Chlamydia

1: What's the deal???
 
                Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. There are
    approximately 3-4 million new cases each year, most of whom are TEENAGERS and young adults. The
    cost of treating chlamydia runs  to almost 2 billion dollars a year nationally.
                For women, it is believed anywhere from 5 -25 percent of all pregnant women may
    have contracted Chlamydia. This condition is also the leading cause of Pelvic Inflammatory
    disease (PID). Of the approximately 1 million women who develop PID each year, almost
    100,000 become infertile.
 
2: The Bad Guy!!!
 
                It is caused by the parasitic bacteria Chlamydia Trachomatis. It is not like typical bacteria which
    makes it more difficult to treat.

 3: The Symptoms
 
                For women, up to 75 % can initially have no symptoms!! (asymptomatic). Those that show symptoms
    experience:

•  unusual vaginal discharge.
• burning during urination
• lower abdominal pain
• unusual pain during sexual intercourse.
• bleeding between Menstrual periods.
• Vaginal redness
• Itching and burning in Vaginal area.
• Fever (Rare)

5: What can happen???
 
               For women, Chlamydia can lead to permanent damage of the reproductive organs.The bacteria easily
    grows in the cervix. This can then spread to the uterus, the fallopian tubes, then PID and ultimately infertility.
   Proctitis, which is a type of throat infection can also occur . Other complications include scarring of the fallopian
   tubes. Ectopic pregnancies are also a possibility. This is a very painful condition that can be life threatening to the
    mother.
             
6: How can I get it???
                One thing to mention, if someone does not have symptoms, doesn't mean you can't get it.
The primary way of contracting Chlamydia is unprotected Vaginal, Anal
and Oral sex. Women are at greater risk contracting it because they are infected internally.

7: How can I NOT get it???
                The most obvious way is to NOT have SEX!Also using protection such as Condoms greatly reduces the risk. Limiting the number of sexual partners
    greatly will reduce the risk of contracting Chlamydia. If you do have Chlamydia, it is best to tell your partner
   so that others don't get it, or you yourself don't get it again after you've been treated.

8:  Get Rid of it!!!
                Methods for the diagnosis of Chlamydia are not too complex.. Swabs of discharge can reveal the problem
    and so can Urine samples in some cases. A Pap smear is NOT for detecting Chlamydia. Treatment includes antibiotics.
   Penicillin does NOT work. Rather, erythromycin, azithromycin  and ofloxocin are used widely.
 

Once again, if you have any questions and would like to find out more, please do not hesitate to contact
your physician!

Visit the The Gentleman's Corner

Home