Chlamydia

Bacterial Diseases
(curable with medication)

• Chlamydia (pronounced kluh-MID-ee-uh) is a very common STD caused by bacteria.
• Bacteria transmitted during sex cause chlamydia.
• Many women have no symptoms or very mild symptoms. If symptoms do appear, they can include vaginal discharge, pain during urination (peeing), pain during sex, pain in the lower abdomen and bleeding between menstrual periods.
• Men often have a discharge from the urethra, the opening in the penis. It may also burn or hurt to urinate (pee). Symptoms can vary from person to person -- from being mild to severe. Men also may not have symptoms.
• If a mother is infected, she can pass chlamydia on to her baby during delivery.
• Antibiotics can easily cure chlamydia if is treated early. If it is left untreated, in a woman, chlamydia (like gonorrhea) can grow into a more serious illness called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and can keep her from being able to have children in the future.
• 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.
• Tell any sex partners right away if you find out you have chlamydia. They should also be treated -- even if they have no symptoms. If they are not treated, they may give chlamydia back to you or to someone else.