
Chlamydia trachomatis can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy in women, as the infection travels into the uterus and fallopian tubes.
Chlamydia in later stages can cause infertility in women and men. Chlamydia of the eye can cause blindness.

Chlamydia Treatment
Medical clinics, sexual health clinics and family doctors can treat Chlamydia trachomatis. A health professional takes a swab from the cervix or urethra, for analysis.

If the test is positive, the doctor prescribes antibiotics. Some chlamydia treatments work with one dose, but a full cure usually takes a week. The affected person should notify past and present sexual partners, and abstain from sex during treatment.

Chlamydia Prevention
Since chlamydia symptoms may be absent, many people unknowingly carry the disease. The only sure way to prevent chlamydia is sexual abstinence.

Use of condoms can lower chances of infection. Chlamydia trachomatis may enter the body without penetration by the penis, so health professionals recommend using a condom for any sexual activity, including oral sex and touching.

Chlamydia trachomatis also spread through finger contact. Touching an infected eye can transfer secretions to another person. Good hygiene, such as washing hands, helps prevent the spread of chlamydia.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends testing for pregnant women, and all sexually active people. High-risk individuals, such as younger women, and anyone with multiple partners, should have chlamydia tests every six months.

Resources
Sexual health clinics give information and counseling, and respect anonymity.

Chlamydia information is also online:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/std/Chlamyd ia/

Learn more about this author, M.J. Holliday.
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