Chlamydia (pronounced: kluh-MID-ee-uh) is a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
What Are STDs?
STDs (also called sexually
transmitted infections or STIs) are infections that spread through sex (vaginal, oral,
or anal). Some STDs can spread through close contact with the genitals or body fluids.
How Do People Get Chlamydia?
Chlamydia spreads through sex (vaginal, oral, or anal) with someone who has the
infection.
Many people with chlamydia have no symptoms. They can spread the infection to others
without knowing it.
What Causes Chlamydia?
A type of
, Chlamydia trachomatis, causes chlamydia.
How Is Chlamydia Diagnosed?
To find out if someone has chlamydia, health care providers do tests on:
fluid or discharge from the vagina, urethra, eye, or anus
urine (pee)
How Is Chlamydia Treated?
Health care providers treat chlamydia with
. All sexual partners from the past 2 months need treatment too, even
if they don't have signs of chlamydia.
You should not have sex again until:
at least 7 days after you and your sexual partner(s) take the antibiotics
you and your sexual partner(s) do not have signs of chlamydia
in guys: swelling in the
testicles and tubes at the back of the testicles, possibly preventing a man from
fathering kids later on
joint problems
Can Chlamydia Be Prevented?
The only way to prevent chlamydia and other STDs is to not
have sex (oral, vaginal, or anal). If someone decides to have sex, using a latex
condom every
time can prevent most STDs.
Anyone who is sexually active should get
tested for STDs every year (or more often if recommended by their health care
provider).