The only way to conceive such infection is through oral, vaginal, or anal sexual contact with an infected partner. Chlamydia bacteria can live in vaginal fluid and semen. The reason that there are so many cases left unreported is that about 70 percent of chlamydial infections have no symptoms what so ever, thereby naming it the “silent” disease. If you do happen to be infected, symptoms will usually appear in 1 to 3 weeks. Some symptoms of this bacterial infection include abnormal discharge or either mucus or pus from the vagina or penis as well as experiencing pain while urinating. These early symptoms are usually very mild.
Every year, there are approximately 750,000 women in the United States that that develop pelvic inflammatory disease, a serious infection of the reproductive organs. The chances of developing this disease increase by about 20 to 40 percent if a chlamydial infection is left untreated. What’s worse, a baby who is exposed to the Chlamydia bacteria in the birth canal during delivery may develop an eye infection or even pneumonia. Because of these possible risks to newborns, health specialists recommend pregnant women get tested for Chlamydia as part of their parental care.
If you happened to stumble upon the situation in which you are infected with the Chlamydia bacteria, your healthcare provider will most likely provide you with a prescription for an antibiotic such as azithromycin or doxycycline. Unfortunately, Penicillin, which is used to treat other sexually transmitted diseases, won’t cure Chlamydia. If you’re situation remains the same, you should concatenate these treatments to help eliminate the infection: Take all your medicine, keep regular check-ups with your healthcare provider, do not engage in sexual activity until you’re treatment is complete and successful, and tell your sex partners that you have Chlamydia so they can be tested and treated, if necessary.
In conclusion, the surest way to avoid the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual contact or be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is not infected with any disease. If remaining abstained from sexual contact is not an option, the use of latex condoms correctly and consistently during vaginal or rectal intercourse will dramatically lower your chances or contracting one of these many sexually transmitted diseases. If you ever develop any symptoms such as burning while urinating or having a discharge, you should stop having sexual intercourse and see you healthcare provider immediately.
Works Cited
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 03 Apr. 2012. Web. 14 May 2012. <http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/default.htm>.
"Chlamydia." Chlamydia. Web. 14 May 2012. <http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/chlamydia/Pages/default.aspx>.
"STD Case Definitions." STD Case Definitions. Web. 14 May 2012. <http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Disease_ctrl/std/clinical/STD_Case_Definitions.html>.
