Chlamydia
What is chlamydia?
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that is spread by sexual contact. It is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the world. Chlamydia infects the urethra in men and the urethra, cervix, or upper reproductive organs (or all three) in women.
Chlamydia can also infect the rectum and the surface of the eyes and lining of the eyelids (conjunctiva).
An infected mother can pass chlamydia to her baby at birth. Between 50% and 75% of babies born to mothers with chlamydia get the infection. They may have it in the eyes, back of the throat, rectum, or vagina. Between 30% and 40% of babies infected with chlamydia at birth develop complications, such as conjunctivitis or pneumonia.
Risk factors for getting chlamydia include:
- Having unprotected sex (not using condoms).
- Having more than one sex partner.
- Having a high-risk partner or partners. This includes people who have more than one sex partner or sex partners who have chlamydia.
- Starting sexual activity before age 18.
What causes chlamydia?
Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. The disease can be spread during vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected partner. A pregnant woman can pass the infection to her newborn during vaginal delivery.
You can spread chlamydia even if you do not have symptoms. You are contagious until you have been treated. Condoms may help reduce the spread of chlamydia.
What are the symptoms?
Up to 90% of women and men with chlamydia do not have symptoms. As a result, they may unknowingly spread chlamydia to their sex partners. When symptoms do occur, they may include:
- Painful urination.
- Cloudy urine.
- Abnormal discharge from the urethra in men.
- Abnormal discharge from the urethra or the cervix (or both) in women.
How is chlamydia diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask you questions about your medical and sexual history, such as how many partners you have. You also may have a physical examination. Women have a gynecological exam to look for signs of infection. Men have a genital exam to look for discharge from the penis and tenderness in the scrotum.
Several types of tests can be used to diagnose a chlamydia infection. Most use a sample of fluid from the urethra or the cervix. This requires that a woman have a pelvic exam. A urine test also can be done if there is no other reason to have a pelvic or genital exam. Test results are usually ready in 2 to 3 days, except for the chlamydia culture, which can take 5 to 7 days.
How is it treated?
Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. If taken exactly as directed, antibiotics can cure a chlamydia infection. The infection will not be cured if antibiotics are not taken as directed. Prompt treatment also stops the spread of the infection and reduces complications, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Having a chlamydia infection that was cured does not protect you from a future infection. A new exposure to chlamydia will reinfect you, even if you were treated and cured.
Experts recommend that you notify all partners with whom you had sex in the 60 days since your symptoms or diagnosis; if you have not had sex in the last 60 days, contact your last sexual partner. This prevents reinfection. If your symptoms continue after treatment, you probably have been infected again. It does not mean the first treatment failed. If you have chlamydia, avoid all sexual contact or use condoms until you and your partner (or partners) have finished the full course of medication.
Some people who have chlamydia also have the STD gonorrhea.
Treatment includes antibiotics that kill both types of bacteria.