Chlamydia is sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacteria. Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease in North America.
Chlamydia is only spread through oral, vaginal or anal intercourse. Babies can also get infected during vaginal delivery when a mother has Chlamydia.
More than 50% of males and 70% of females have no symptoms. For those people who get symptoms, the symptoms may appear 2-6 weeks after the person has had sexual contact with anyone with Chlamydia.
Symptoms in females may include:
Symptoms in males may include:
A doctor will test you for chlamydia and prescribe an antibiotic if positive. The doctor may retest you after the treatment stops. If chlamydia is not treated, it may cause an inflammation in a woman’s pelvis. This is called Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). PID can be very serious and may later affect a woman’s ability to get pregnant.
You can reduce your risk of getting chlamydia by practicing safer sex.
You can practice safer sex by:
Important Resources