Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease that is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It is spread from person to person via any form of sexual contact that involves vaginal secretions or semen.http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/std/chlamydia.html#

Known as a "silent" disease, chlamydia often shows no symptoms, but left untreated can cause major reproductive damage in women that can lead to infertility. People who do show symptoms may experience discharge from the penis or vagina, women may have burning during urination, and men may feel itching or burning near the penis opening. The onset of symptoms usually appears about 1-3 weeks after contracting the disease.http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/STDFact-Chlamydia.htm Chlamydia can also lead to pelvic inflammatory disease in women, which can lead to additional health and infertility problems.http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/std/chlamydia.html# In addition, expecting mothers can pass the disease to fetuses and can cause a variety of complications with pregnancies and birth.http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/188_1142.asp

The disease can be medically treated with antibiotics, but often goes untreated since most people are unaware they have been infected due to lack of symptoms. Because such serious and potentially permanent reproductive problems can result from this bacteria, it is essential that sexually active people take every precaution possible to avoid chlamydia.http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/STDFact-Chlamydia.htm

The number one way to prevent contracting chlamydia is to abstain from sex. Short of totally abstaining from sex, making responsible sexual choices is essential for protecting yourself from infection. This means limiting sexual activity to trustworthy, monogamous partners. Before engaging in a sexual relationship with a partner, both parties should be tested for chlamydia and other infections or STDs. Or, if a sexual relationship has already begun, both partners should be tested as soon as possible so that in the event that an infection is detected, treatments can begin immediately. This is especially important since chlamydia can be completely asymptomatic and either males or females may be completely unaware of infection without proper recent testing. If you or your partner test positive for chlamydia, it is important to notify past and present lovers so that other people at risk may get tested and avoid the potentially serious effects of untreated chlamydia.

Another key part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and making responsible sexual choices includes avoiding alcohol and drugs, which may impair judgment and lead to poor choices and rash decisions.

In addition to employing safe sexual choices and making responsible decisions, it is also essential to use condoms as a method of decreasing the odds of contracting chlamydia. The use of male latex condoms, in particular, are known to be effective under the right circumstances.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/condoms/MY01061 The condoms must be applied properly according to the product directions and used only as directed. The prophylactics should also be used even in cases where there is no sexual penetration, and should be used from the very beginning of sexual contact to the very end.http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/chlamydia.cfm#9 The key to condoms being effective is to prevent any fluids, male or female, from reaching the partners groin area or other parts of the body.

To ensure that condoms are being used, and are applied correctly, both partners should take an active role and responsibility for making sure that condoms are used as diligently as possible.

Remember that other forms of birth control cannot help prevent chlamydia. Birth control pills, diaphragms, IUDs, and other forms of preventing pregnancy do not have any bearing on preventing infections and should not be relied on to keep your body safe.http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/chlamydia.cfm#9

If you have been involved in unprotected sex, high-risk sex, or any form of intimate relations with a person with multiple partners or whose history you aren't certain about, it is important to get tested for chlamydia. In the event that tests provide a positive diagnosis for chlamydia, treatment can be administered which can help avoid possible long-term effects that chlamydia may have on the body. Since chlamydia can still cause significant damage to the body even without any outward symptoms being present, it is essential to get tested even if you don't believe you have chlamydia, or that any of your partners have had chlamydia.

In fact, the CDC recommends that all sexually active women under the age of 25 be tested for chlamydia once a year, even if they do not believe they have been at risk for infection. Women over 25 are also urged by the CDC to get tested annually if they have had new sexual partners or have engaged in any new sexual behaviors. All pregnant women are also asked to get tested.http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/STDFact-Chlamydia.htm

Tests usually take the form of either a urine sample, or a sexual fluid sample (semen from males or a cervical specimen) and can be performed by a physician.http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/STDFact-Chlamydia.htm For women, this test can often be performed at the same time as a pelvic exam.http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/chlamydia.cfm#9 If there is a positive test result, then the disease can be treated and cured easily with antibiotics.http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/STDFact-Chlamydia.htm

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact a doctor before using the information presented here.