Chlamydia

The Type: Bacterial

How its Transmitted: Vaginal and anal sex.

The Symptoms: Up to 75% of cases in women and 25% of cases in men are asymptomatic. Symptoms may include abnormal genital discharge, and burning during urination in both men and women. Women may also experience lower abdominal pain or pain during intercourse, and men may experience swelling or pain in the testicles.

The Treatment: Infection can be cured with antibiotics. However, it cannot undo the damage done prior to treatment.

The Possible Consequences for the Infected person: If untreated in women, up to 30%, will experience pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which in turn often leads to ectopic pregnancy, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain. In men, if untreated, chlamydia can cause epididymitis, an inflammation of a testicle (where sperm are stored), which may result in sterility. Infected individuals are at greater risk of contracting HIV if exposed to the virus.

The Possible Consequences for the Fetus and Newborn: Premature birth; infant pneumonia and neonatal eye infections may result from transmission of the disease during delivery.

How to Prevent: Abstaining from vaginal and anal sex with an infected person is the only 100% effective means of prevention. Latex condoms can reduce but not eliminate the risk of contracting the disease.

Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Public Health Service, Rockville, MD 20857; The Upjohn Company; Contraceptive Technology by R. Hatcher et al, Chapter 4, 16th Revised Ed., 1994; Medical Institute for Sexual Health, P. O. Box 4919, Austin, TX, 78765; MedicineNet.com; Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Other risks Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Hepatitis B, Herpes, HIV/AIDS, Human Papalloma Virus, Syphilis and Trichomoniasis