Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.
Although symptoms of chlamydia are often mild or absent, the disease can trigger serious complications that can damage a woman's reproductive organs.
Infertility may occur silently before a woman even knows what hit her.
Chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial STD in the United States.
In 2006 alone, there were over a million chlamydial infections reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention coming from 50 states and the District of Columbia.
That figure could get higher since under-reporting is common considering that many people with chlamydia aren't aware of the disease.
Compounding the problem is the fact that testing is not done on patients who are treated for symptoms.
More than two million non-institutionalized US civilians aged 14 to 39 have chlamydia based on the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
The bacteria travels from one person to another through sexual intercourse and possibly through oral-genital contact.
If bodily fluids that harbor the bacteria get into a person's eye, that leads to an eye infection.
Chlamydia can likewise be transmitted from a mother to her baby while the latter is being delivered.
This causes pneumonia and conjuntivitis in the child.
Contrary to popular belief, you can't get chlamydia from a towel, doorknob or toilet seat.
Often women don't know if they have the disease since there are no symptoms.
Thus, it's important to visit a doctor at least once a year if you are sexually active.
If symptoms are present, these take the form of an unusual vaginal discharge or pain during urination.
Some girls may experience abdominal pain, painful intercourse or bleeding between menstrual periods.
Antibiotics are prescribed for the disease.
Up to 95 percent of patients will be cured after one course of treatment.
Although symptoms of chlamydia are often mild or absent, the disease can trigger serious complications that can damage a woman's reproductive organs.
Infertility may occur silently before a woman even knows what hit her.
Chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial STD in the United States.
In 2006 alone, there were over a million chlamydial infections reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention coming from 50 states and the District of Columbia.
That figure could get higher since under-reporting is common considering that many people with chlamydia aren't aware of the disease.
Compounding the problem is the fact that testing is not done on patients who are treated for symptoms.
More than two million non-institutionalized US civilians aged 14 to 39 have chlamydia based on the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
The bacteria travels from one person to another through sexual intercourse and possibly through oral-genital contact.
If bodily fluids that harbor the bacteria get into a person's eye, that leads to an eye infection.
Chlamydia can likewise be transmitted from a mother to her baby while the latter is being delivered.
This causes pneumonia and conjuntivitis in the child.
Contrary to popular belief, you can't get chlamydia from a towel, doorknob or toilet seat.
Often women don't know if they have the disease since there are no symptoms.
Thus, it's important to visit a doctor at least once a year if you are sexually active.
If symptoms are present, these take the form of an unusual vaginal discharge or pain during urination.
Some girls may experience abdominal pain, painful intercourse or bleeding between menstrual periods.
Antibiotics are prescribed for the disease.
Up to 95 percent of patients will be cured after one course of treatment.