Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a kind of bacterial infection that can infect both males and females. Chlamydia is the number one bacterial STI in the U.S. today, with 4 million new cases every year.

The bacteria lives in the:

• Vagina
• Cervix
• Penis
• Anus

Unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sex may spread the bacteria from the infected person to anyone he or she has sex with.

Chlamydia is known as a "silent epidemic" because 75% of the women and 50% of the men with the infection have no symptoms. Other have mild symptoms that may be easy to ignore, or that seem to come and go.

These include:

• Abnormal spotting or bleeding
• Whitish discharge from the vagina or penis
• Burning or itching around the opening of the penis
• Pain or a bleeding with sex
• Pain or a burning feeling while you pee
• Lower abdominal pain
• Pain and/ or swelling in the testicles

Chlamydia is detected with a medical test. For males, we use a urine test. For females, a sample of fluid is taken during the pelvic exam. These samples are sent off to a lab for results. When you come into our clinic, we will give you lots of information, answer all your questions and give you a complete exam that can detect Chlamydia and other problems you might have.

Yes. Prescription antibiotics will kill the Chlamydia bacteria. Treatment that's not completed can spell serious problems down the including:

• Keep males from fathering children
• Keep females from getting pregnant
• Cause pregnancies that lodge in the fallopian tubs and grow until the tube bursts- called tubal or ectopic pregnancies
• Lasting pain that continues after the infection has been cured

During treatment you must stop having sex until you're cured and the same goes for your partner. This will help keep you from getting re-infected or spreading the disease to someone else.

Not having sex is the best way to protect oneself from getting any sexually transmitted infection. If you do decide to have sex, plan your sexual relationships safely and responsibly. Have sex with only one partner who will only have sex with you, and always use a condom. If you think you may be infected, don't have sex at all until you are tested and get the results.

Call us at West Suburban Teen Clinic if you have any questions about Chlamydia or any other topics.