by James Holder

Created on: November 02, 2008

In today's society our teenagers, better yet our adolescents are at a very high risk, of contracting an STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease). Many youths today, are more likely to engage in unprotected sexual activity, this is the most common way to transmit an STD. Even for the teens who may use protection, they are still at a high risk also, because condoms do not protect them %100 percent of the time. There are many STD's that can be contracted, Chlamydia is just one of the many STD's that a person engaging in sexual intercourse may contract.

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, during the year of 2006 over 1 million cases were reported, from the 50 states and also the District of Columbia. Often in most cases, outbreaks are under-reported because many teens who are infected, may not be aware that they have contracted the disease and, may remain untested. It is said that the rate of infection amongst African-Americans was eight times more than Caucasions within 2006. An estimated 2.2 million people are infected each year with Chlamydia. For every 100,000 infected with the disease 2,068.6 teens are infected between the ages 15-19.

The disease can be transmitted from engaging in vaginal, oral, or anal sexual activity. The more number of partners an infected teenager may have, the greater the spread of the disease. If a teen is engaging in homosexual activity, it is a chance that it can also be passed, to their partner if they are carrying the disease. Chlamydia can not be passed through the interaction of skin-to-skin contact only through the passing of bodily fluids. Also if a teen is pregnant, and contracts the disease it can also be passed to the unborn child during childbirth. The infection can lead to premature childbirth, the child can contract Chlamydia infections, within their eyes and respiratory tracts. Chlamydia is the leading cause of early infant pneumonia, and pink eye within newborn babies.

There are many symptoms, for teens who have the infection, females who have the infection may have an abnormal vaginal discharge, or burning sensation when urinating. Some females may have lower abdominal pain, lower back pain, nausea, fever, pain during intercourse, or bleeding between menstrual periods. Chlamydia infection can also travel to the rectum from the cervix within a femal who is infected. Teenage males who are infected, will experience a burning sensation when urinating, or a discharge, pain or swelling within the testacles

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