Chlamydia statistics show chlamydia is the most common type of sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States.  Chlamydia can be transferred from person to person through the spread of bacteria during sexual intercourse and other types of sex acts.  Chlamydia can cause infection in the penis, vagina, cervix, anus, urethra, eye and throat.

Chlamydia Facts:

• Chlamydia is more than five times as common as the spread of gonorrhea in sexually active teens and adults. It is also more than 30 times as common as syphilis.
• Over 2.8 million adults are infected with Chlamydia each year, which is about 5% of Americans.
•  About 10 percent of sexually active teen females are infected with Chlamydia.
• Other typical groups that show higher rates of Chlamydia infection are young adults, people who live in populated urban areas, African Americans, those who have a lower social or economic status.
• Symptoms of Chlamydia do not always show (in about 70 percent of all cases of women and 50 percent in men), however damage can still be done to an infected person’s internal organs.
• Chlamydia can also be passed from an infected pregnant mother to her baby during birth as the baby passes through the infected birth canal. This can cause serious eye infections and other health problems for the baby including pneumonia. Because Chlamydia symptoms do not always show, pregnant women take a higher risk is passing the disease on to their baby.

Chlamydia Symptoms:

• Stomach pain
• Unusually colored or smelling discharge from the vagina or penis
• Bleeding or spotting in between periods
• Low-grade fever
• Painful sexual intercourse
• Burning/painful and frequent urination
• Vaginal/anal swelling
• Swollen testicles
• Itching and bleeding on or around the anus
• Some of these symptoms, especially in males, may only appear in the morning

Chlamydia Treatment:

• Antibiotics are used to easily treat Chlamydia. Sometimes it is through a one-time dosage, or sometimes it is taken over a period of time. It is best to work with your doctor or health care professional to find out which option is best for you.
• It is important for the Chlamydia infected person and each of his/her sexual partners to get treated before having sex again. Even if the partner does not show any symptoms, it does not mean they are not infected.
• Get STD testing again three or four months later after receiving treatment to ensure the infection is gone.
• Make sure and take the entire length of medication even if the symptoms seem to improve or go away. Stopping the medication early before it is gone can often times cause the infection to return.
• Infected pregnant women especially need to consult a doctor about treatment options in order to prevent spreading the infection to their unborn baby.

Chlamydia Prevention:

• Abstinence from sex or sexual contact of any kind is the only way to 100 percent deter contracting Chlamydia or any other type of STD or STI.
• Using a latex condom or other protection is the next best way to prevent catching or spreading the infection.
• Frequent testing is another good option all sexually active teens and adults to take part in regularly to make sure they are not infected with Chlamydia or any other type of STI. Remember, there are different tests for different STD’s. Make sure you ask your doctor which test is the best for you to take.