Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) also called "the clap." This infection is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and is transmitted in bodily fluids through sexual contact with an infected person or from mother to child during birth.

Women usually start to get symptoms within one to three weeks after exposure. Symptoms may include a burning feeling while urinating, urinating more often, unusual yellow vaginal discharge, pain during sex, vaginal bleeding between periods or after sex, and rectal pain or discharge. Symptoms in men usually appear within one to four weeks after exposure. Symptoms may include a burning feeling while urinating, urinating more often, discharge from the penis, pain or swelling of the testicles and rectal pain or discharge. However, up to 25% of men and 50% to 70% of women who have Chlamydia develop no symptoms, so the infection often goes undiagnosed.

If left untreated, Chlamydia may result in arthritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pelvic pain, tubal pregnancy, and infertility.

The risk of getting Chlamydia increases in people who have multiple sex partners, new sex partners, and in people who use intravenous drugs. Chlamydia is common in sexually active adolescents and young adults, especially women. These women (especially between the ages of 20-25 years) should be screened annually for the infection, even if they have no symptoms. Chlamydia can be diagnosed with a urine test or with a cotton swab of the mucus from the cervix or penis.

An antibiotic can effectively cure Chlamydia when treated in the early stages. It is common for a person to have both Chlamydia and gonorrhea at the same time, so the doctor may prescribe two antibiotics together to treat these infections. It is important that all sexual partners within the last 60 days be seen by a doctor to be tested and treated. Sex should be avoided until the antibiotic prescriptions are finished.

Using a condom during sex helps to reduce the risk of getting Chlamydia. It is important to note that having had Chlamydia in the past does not protect you from getting it again.

Consult your pharmacist for further information about Chlamydia. For more information about this and other STDs on the internet, visit Health Canada's Sexually Transmitted Infections website at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/publicat/std-mts/sti_g.html , Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre ,  Women's Health Matters at http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/centres/sex/infections/chlamydia.html or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control at http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/Fact_Sheets/chlamydia_facts.htm .