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CHLAMYDIA
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These girls were
educated about chlamydia
and got tested.
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They now see why
yearly chlamydia testing is so
important.
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What is chlamydia? |
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How do people get it? |
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How do I know if I have
it? |
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How is chlamydia
treated? |
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Does a past infection
make me immune? |
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What if it is not
treated? |
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How can I keep from
getting it? |
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What Is Chlamydia?
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Chlamydia
(kluh-mid-ee-uh)
is a sexually transmitted infection
(STI).
Bacteria called
Chlamydia trachomatis that are
transmitted during sex cause it.
It is the most common STI in the
United States.
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How Do People Get It?
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Anyone who is sexually active can get
chlamydia. You can get it by having
unprotected vaginal, anal,
or oral sex. It can also
be passed from an infected mother to her
child during vaginal childbirth. Teenage
girls are at greatest risk. The cervix
(opening to the uterus) is not fully
mature, making young women at high risk
for infection. |
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How Do I Know if I Have It?
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Usually, chlamydia has no symptoms.
If symptoms do show up, it will
be from 1 to 3 weeks after you are
exposed.
You could have an abnormal
vaginal discharge or a burning feeling
when urinating, bleeding between
menstrual periods, or abdominal pain.
Many people find out they have
chlamydia
only after their sex partner has told them or if they are tested
for it.
The only sure way to know if you have
chlamydia is to be tested for it.
See your doctor or local health
department.
If
you are sexually active, talk to your
health care provider and ask if you
should be tested.
The test is quick and simple.
It can be done with a pelvic exam
or a urine test. All test results will
be kept confidential and shared only
with you.
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How Is Chlamydia Treated?
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Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics.
If you and your partner are both
infected, you both need to be treated.
If you do not treat both of you, the
infection will be passed back to you. |
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Does a Past Infection Make Me
Immune?
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No. You can be
infected each time you are exposed to
chlamydia—even
if you just had a treatment. |
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What if It Is Not Treated?
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If chlamydia goes untreated, it can
increase your chance of getting the
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In a
woman, it can spread to the uterus or
fallopian tubes and cause pelvic
inflammatory disease (PID). PID can
cause permanent damage that can prevent
a woman from having a baby. It can also
cause scar tissue, ectopic pregnancy
(pregnancy outside of the uterus), or
chronic pelvic pain. |
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How Can I Keep From Getting It?
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Not having sex—including oral and anal
sex—is the only sure way to prevent chlamydia infection. Use a condom
every
time you have sex.
Limit your sexual partners and ask your
partner to do the same. Your risk of
getting any sexually transmitted
infection increases with the number of
partners you and your partners have.
Get tested every year (especially if you
are younger than age 25). A simple urine
test may be all that you need. To learn
more, talk to your doctor or go to the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention Web site at
www.cdc.gov/std/Chlamydia. |
