| What is Chlamydia? |
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| Chlamydia is an
infection that is spread through sex. It is very
common among teens and young adults. If it is not
treated, chlamydia can damage a woman's body so
she can never have children. The good news is that
chlamydia is easy to treat. But most people with
chlamydia do not know they have it. If you have
had sex, you may need to be tested, even if you
feel healthy.
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| Why Chlamydia Is Dangerous? |
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| Chlamydia must
be treated early, or it can damage your body for
life. Chlamydia
can be very harmful to women because it can
infect a woman deep inside. The infection can
spread up to the fallopian tubes and cause
lasting pain. It can scar the tubes so a woman
can never get pregnant. It can also lead to a
pregnancy in the tubes, where a baby cannot grow.
In men,
chlamydia can cause a discharge from the penis
and pain when peeing. In rare cases, it can keep
a man from being able to father children.
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| Symptoms |
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| Most people
with chlamydia have no symptoms. They have no way
of knowing they have an infection. If symptoms do occur,
they may be like the symptoms of other sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs). Always go to a
clinic or doctor at once if you feel burning when
you pee, or you have a strange discharge from the
penis or vagina. Women may also have pain in the
lower belly, pain during sex, or bleeding between
periods.
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| Getting Tested |
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| The only way to
find out if you have chlamydia is to be tested.
Because chlamydia is very common, people who have
had sex should be tested at least once a year,
even if they feel healthy. There are many ways to
test for chlamydia. One kind of test uses a
sample of urine. Another test uses a cotton swab
to collect a small amount of fluid from a man's
penis or a woman's cervix. A Pap smear does not
test for chlamydia.
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| Treatment |
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| If you think
you could have chlamydia, get tested right away.
Early treatment can prevent lasting damage to
your body. Chlamydia is treated with pills.
One kind of medicine can cure chlamydia with a
single pill. Other medicines must be taken every
day for a week or more.
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| While you are being treated:
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- Never share
your medicine with anyone.
- Be sure to
take all your medicineeven if your
symptoms go away.
- Make sure
your sex partner(s) get treated.
- Avoid sex
for one week while you and your partner
are being treated.
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| Telling Your Partner |
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| Tell anyone you
have sex with right away if you find out you have
chlamydia. They should also be treatedeven if
they have no symptoms. If they are not treated,
they may be harmed for the rest of their lives.
They may also give chlamydia back to you or to
someone else. True, telling a partner can be
hard. But keep in mind most people with chlamydia
do not know they have it. Don't let fear or anger
stop you from doing the right thing.
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| If You Are Pregnant |
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| A pregnant
woman can give chlamydia to her baby during birth.
Chlamydia can cause eye, ear, and lung infections
in a newborn. The good news is that a pregnant
woman can take medicine to cure chlamydia and
protect her baby. A warningWomen who are pregnant or
nursing should not take some medicines because
they might hurt the baby. If you think you might
be pregnant, tell your doctor or clinic. They can
give you a medicine that is safe. You may need to
be tested again to be sure you are cured.
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| Talking To Your Doctor |
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| Because
chlamydia often has no symptoms, you may need to
talk to your doctor or nurse about whether you
should be tested. Most doctors decide what tests
to give based on what you tell them. You can get
the best care by talking honestly about your sex
life. You could say something like:
| "I've
had sex with someone new, and we haven't
been using condoms every time. Should I
be tested for STDs?" |
| "I
think my partner had sex with someone
else. I want to be tested for STDs."
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| Staying Healthy |
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You can protect
yourself from chlamydia in the same ways you
protect yourself from other STDs, including HIV.
- Don't Have
Sex:
- There are
many ways to show love besides sex.
Kissing, touching, and talking feel good
and are safe. You cannot give or get an
STD if there is no contact between the
penis, vagina, mouth, or anus.
- Use a
Condom:
- If you have
sex, use a condom from start to finish
every time. You can use male or female
condoms. You can also use a spermicidal
jelly, film, or foam during vaginal sex
to help prevent STDs. Use it with
condoms, not in place of them.
- Be Prepared:
- Have
condoms on hand, and be ready to use them.
Be aware that you may not make good
choices if you get drunk or stoned.
- Limit
Number of Partners:
- The more
people you have sex with, the greater
your chance of getting an STD. If your
partner has sex with others, you are also
at risk.
- See a
Doctor:
- If you
think you have an STD, go to your doctor
or clinic right away. Ask your partner to
get tested too. If you have sex, get a
checkup at least once a year. People who
have had chlamydia may need to be tested
more often.
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