Chlamydia infection is
treatable and curable
Most people with Chlamydia are not aware of their infections and do
not seek testing.
Three quarters of infected women and half of infected men have no symptoms
Chlamydia is a leading cause of early infant pneumonia and conjunctivitis
Urine test accurately detects the presence of Chlamydia The urine test is highly
specific (98.2%).
How is Chlamydia diagnosed?
There are two kinds of laboratory tests to diagnose chlamydia. One involves
collecting a specimen from an infected site (cervix or penis) to detect the
bacterium directly. Another test accurately detect chlamydia bacteria in a urine
sample. A Pap test is not a test for chlamydia; it is a test for abnormal
cervical cells.
Who is at risk for Chlamydia?
Sexually active men and women can be exposed to chlamydia bacteria during sexual
contact with an infected person. The more sex partners a person has, the greater
the risk of chlamydia infection. Babies are at risk of acquiring a chlamydia
infection from their infected mother. Sexually active teenagers and young women
are especially susceptible to chlamydia bacteria because of the characteristics
of the cells that form the lining of the cervical canal.
What complications can result from untreated chlamydia?
If untreated, chlamydia infection can progress to serious reproductive and other
health problems with both short-term and long-term consequences. Like the
disease itself, the damage that chlamydia causes is often "silent." Untreated
chlamydia in men typically causes urethral infection. Infection sometimes
spreads to the epididymis (a tube that carries sperm from the testis), causing
pain, fever, and, potentially, infertility. In women, the chlamydia bacteria
often infect the cells of the cervix.
If not treated, the infection can
spread into the uterus or fallopian tubes (egg canals) and cause an infection
called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This happens in up to 40% of women
with untreated chlamydia. PID can cause permanent damage to the fallopian tubes,
uterus, and tissues surrounding the ovaries. This damage can lead to chronic
pelvic pain, infertility, and potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy
outside the uterus).
In pregnant women, there is some evidence that chlamydia infections can lead to
premature delivery. Babies who are born when their mothers are infected can get
chlamydia infections in their eyes and respiratory tracts. Chlamydia is a
leading cause of early infant pneumonia and conjunctivitis (pinkeye) in
newborns.
Compared to women who do not have chlamydia, women infected with chlamydia may
also have higher risk of acquiring HIV infection from an infected partner.
Chlamydia can cause proctitis (an infection of the lining of the rectum) in
persons having receptive anal intercourse. The bacterium also can be found in
the throats of women and men having oral sex with an infected male partner.
0If you are young, sexually active, and do not use condoms correctly every time
you have sex, you should be screened for chlamydia at least once a year. It has
been shown that screening and treatment of women with chlamydia infection of the
cervix reduces the likelihood of PID. All pregnant women should have a screening
test for Chlamydia.
If you are
told you are infected, notify all your sex partners immediately.
