Chlamydia trachomatis

Chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States. Per the CDC website, an estimated 2.8 million Americans are infected with chlamydia each year.

It is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, which can cause irreversible damage to a woman's reproductive organs, including infertility. Symptoms are usually mild or absent and the damage can occur before a woman ever realizes that she has a problem. Women who do not have symptoms might have an abnormal vaginal discharge or a burning sensation when urinating initially when the infection is in the cervix or the urethra. When the infection spreads to the fallopian tubes some may have lower back pain, nausea, fever, pain during intercourse or bleeding between menstrual periods.

Why test for Chlamydia? What are the complications of Chlamydia?

• In infected men, it can cause discharge from the penis or a burning sensation when urinating. It can also cause burning and itching around the opening of the penis.
• Why test for Chlamydia? What are the complications of Chlamydia?
  If untreated, it can spread into the uterus and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which can cause permanent damage to the fallopian tubes and uterus.
• The damage can lead to chronic pelvic pain, infertility and potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy.
• Women with Chlamydia are more likely to become infected with HIV, if exposed.
• Chlamydia can be passed from an infected mother to her baby during vaginal childbirth and may result in eye infections (conjunctivitis) and respiratory infections (early infant pneumonia).
• Chlamydia can be easily treated with antibiotics.