Learn about Chlamydia

Female 1: Chlamydia is the most common sexually-transmitted bacterial disease in the United States. And it rarely occurs with symptoms. Learn why diagnosing Chlamydia is vital.

Female 2: Chlamydia is a curable STD that infects about three million Americans every year. The disease is caused by the transmission of the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia can spread to both the male and female sex organs as well as to the rectum, urinary tract, eyes and throat of both genders. This disease is passed through vaginal, anal and oral sex or from mother to child during birth.

Chlamydia is particularly frightening because three out of four women and one out two men who are infected have no symptoms at all and do not know that they have Chlamydia. If symptoms are present, women and men may both experience unusual discharge from their genitals, pain while urinating or defecating, or rectal discharge. Because these symptoms are non-specific and very rare, it is recommended that all sexually active people be tested regularly. A doctor can test for the disease with a urine sample or cervical swab. If this lab test comes back positive, additional STD tests should be conducted. It is very important that the infected individual and all current partners begin treatment with antibiotics immediately.

The two most common ways to treat Chlamydia are one time dose of azithromycin or twice daily doses of Doxycycline for a week. These medications are 95% effective in killing off the Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium and that is vital because if left untreated, Chlamydia can cause irreversible damage.

In women, infection can progress to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease or PID. This condition can cause permanent damage to the fallopian tubes and lead to infertility. PID also increases the chance that a woman will develop an ectopic pregnancy whereby a fertilized egg is implanted not on the womb but in the fallopian tube. This can cause the tube to rupture potentially resulting in death. An infected woman can also pass the bacterium onto her baby. This can lead to potentially fatal Chlamydial Pneumonia or to potentially blinding neonatal conjunctivitis. Women who have Chlamydia are also five times more likely to contract HIV, the virus that causes AIDS if exposed to it. Men do not usually experience any effects of Chlamydia. However, the disease can spread to the testicles possibly resulting an infertility.

While knowing the possible effects of Chlamydia is important, it is even more important to take preventive action against the disease. Do so by getting tested regularly for Chlamydia and using male latex condoms. Chlamydia as common occurrence, infrequent side effects, and serious consequences all mean that you should talk to your doctor about getting tested if you are at risk.

Female 1: You want to learn more? Check out other videos and sources on this site for more information.



Transcription by: Scribe4you Transcription Services