Untitled Document

Chlamydia
(Chlamydia trachomatis)

What is chlamydia?

What are the symptoms of chlamydia?

How can chlamydia be spread?

How common is chlamydia?

What can I do to reduce the risk of getting chlamydia?

Should I worry about chlamydia?

How do I find out if I have chlamydia?

Is there treatment for chlamydia?

Do I need to talk to my partner about chlamydia?

Should I talk to my doctor about chlamydia?

Quick Facts About Chlamydia

More Information on Chlamydia and other STD's

What is chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a common and curable infection caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. The bacteria target the cells of the mucous membranes including:

Surfaces of the urethra, vagina, cervix and endometrium
Fallopian tubes
Anus and rectum
Lining of the eyelid
Less commonly, the throat.

What are the symptoms of chlamydia?

Approximately, seventy-five percent of women and fifty percent of men do not experience symptoms. If a person does have symptoms, they usually develop within one to three weeks after exposure to chlamydia. The period of infectivity is difficult to determine since so many people are asymptomatic. A person must be considered infectious (able to pass the bacteria along to others) from the time they become infected until treatment is completed. The symptoms of chlamydia are similar to the symptoms of gonorrhea and the two infections are often confused.

Men, women and infants
- Both men and women can experience proctitis (inflamed rectum), urethritis (inflamed urethra) and conjunctivitis (inflamed eyelid).
- Most infections of the mouth and throat are asymptomatic. If present, symptoms are soreness and redness in the throat or mouth.
- The most common complications in newborns include conjunctivitis and pneumonia.
Women
- Most women are asymptomatic, but if symptoms are present they may be minor. Symptoms may include:
- If the infection spreads to the fallopian tubes, women may experience:
  - lower abdominal and lower back pain
  - pain during intercourse
  - bleeding between menstrual periods
  - nausea or fever
Men
- Men may be asymptomatic or symptoms may be minor. When symptomatic, men may experience one or more of the following:
  - Pus (thick yellow-white fluid) or watery or milky discharge from the penis
  - pain or burning during urination
  - Pain or swelling of the testicles

How can chlamydia be spread?

Chlamydia is passed primarily during anal or vaginal sex. It is less likely to be transmitted through oral sex. It can be passed when the mucous membrane, the soft skin covering all the openings of the body, comes into contact with the mucous membrane secretions or semen of an infected person.
During oral sex, it is possible but unlikely for chlamydia to be transmitted from mouth-to-penis and penis-to-mouth contact, and though less so, from vagina-to-mouth or anus-to-mouth contact. Transmission is not known to occur from mouth-to-vagina and mouth to anus contact. Chlamydia is less likely to be transmitted during oral sex because the bacteria that cause chlamydia prefer to target the genital area rather than the throat.
Chlamydia can be passed even if the penis or tongue does not go all the way into the vagina or anus. If the vagina, cervix, anus, penis or mouth come in contact with infected secretions or fluids; then transmission is possible.
Even a woman who has not had anal sex can get chlamydia in the anus or rectum if bacteria are spread from the vaginal area, such as when wiping with toilet paper.
Eye infections in adults may result when discharge caries the disease into the eye during sex or hand-to-eye contact.
Chlamydia is not passed through things like shaking hands or toilet seats.
Even if a person with chlamydia is treated and cured, they can be re-infected if they are exposed to chlamydia again.
It can also be passed from mother to newborn as the baby passes through the infected birth canal. This can result in eye infections, pneumonia or other complications.
In children, chlamydia may be a possible sign of sexual abuse.

How common is chlamydia?

In the United States, chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STD), particularly among sexually active adolescents and young adults. In 2000, 702,093 cases of chlamydia were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, it is estimated that 3 million cases actually occurred and as many as one in 10 adolescent females test positive for chlamydia.

What can I do to reduce the risk of getting chlamydia?

Abstinence (not having sex)
Mutual monogamy (having sex with only one uninfected partner)
Water-based spermicides are not recommended for the prevention of chlamydia. Recent studies have shown that nonoxynol-9 (N-9), which is found in most water-based spermicides, is not effective in preventing chlamydia.
Latex condoms for vaginal and anal sex.
Since chlamydia can be transmitted even if the penis or tongue does not completely enter the vagina, mouth or rectum, using latex condoms at the beginning of sexual contact until there is no longer skin contact is the best form of prevention.
Several barrier methods can be used to reduce the risk of transmission of chlamydia during oral sex. A non-lubricated condom can be used for mouth-to-penis contact. Household plastic wrap, a dental dam, or a latex condom cut-up and opened flat can reduce the risk of transmission during mouth-to-vulva/vagina or oral-anal (rimming) contact.

Should I worry about chlamydia?

If untreated, chlamydia can cause complications in men, women and infants.

Untreated chlamydia infections in women may lead to:
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). PID is a serious infection of a woman's reproductive organs. Left untreated, PID can cause infertility.
- Cystitis (inflammation of the urinary bladder)
- Mucopurulent (muke-o-PURE-you-lent) cervicitis, characterized by a yellow discharge from the cervix
Untreated chlamydia in men may lead to:
- Prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland)
- Urethral scarring
- Infertility
- Epididymitis (inflammation of the epididymis, which are the elongated, cord-like structures that runs along the back of the testes)
Untreated chlamydia in infants may lead:
- Blindness
- Complications of pneumonia, which can include death
Reiter's Syndrome
- Reiter's syndrome is a disorder that causes 3 seemingly unrelated symptoms; arthritis (joint inflammation), redness of the eyes, and urinary tract problems. Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the bacteria that can cause RS.
- Most men and women with chlamydia do not develop RS.
- RS usually affects men between the ages of 20 and 40. Women can develop the disorder, though less often than men and with symptoms that are milder and less noticeabl

How do I find out if I have chlamydia?

There are several different reliable testing options for chlamydia. It may be helpful to speak to your health care provider about what testing options are available.

Nucleic Acid Amplification Test
- These tests may be called by any of the following names: PCR, LCR, SDA or TMA tests.
- They detect the bacteria that cause chlamydia by identifying a strand of the bacterial DNA.
- Nucleic acid amplification tests can be done on urine or a sample of secretions from the potentially infected area (the urethra or cervix). They are not currently approved for use on secretions from the rectum or throat.
- These tests can detect both chlamydia and gonorrhea from just one patient sample.
- Although nucleic acid amplification tests are FDA-approved, they may not be available in all clinics.
Chlamydia Culture
- This test looks for chlamydia in specimens taken from the potentially infected area.
DNA Probe
- Like nucleic acid amplification tests, this test detects the chlamydia DNA.
- DNA probe tests use a sample of secretions from the potentially infected area to test for chlamydia.
- This testing method is less expensive and less labor-intensive than the culture method.
Antibody (EIA) Test
- This test detects chlamydia antibodies.
- Testing is done by taking a sample of secretions from the potentially infected area.
- It is less technically demanding and less expensive than other tests but not as reliable.
Direct Florescent Antibody Test (DFA)
- This test detects chlamydia antigens.
- It is done by taking a sample of secretions from the potentially infected area.
- DFA tests are labor-intensive and less reliable than other methods.

People infected with chlamydia are often co-infected with gonorrhea. Therefore, patients with chlamydia are often treated for gonorrhea at the same time, since the cost of treatment is less than the cost of testing.

Is there treatment for chlamydia?

Health care providers usually give patients one of two medicines to treat chlamydia:

Doxycycline, taken orally, twice a day for seven days
Azithromycin, administered in a single dose

Alternative treatments for chlamydia include:
- Erythromycin, taken orally, four times a day for seven days
- Ofloxacin, taken orally, twice a day for seven days
- Levofloxacin, taken orally, once a day for seven days

NOTE: Doxycycline and Ofloxacin are not advised for pregnant women. Instead, it is recommended that they take:
- Erythromycin
- Amoxicillin
- Azithromycin
Follow up:

Take all medications as directed.
All partners should be examined and treated.
Do not have sex until you and your partner(s) have been treated and cured.
Persons with symptoms after treatment should be tested again by culture.
Infections detected after treatment with one of the recommended treatments more commonly occur because of re-infection rather than treatment failure.
Women should be retested three to four months after treatment, because of a high rate of re-infection.

Because the symptoms of chlamydia are similar to the symptom of gonorrhea, and because a person can be infected with both, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that people with chlamydia are treated for both diseases. Partners should be examined and treated as well.

Do I need to talk to my partner about chlamydia?

Yes. Telling a partner can be hard, but keep in mind that most people with chlamydia do not know they have it. It's important that you talk to your partner as soon as possible so she or he can get treatment. Also, it is possible to pass chlamydia back and forth, so if you get treated and your partner doesn't, you may become infected again.

Should I talk to my doctor about chlamydia?

Yes. Because chlamydia often does not have symptoms, you may need to talk to your doctor about whether or not you should be tested. If you are having unprotected sex or discover that your partner is having unprotected sex with another person, you may want to ask your doctor about being tested.

Quick facts about chlamydia:

Chlamydia is a curable infection caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis.
Chlamydia can be transmitted during vaginal, anal, and, although less likely, oral sex.
Most women and some men do not experience symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they usually appear within 1 to 3 weeks after infection.
Since symptoms may not be present, the only way for a person who has been at risk for chlamydia to tell whether they're infected is to be tested.
A person with chlamydia must be considered infectious from the time they become infected until treatment is completed.
Chlamydia can be diagnosed through a urine test or by taking a specimen from the infected area.
If left untreated, chlamydia can cause complications such as PID and infertility.

Chlamydia can be transmitted even if the penis or tongue does not enter the vagina, mouth, or rectum. Using latex condoms from the very beginning of sexual contact until there is no longer skin contact reduces the risk of transmission of chlamydia.

More Information on Chlamydia and other STD's

For additional questions about this or any other STD's and other diseases, CDC (Centers for Disease Control) provides several toll-free hotlines for public use. The hotlines provide referrals and more answers to your questions. Be sure to request free printed information when you call the hotlines.

CDC National STD and AIDS Hotlines:
1-800-342-2437 or 1-800-227-8922. The hotlines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For Spanish call 1-800-344-7432, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. eastern standard time, seven days a week. For the deaf and hard-of-hearing call 1-800-243-7889, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. eastern standard time, Monday through Friday.
CDC National Immunization Information Hotline:
English 1-800-232-2522 Spanish 1-800-232-0233 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. eastern standard time. For the deaf and hard-of-hearing call 1-800-243-7889. Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. eastern standard time.
CDC Public Response Hotline (CPR):
English 1-888-246-2675 span 1-888-246-2857 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. eastern standard time 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For the deaf and hard-of-hearing 1-866-874-2646 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. eastern standard time Monday through Friday.

	Chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis)
	What is chlamydia? What are the symptoms of chlamydia? How can chlamydia be spread? How common is chlamydia? What can I do to reduce the risk of getting chlamydia? Should I worry about chlamydia?	How do I find out if I have chlamydia? Is there treatment for chlamydia? Do I need to talk to my partner about chlamydia? Should I talk to my doctor about chlamydia? Quick Facts About Chlamydia More Information on Chlamydia and other STD's
	What is chlamydia? Chlamydia is a common and curable infection caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. The bacteria target the cells of the mucous membranes including: Surfaces of the urethra, vagina, cervix and endometrium Fallopian tubes Anus and rectum Lining of the eyelid Less commonly, the throat. What are the symptoms of chlamydia? Approximately, seventy-five percent of women and fifty percent of men do not experience symptoms. If a person does have symptoms, they usually develop within one to three weeks after exposure to chlamydia. The period of infectivity is difficult to determine since so many people are asymptomatic. A person must be considered infectious (able to pass the bacteria along to others) from the time they become infected until treatment is completed. The symptoms of chlamydia are similar to the symptoms of gonorrhea and the two infections are often confused. Men, women and infants Both men and women can experience proctitis (inflamed rectum), urethritis (inflamed urethra) and conjunctivitis (inflamed eyelid). Most infections of the mouth and throat are asymptomatic. If present, symptoms are soreness and redness in the throat or mouth. The most common complications in newborns include conjunctivitis and pneumonia. Women Most women are asymptomatic, but if symptoms are present they may be minor. Symptoms may include: vaginal discharge burning sensation during urination If the infection spreads to the fallopian tubes, women may experience: lower abdominal and lower back pain pain during intercourse bleeding between menstrual periods nausea or fever Men Men may be asymptomatic or symptoms may be minor. When symptomatic, men may experience one or more of the following: Pus (thick yellow-white fluid) or watery or milky discharge from the penis pain or burning during urination Pain or swelling of the testicles How can chlamydia be spread? Chlamydia is passed primarily during anal or vaginal sex. It is less likely to be transmitted through oral sex. It can be passed when the mucous membrane, the soft skin covering all the openings of the body, comes into contact with the mucous membrane secretions or semen of an infected person. During oral sex, it is possible but unlikely for chlamydia to be transmitted from mouth-to-penis and penis-to-mouth contact, and though less so, from vagina-to-mouth or anus-to-mouth contact. Transmission is not known to occur from mouth-to-vagina and mouth to anus contact. Chlamydia is less likely to be transmitted during oral sex because the bacteria that cause chlamydia prefer to target the genital area rather than the throat. Chlamydia can be passed even if the penis or tongue does not go all the way into the vagina or anus. If the vagina, cervix, anus, penis or mouth come in contact with infected secretions or fluids; then transmission is possible. Even a woman who has not had anal sex can get chlamydia in the anus or rectum if bacteria are spread from the vaginal area, such as when wiping with toilet paper. Eye infections in adults may result when discharge caries the disease into the eye during sex or hand-to-eye contact. Chlamydia is not passed through things like shaking hands or toilet seats. Even if a person with chlamydia is treated and cured, they can be re-infected if they are exposed to chlamydia again. It can also be passed from mother to newborn as the baby passes through the infected birth canal. This can result in eye infections, pneumonia or other complications. In children, chlamydia may be a possible sign of sexual abuse. How common is chlamydia? In the United States, chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STD), particularly among sexually active adolescents and young adults. In 2000, 702,093 cases of chlamydia were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, it is estimated that 3 million cases actually occurred and as many as one in 10 adolescent females test positive for chlamydia. What can I do to reduce the risk of getting chlamydia? Abstinence (not having sex) Mutual monogamy (having sex with only one uninfected partner) Water-based spermicides are not recommended for the prevention of chlamydia. Recent studies have shown that nonoxynol-9 (N-9), which is found in most water-based spermicides, is not effective in preventing chlamydia. Latex condoms for vaginal and anal sex. Since chlamydia can be transmitted even if the penis or tongue does not completely enter the vagina, mouth or rectum, using latex condoms at the beginning of sexual contact until there is no longer skin contact is the best form of prevention. Several barrier methods can be used to reduce the risk of transmission of chlamydia during oral sex. A non-lubricated condom can be used for mouth-to-penis contact. Household plastic wrap, a dental dam, or a latex condom cut-up and opened flat can reduce the risk of transmission during mouth-to-vulva/vagina or oral-anal (rimming) contact. Should I worry about chlamydia? If untreated, chlamydia can cause complications in men, women and infants. Untreated chlamydia infections in women may lead to: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). PID is a serious infection of a woman's reproductive organs. Left untreated, PID can cause infertility. Cystitis (inflammation of the urinary bladder) Mucopurulent (muke-o-PURE-you-lent) cervicitis, characterized by a yellow discharge from the cervix Untreated chlamydia in men may lead to: Prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland) Urethral scarring Infertility Epididymitis (inflammation of the epididymis, which are the elongated, cord-like structures that runs along the back of the testes) Untreated chlamydia in infants may lead: Blindness Complications of pneumonia, which can include death Reiter's Syndrome Reiter's syndrome is a disorder that causes 3 seemingly unrelated symptoms; arthritis (joint inflammation), redness of the eyes, and urinary tract problems. Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the bacteria that can cause RS. Most men and women with chlamydia do not develop RS. RS usually affects men between the ages of 20 and 40. Women can develop the disorder, though less often than men and with symptoms that are milder and less noticeabl How do I find out if I have chlamydia? There are several different reliable testing options for chlamydia. It may be helpful to speak to your health care provider about what testing options are available. Nucleic Acid Amplification Test These tests may be called by any of the following names: PCR, LCR, SDA or TMA tests. They detect the bacteria that cause chlamydia by identifying a strand of the bacterial DNA. Nucleic acid amplification tests can be done on urine or a sample of secretions from the potentially infected area (the urethra or cervix). They are not currently approved for use on secretions from the rectum or throat. These tests can detect both chlamydia and gonorrhea from just one patient sample. Although nucleic acid amplification tests are FDA-approved, they may not be available in all clinics. Chlamydia Culture This test looks for chlamydia in specimens taken from the potentially infected area. DNA Probe Like nucleic acid amplification tests, this test detects the chlamydia DNA. DNA probe tests use a sample of secretions from the potentially infected area to test for chlamydia. This testing method is less expensive and less labor-intensive than the culture method. Antibody (EIA) Test This test detects chlamydia antibodies. Testing is done by taking a sample of secretions from the potentially infected area. It is less technically demanding and less expensive than other tests but not as reliable. Direct Florescent Antibody Test (DFA) This test detects chlamydia antigens. It is done by taking a sample of secretions from the potentially infected area. DFA tests are labor-intensive and less reliable than other methods. People infected with chlamydia are often co-infected with gonorrhea. Therefore, patients with chlamydia are often treated for gonorrhea at the same time, since the cost of treatment is less than the cost of testing. Is there treatment for chlamydia? Health care providers usually give patients one of two medicines to treat chlamydia: Doxycycline, taken orally, twice a day for seven days Azithromycin, administered in a single dose Alternative treatments for chlamydia include: Erythromycin, taken orally, four times a day for seven days Ofloxacin, taken orally, twice a day for seven days Levofloxacin, taken orally, once a day for seven days NOTE: Doxycycline and Ofloxacin are not advised for pregnant women. Instead, it is recommended that they take: Erythromycin Amoxicillin Azithromycin Follow up: Take all medications as directed. All partners should be examined and treated. Do not have sex until you and your partner(s) have been treated and cured. Persons with symptoms after treatment should be tested again by culture. Infections detected after treatment with one of the recommended treatments more commonly occur because of re-infection rather than treatment failure. Women should be retested three to four months after treatment, because of a high rate of re-infection. Because the symptoms of chlamydia are similar to the symptom of gonorrhea, and because a person can be infected with both, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that people with chlamydia are treated for both diseases. Partners should be examined and treated as well. Do I need to talk to my partner about chlamydia? Yes. Telling a partner can be hard, but keep in mind that most people with chlamydia do not know they have it. It's important that you talk to your partner as soon as possible so she or he can get treatment. Also, it is possible to pass chlamydia back and forth, so if you get treated and your partner doesn't, you may become infected again. Should I talk to my doctor about chlamydia? Yes. Because chlamydia often does not have symptoms, you may need to talk to your doctor about whether or not you should be tested. If you are having unprotected sex or discover that your partner is having unprotected sex with another person, you may want to ask your doctor about being tested. Quick facts about chlamydia: Chlamydia is a curable infection caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia can be transmitted during vaginal, anal, and, although less likely, oral sex. Most women and some men do not experience symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they usually appear within 1 to 3 weeks after infection. Since symptoms may not be present, the only way for a person who has been at risk for chlamydia to tell whether they're infected is to be tested. A person with chlamydia must be considered infectious from the time they become infected until treatment is completed. Chlamydia can be diagnosed through a urine test or by taking a specimen from the infected area. If left untreated, chlamydia can cause complications such as PID and infertility. Chlamydia can be transmitted even if the penis or tongue does not enter the vagina, mouth, or rectum. Using latex condoms from the very beginning of sexual contact until there is no longer skin contact reduces the risk of transmission of chlamydia. More Information on Chlamydia and other STD's For additional questions about this or any other STD's and other diseases, CDC (Centers for Disease Control) provides several toll-free hotlines for public use. The hotlines provide referrals and more answers to your questions. Be sure to request free printed information when you call the hotlines. CDC National STD and AIDS Hotlines: 1-800-342-2437 or 1-800-227-8922. The hotlines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For Spanish call 1-800-344-7432, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. eastern standard time, seven days a week. For the deaf and hard-of-hearing call 1-800-243-7889, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. eastern standard time, Monday through Friday. CDC National Immunization Information Hotline: English 1-800-232-2522 Spanish 1-800-232-0233 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. eastern standard time. For the deaf and hard-of-hearing call 1-800-243-7889. Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. eastern standard time. CDC Public Response Hotline (CPR): English 1-888-246-2675 span 1-888-246-2857 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. eastern standard time 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For the deaf and hard-of-hearing 1-866-874-2646 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. eastern standard time Monday through Friday.