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Chlamydia
The most common STD and a common cause of sterility! About one in
every 10 teenage girls has it! It's an infection of a bacteria-like
organism called chlamydia trachomatis. If left untreated in women,
chlamydia can infect the cervix, cause scarring of the fallopian
tubes, cause sterility and lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.
It can also be passed to an infant in the form of an eye infection
or pneumonia. If left untreated in men, it can infect the urethra,
spermatic cord, epididymis and prostate and cause sterility.
Methods of contraction
- Vaginal intercourse: most common method
- Anal intercourse
- Oral sex
High risk groups
Sexually active teenagers ages 15 to 19
Symptoms
75% of Chlamydia carriers exhibit no symptoms at all. If symptoms
do occur, they'll show up 2 to 3 weeks after exposure.
Males (more likely to exhibit symptoms)
- A mild to painful burning sensation during
urination
- A clear or pus-like discharge from the urethra
of the penis especially in the morning
- Pain in the testes
Women
A vaginal discharge coming from the cervix, which
might be difficult to differentiate from a normal vaginal discharge.
If you notice mild bleeding after a gynecology exam or sex and are
sexually active, consult your physician.
Women usually don't exhibit
symptoms
and thus aren't aware they have it,
unless they ask
their doctor to check for it.
Diagnosis
- A pelvic examination of the cervix
- A urine test
- Treatment
- Prescribed antibiotics
- The infection should disappear within 1 or
2 weeks.
- Tell all your sexual partners so they can
be treated. This will prevent the possibility of reacquiring the
infection.
- Avoid touching your eyes after exposing your
hands to infectious secretions, or you could give yourself an
eye infection.
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