Facts About Chlamydia; Every Sexually Active Woman Needs to Know

How much do you really know about chlamydia? Do you blush when you hear the word? Get over the embarrassment and learn the facts, especially if you are sexually active. It might keep you from becoming infertile.

First, of all, you should understand that chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease out there. Over 1.2 million people have this disease right now. You can also have this disease and not know it. Sometimes, it has no symptoms.

Chlamydia is an infection that is spread between people through sexual contact. However, it is preventable by using condoms.

Although chlamydia may not show any symptoms, symptoms can arise once an infection occurs. The main symptom is infertility. This can occur because the infection can spread throughout the woman's production system. First it will travel into her cervix. Then it will travel into her uterus. Finally, it will begin effecting her fallopian tubes and ovaries.

Once the infection affects her fallopian tubes and ovaries, another condition can begin. This condition is known as PID (pelvic inflammatory disease). This can cause abdominal pain, cramping, pain during sex, and inflammation. This can also cause scarring on the fallopian tubes. This scarring can keep the woman's eggs from fertilizing correctly, thus causing infertility issues.

If a woman does become pregnant, an ectopic pregnancy can occur. If she the baby does make it to term, the baby can be born with conditions of Chlamydia, too. These symptoms can include suffering from eye infections from the disease or pneumonia.

Men, however, do not suffer many consequences from the infection. They may suffer from an infection in the upper genital tract or an infection around the area known as the epididymis (the area where a tube collects sperm). This infection may cause some swelling and pain. But it will not affect the man's fertility.

Luckily, chlamydia can be easily tested by urine or by a simple pap test. It can also be treated with medication such as azithromycin.

Sources:

women.webmd.com