CHLAMYDIA
Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the
bacterium, Chlamydia Trachomatis, which can damage a woman's reproductive
organs. Even though symptoms of Chlamydia are usually mild or absent, serious
complications that cause irreversible damage, including infertility, can occur
"silently" before a woman ever recognizes a problem. Chlamydia also can cause
discharge from the penis of an infected man.
Chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial sexually transmitted disease
in the United States. In 2009, 1,244,180 Chlamydia infections were reported to
CDC from 50 states and the District of Columbia. Under-reporting is substantial
because most people with Chlamydia are not aware of their infections and do not
seek testing. Also, testing is not often done if patients are treated for their
symptoms. An estimated 2.8 million infections occur annually in the U.S. Women
are frequently re-infected if their sex partners are not treated.
GONORRHEA
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Gonorrhea is caused by
Neisseria Gonorrhoeae, a bacterium that can grow and multiply easily in the
warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract, including the cervix (opening to
the womb), uterus (womb), and fallopian tubes (egg canals) in women, and in the
urethra (urine canal) in women and men. The bacterium can also grow in the
mouth, throat, eyes, and anus.
Gonorrhea is a very common infectious disease. CDC estimates that more than
700,000 persons in the U.S. get new gonorrheal infections each year. Less than
half of these infections are reported to CDC. In 2009, 301,174 cases of
gonorrhea were reported to CDC.
