STD Awareness Month: Chlamydia

In honor of STD Awareness Month, sponsored by the American Social Health Association (ASHA) and the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), your favorite women’s health blog is going to talk about some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases and infections over the last few days of April.

What Is Chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that, if left untreated, can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and ultimately cause major reproductive damage. It’s the most frequently reported infectious disease in the US, with upwards of 3 million cases a year.

How Can I Get Chlamydia?

Chlamydia is primarily transmitted through sexual intercourse. It can also be passed from mothers to babies during childbirth, leading to serious eye and lung problems. Although unprotected sex is particularly risky for chlamydia, using a condom is not a guarantee that you won’t get chlamydia from an infected partner.

How Do I Know if I Have Chlamydia?

Unfortunately, chlamydia is largely a silent illness in its early stages. Symptons don’t usually show up for several weeks after exposure, and they’re often very mild, which is why regular screening is critical for good sexual health. Symptoms in women, when present, can include abdomina pain, vaginal discharge, pain during sex, and painful urination. You’re most likely to notice a problem if you develop PID or if chlamydia shows up in your annual exam.

How Do I Treat Chlamydia?

You don’t. Go to the doctor immediately if you notice any of the symptoms, and have a regular STD screening at your annual gynecologic exam if you’re sexually active. This is critical to staying healthy. Once chlamydia is detected, treatment generally consists of oral or intravenous antibiotics and is usually fairly simple, quick, and inexpensive.

Is Chlamydia Contagious?

Chlamydia is highly contagious, which is why having unprotected sex is a huge risk factor. Having any sex, protected or otherwise, with someone who’s infected is just plain dumb. And it’s important to note that women adolescent women are at particularly high risk for contracting chlamydia. More than half of all new cases each year occur in women under the age of 25.

How Can I Prevent Chlamydia?

The best way to prevent any sexually transmitted disease or infection is abstinence. The next best way is monogamy with a monogamous partner (who, presumably, has a clean bill of health). And the next best way is to use a condom every single time. No matter what. Period. And if there’s no condom, there’s no contact. End of discussion.

Sources:

• Wikipedia - Chlamydia infection
• eMedicineHealth - Chlamydia
• Mayo Clinic - Chlamydia
• Chlamydia - CDC Fact Sheet
• American Social Health Association - Chlamydia Fact Sheet

Contents © Copyright 2008 Kristen KingTags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, std, sti, sexually transmitted disease, sexually transmitted infection, std awareness month, signs, symptoms, how do I know if i have, could i have, i think i have, how do i get, how do i treat, how do you prevent, chlamydia, pelvic inflammatory disease, PID, lively women, kristen king