Though Chlamydia is the most commonly reported STD in the United States, most people simply don’t know the facts about Chlamydia transmission. While learning the facts about Chlamydia is essential for all individuals who are sexually active, it's especially important that women get the facts about Chlamydia and its potential dangers.

Millions Infected - And Counting

In 2008, 1,210,523 cases of Chlamydial infection were reported to the CDC, and incidents continued to climb well into 2009. Although the CDC is in the process of evaluating more recent data, it is believed that under-reporting of Chlamydia is significant. According to the CDC's website, 2,291,000 individuals are infected with Chlamydia based on the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Further distorting statistical facts about Chlamydia is the notion that testing is often neglected in patients who display symptoms and get treated accordingly.

Chlamydia Symptoms Often Silent

Lending to its widespread nature is the fact that side effects of Chlamydia are often overlooked or non-existent. One of the greatest public misconceptions with respect to all STDs, Chlamydia included, is that painful, disruptive symptoms are bound to ensue following infection. In reality, the CDC reports that the majority of people infected will never experience side effects of Chlamydia. In fact, 50 percent of men and 75 percent of women not show noticeable signs. Nonetheless, Chlamydia can cause long-term damage in affected females, even when initial symptoms are mild or absent entirely. For this reason, knowing the facts about Chlamydia and undergoing regular testing are two essential components of preserving female sexual health.

How Transmission Occurs

Chlamydia infection can be contracted during vaginal, anal, or oral sexual intercourse. The disease can also be passed from an infected mother to her newborn baby during vaginal childbirth. Pregnant women at risk for infection are advised to undergo STD testing during the first trimester. Additionally, the CDC reports that women are statistically more likely to contract Chlamydia than men. This especially holds true for women under the age of 25, as the undeveloped nature of younger cervixes has been linked to increased susceptibility to infection.

Chlamydia Symptoms Can Be Deceiving

For women in particular, side effects of Chlamydia can mimic those of more innocuous ailments such as vaginal yeast or urinary tract infection. Since Chlamydia in women will initially infect the cervix and urethra, those affected may experience symptoms that include vaginal discharge and a burning sensation during urination. Pain during intercourse is also a possibility. As such symptoms are attributable to a host of diseases, many of which are not transmitted sexually, those experiencing side effects are advised to seek medical attention rather than attempt to self-diagnose. Improper treatment of Chlamydia can prolong infection and increase the likelihood of permanent damage.

Chlamydia Treatment and Consequences

Left undetected in females, Chlamydia can cause chronic pelvic pain and permanent reproductive system damage. Undiagnosed Chlamydia can also result in ectopic pregnancies, which can be fatal. It is therefore imperative that sexually active women get the facts about Chlamydia and its long-term consequences. Fortunately, Chlamydia treatment is simple and non-invasive. An antibiotic for Chlamydia can cure infection completely and alleviate any symptoms that are present. However, an official diagnosis is necessary to ensure that the proper antibiotic for Chlamydia is administered. The CDC recommends annual Chlamydia screenings for at-risk males and females alike, but in the presence of symptoms, immediate testing is necessary.

Common misspellings for chlamydia include klamydia, clamidia, chlamidia, and klamidia.

Chlamydia is the country’s most widespread STD, but those most at risk for infection fall within the 15 to 29 year old age group. In 2008, 1,210,523 cases of Chlamydial infection were documented by the U.S. CDC. However, this figure doesn’t account for the numerous unreported cases that undoubtedly impacted the population as well. With Chlamydia such a health threat among the population this raises some questions: How is Chlamydia transmitted? And how is Chlamydia transmitted so frequently among teenagers and young adults in particular?

How is Chlamydia Transmitted between Heterosexual Partners?

Chlamydial infection can be transmitted during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. However, the use of latex condoms significantly reduces this risk. The CDC recommends annual Chlamydia testing for anyone who is sexually active.

How is Chlamydia Transmitted in Women So Often?

The CDC reports that women are statistically more likely to contract Chlamydia due to the structure of the female anatomy. Furthermore, teenage girls and younger women are particularly susceptible to infection due to the fact that their cervixes are not yet matured enough to fend off the disease. Though annual Chlamydia testing is recommended for all sexually active women, the CDC stresses the importance of a yearly Chlamydia test among those 25 and under.

How is Chlamydia Transmitted During Pregnancy?

Chlamydia infection can be passed from an infected mother to her baby during vaginal childbirth. For this reason, any pregnant woman at risk for infection should undergo testing as early as possible.

How is Chlamydia Transmitted Among Men?

Since Chlamydia can be passed along during oral and anal sex, men who have sex with other men are also at risk for infection. Additionally, the more sexual partners an individual has, the more likely his chances are of contracting Chlamydia.

How is Chlamydia Transmitted So Frequently?

Contributing to the widespread nature of this disease, Chlamydia is typically asymptomatic. About 75 percent of women and 50 percent of men never experience symptoms of Chlamydia. When present, symptoms may be mild and an infected person may not recognize them as indicative sign of an STD. For this reason, affected people often neglect to undergo testing and subsequently end up passing the disease on to their sexual partners.

Is Chlamydia Curable?

Chlamydia is one of the few STDs that can be completely cured via antibiotics. Typically, a course of treatment will eliminate infection from the body in 7 to 10 days, at which point any notable symptoms of the disease should also disappear.

Is Chlamydia Curable if it’s Not Caught Early On?

Many men and women walk around for months with Chlamydia unaware that they’ve been infected. While some people do complain of early symptoms such as genital discharge and painful urination, others will never experience side effects at all. Though a Chlamydial infection can still be cured even if not detected early, the longer the disease resides in the body, the greater the chances of it causing permanent long-term damage, particularly in women. Females with untreated Chlamydia risk chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and potentially fatal ectopic pregnancies. For this reason, frequent testing is particularly important for all women, especially those at an increased risk for infection and multiple sexual partners.

Will Chlamydia Rates Decline?

There’s no telling how widespread Chlamydia will continue to be in years to come. Through increased STD testing and awareness, the CDC hopes to eventually eliminate Chlamydia as the public health concern it currently is.

Common misspellings for chlamydia include klamydia, clamidia, chlamidia, and klamidia.

Of the many STDs impacting sexually active members of the U.S. population, there’s no disease more prevalent than Chlamydia. Pronounced “Klamidia,” Chlamydia is often asymptomatic, but if left untreated, it can cause long-term pelvic pain and infertility in women. For this reason, a Chlamydia test is recommended for anyone engaging in unprotected sexual intercourse. Furthermore, while an annual Chlamydia test is recommended for women, any man whose behavior exposes him to infection should also consider a Chlamydia test.

Though there are many individuals who can benefit from a regular Chlamydia test, those whose partners (monogamous or otherwise) have been previously diagnosed with Chlamydia are more at risk. According to the U.S. CDC, anyone diagnosed with Chlamydia should inform his or her sexual partners immediately so that a Chlamydia test can be administered.

How is Chlamydia Spread?

A big question on the minds of those whose partners have been diagnosed with Chlamydia is “How is Chlamydia spread?” Those needing to take a Chlamydia test for the first time often wish to understand the method by which Chlamydia is transmitted from person to person. For example, how is Chlamydia spread during oral sex? Can transmission occur without actual penetrative intercourse? And can you get Chlamydia from kissing or engaging in other such seemingly innocuous activities?

Since Chlamydia can be transmitted via oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse, a Chlamydia test is necessary for anyone who engages in such activity with an affected person, even if that person is a monogamous dating partner who was diagnosed prior to the start of the relationship. Even if the infected individual has undergone a course of Chlamydia treatment, a Chlamydia test is still essential if sexual activity transpired within 60 days of the original diagnosis.

Furthermore, getting cured of Chlamydia initially does not in any way limit one’s ability to contract the disease again following exposure. If a person receives news of a positive Chlamydia test, gets treated, but manages to pass the disease along to his or her partner, then that same individual could wind up infected all over again. In fact, the spread of Chlamydia can be somewhat of a vicious cycle. Therefore, any time a Chlamydia test comes back positive, the best course of action to take involves immediately abstaining from further sexual activity, having the partner take a Chlamydia test, and having any affected parties undergo treatment to cure the infection. Following Chlamydia treatment, both parties should wait seven full days before resuming any form of sexual intercourse.

How is Chlamydia spread among women who have sex with women?

For women who have sex with other women, Chlamydia can be spread via vaginal or oral intercourse. A Chlamydia test is a must for any woman whose female sexual partner receives a positive diagnosis, as the long-term consequences of Chlamydia in women can be severe.

How is Chlamydia spread among men who have sex with men?

Men who have sex with men can spread Chlamydia infection via oral or anal sex. Following a Chlamydia diagnosis, an infected man should inform his partner(s) to get a Chlamydia test to rule out infection. Though the side effects of Chlamydia in men are less extreme than they are in women, walking around with an untreated infection is never a good idea.

Regardless of circumstances and risk factors, only a Chlamydia test can properly diagnose infection and help those infected get cured.