Chlamydia is one of the world's most common sexually transmitted diseases (STD).
Reported from the Center of Disease Control in 2009, 1,244,180 people in the United States were affected with Chlamydia.
Estimated at about 2.
8 million infections occur annually in America.
It affects both men and women.
A lot of people might wonder why it is so common.
Chlamydia is an infection that shows hardly any signs or symptoms.
It's hard to physically detect if you have Chlamydia but, as a woman if you are having abnormal vaginal discharge, bleeding between periods, pain during intercourse, itching or burning inside or outside your vagina then it's best if you go to a doctor to get tested for the disease.
For the men reading this article, your signs and symptoms are a little similar to women with some differences.
For men if you are experiencing clear or cloudy discharge from your penis, experiencing painful urination, having burning or itching around the opening of the penis, and swelling within your testicles, then it's best to go to your primary care provider immediately for further testing.
Testing for Chlamydia is performed by a doctor or professional nurse.
One test could be a swab sample from the urethra or cervix.
Urine and blood samples could also be proven to show the present bacteria of the STD Chlamydia.
For treatments, several antibiotics would be prescribed to help eliminate the bacteria.
The treatment is successful and prevents long-term complications in the near future.
Taking the antibiotics don't help prevent you from ever getting the disease if again you are infected already.
The treatment should fully cure within three weeks.
It's recommended that the infected person get retested after taking their medication.
It's also good for the patient to continue to educate themselves about sexually transmitted diseases and to continue seeking their primary care taker.
It's also vital that during in the process of practicing prevention for the infected person's partner to get tested and treated if needed as well.
Worst case scenario, leaving this STD untreated can cause many problems especially in women.
Pelvic inflammatory disease, damage to the fallopian tubes, and infertility is most likely to occur.
Infertility is the inability to have children and if left untreated, this would be a long-term consequence for not seeking proper medical treatment to treat this STD.
If the woman was to get pregnant, it's common that she would be at high risk for having an epic pregnancy.
Leaving this untreated for men they would develop in infection in the urethra or inflammation of the rectum.
With most health related diseases, there are various ways to practice prevention.
With all STDs, not just Chlamydia, the use of latex condoms and limiting sex partners is a way to prevent the disease.
To absolutely not catch Chlamydia is practice abstinence.
If you have had Chlamydia, it's best to inform your partner and encourage them to go get tested immediately.
To also, take part in prevention, make a health decision to get tested at least once a year or after switching sexual partners.
If you are a parent reading this article, I would suggest you to inform your teen about the consequences of having unprotected sex.
Chlamydia is a silent STD meaning that it comes with no signs and symptoms.
Also, if left untreated, it would lead to chronic long-term health problems.
If you as a parent feel uncomfortable talking to your children about sex and the consequences that come along with it, then take them to their primary care taker, and they would be more than happy to explain sex and STDs with them.
Reported from the Center of Disease Control in 2009, 1,244,180 people in the United States were affected with Chlamydia.
Estimated at about 2.
8 million infections occur annually in America.
It affects both men and women.
A lot of people might wonder why it is so common.
Chlamydia is an infection that shows hardly any signs or symptoms.
It's hard to physically detect if you have Chlamydia but, as a woman if you are having abnormal vaginal discharge, bleeding between periods, pain during intercourse, itching or burning inside or outside your vagina then it's best if you go to a doctor to get tested for the disease.
For the men reading this article, your signs and symptoms are a little similar to women with some differences.
For men if you are experiencing clear or cloudy discharge from your penis, experiencing painful urination, having burning or itching around the opening of the penis, and swelling within your testicles, then it's best to go to your primary care provider immediately for further testing.
Testing for Chlamydia is performed by a doctor or professional nurse.
One test could be a swab sample from the urethra or cervix.
Urine and blood samples could also be proven to show the present bacteria of the STD Chlamydia.
For treatments, several antibiotics would be prescribed to help eliminate the bacteria.
The treatment is successful and prevents long-term complications in the near future.
Taking the antibiotics don't help prevent you from ever getting the disease if again you are infected already.
The treatment should fully cure within three weeks.
It's recommended that the infected person get retested after taking their medication.
It's also good for the patient to continue to educate themselves about sexually transmitted diseases and to continue seeking their primary care taker.
It's also vital that during in the process of practicing prevention for the infected person's partner to get tested and treated if needed as well.
Worst case scenario, leaving this STD untreated can cause many problems especially in women.
Pelvic inflammatory disease, damage to the fallopian tubes, and infertility is most likely to occur.
Infertility is the inability to have children and if left untreated, this would be a long-term consequence for not seeking proper medical treatment to treat this STD.
If the woman was to get pregnant, it's common that she would be at high risk for having an epic pregnancy.
Leaving this untreated for men they would develop in infection in the urethra or inflammation of the rectum.
With most health related diseases, there are various ways to practice prevention.
With all STDs, not just Chlamydia, the use of latex condoms and limiting sex partners is a way to prevent the disease.
To absolutely not catch Chlamydia is practice abstinence.
If you have had Chlamydia, it's best to inform your partner and encourage them to go get tested immediately.
To also, take part in prevention, make a health decision to get tested at least once a year or after switching sexual partners.
If you are a parent reading this article, I would suggest you to inform your teen about the consequences of having unprotected sex.
Chlamydia is a silent STD meaning that it comes with no signs and symptoms.
Also, if left untreated, it would lead to chronic long-term health problems.
If you as a parent feel uncomfortable talking to your children about sex and the consequences that come along with it, then take them to their primary care taker, and they would be more than happy to explain sex and STDs with them.