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Chlamydia trachomatis is a bacterium, sexually transmitted infection that can cause major
damage to the female reproductive organs if not diagnosed and treated effectively. In the United
States this genital infection occurs frequently among sexually active young persons.
People who are infected with chlamydia may not have any symptoms.
Chlamydia affects over 3 million people per year, and three out of four of these people are under
the age of 25 years. An overwhelming 50% of women have had chlamydia before they reached
the age of 30. The signs of symptoms of chlamydia may be absent or only slightly noticeable,
and if Chlamydia treatment is not sought soon enough, severe damage can happen to the ovaries,
Fallopian tubes, and uterus, causing infertility. Many women who have sought chlamydia
treatment in the past may not even know that their reproductive system has been affected until
they are unable to get pregnant. Chlamydia treatment usually does not include checking the
function of the reproductive organs, and is only discovered when these women seek treatment for
infertility.
About 75% of infected women and half of infected men have no symptoms of the disease (STD).
If symptoms are present, it may be abnormal discharge or painful urination, both of which can be
very slight. Often times Chlamydia has progressed far enough that some damage has already
occurred because treatment was not initiated sooner. These chlamydia treatments usually consist
of prescription antibiotics, such as Zithromax, tetracycline, or erythromycin, all antibiotics that
are effective in killing chlamydia with only a few doses. Patients should be instructed to finish
prescribed chlamydia treatments even if symptoms are no longer present. Other the STD may not
be totally eradicated and come back with a vengeance, requiring more chlamydia treatment with
an even stronger antibiotic.
This infection is curable, chlamydia can be transmitted during vaginal, anal, and, oral sex even if
the penis or tongue does not enter the vagina, mouth, or rectum.
The only way to avoid having to seek chlamydia treatment is to use a barrier device, such as a
condom during intercourse. If you don’t know your partner that well, or there are extramarital
relationships occurring, then by all means use a condom just to be safe. You may never know,
especially if you are single and having one night stands and engaging in other promiscuous
sexual activities.