2008 Woodie Awards
Medical Corner
Prof. Dennis E. Daniels, MPH, Dr. PH
Issue date: 11/8/06 Section: Lifestyles
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Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium, chlamydia trachomatis. Even though symptoms of chlamydia are usually mild or absent, serious complications that cause irreversible damage, including infertility/sterility can occur "silently" in men and women. Surprisingly, although the symptoms of chlamydia are often unnoticed, it is still the most frequently reported bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the United States. In fact, it is estimated that over 2.8 million Americans are infected with chlamydia each year.
Chlamydia is known as a "silent" disease because about 75 percent of infected women and about 50 percent of infected men have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they usually appear within one to three weeks after exposure and often the disease has already been spread to a sexual partner. The most common symptoms experienced by a woman are abnormal vaginal discharge and/or a burning sensation when urinating. It is also possible to experience lower abdominal pain, lower back pain, nausea, fever, pain during intercourse, and/or bleeding between menstrual periods. Symptoms often experienced by a male are discharge from the penis or a burning sensation when urinating. Males might also have burning and itching around the opening of the penis.
If untreated, chlamydia infections can progress to serious reproductive and other health problems with both short-term and long-term consequences. Like the disease itself, the damage that chlamydia causes is often "silent" and often goes undetected by an individual. In women, untreated infection can spread into the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease(PID). This happens in up to 40 percent of women with untreated chlamydia. PID can cause permanent damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus, and surrounding tissues and lead to chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the uterus). Women infected with chlamydia are also up to five times more likely to become infected with HIV, if exposed. Males have less of an incidence of secondary disease development or complications, but it is important to realize that they may still spread the disease to their partner.
Chlamydia can be detected by laboratory tests conducted on a urine, penile, or cervical specimen. If an individual is found to be infected with chlamydia, he or she can often be treated with antibiotics. But, it is important to realize that early detection is the key in order to avoid any further complications from the disease.
The surest way to avoid transmission of chlamydia or any other sexually transmitted disease is to abstain from sexual contact. If an individual is sexually active, latex male condoms, when used consistently and correctly can reduce the risk of transmission of chlamydia. Screening is also recommended annually for all sexually active women 25 years of age and younger.
For more information, ww.cdc.gov.
Chlamydia is known as a "silent" disease because about 75 percent of infected women and about 50 percent of infected men have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they usually appear within one to three weeks after exposure and often the disease has already been spread to a sexual partner. The most common symptoms experienced by a woman are abnormal vaginal discharge and/or a burning sensation when urinating. It is also possible to experience lower abdominal pain, lower back pain, nausea, fever, pain during intercourse, and/or bleeding between menstrual periods. Symptoms often experienced by a male are discharge from the penis or a burning sensation when urinating. Males might also have burning and itching around the opening of the penis.
If untreated, chlamydia infections can progress to serious reproductive and other health problems with both short-term and long-term consequences. Like the disease itself, the damage that chlamydia causes is often "silent" and often goes undetected by an individual. In women, untreated infection can spread into the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease(PID). This happens in up to 40 percent of women with untreated chlamydia. PID can cause permanent damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus, and surrounding tissues and lead to chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the uterus). Women infected with chlamydia are also up to five times more likely to become infected with HIV, if exposed. Males have less of an incidence of secondary disease development or complications, but it is important to realize that they may still spread the disease to their partner.
Chlamydia can be detected by laboratory tests conducted on a urine, penile, or cervical specimen. If an individual is found to be infected with chlamydia, he or she can often be treated with antibiotics. But, it is important to realize that early detection is the key in order to avoid any further complications from the disease.
The surest way to avoid transmission of chlamydia or any other sexually transmitted disease is to abstain from sexual contact. If an individual is sexually active, latex male condoms, when used consistently and correctly can reduce the risk of transmission of chlamydia. Screening is also recommended annually for all sexually active women 25 years of age and younger.
For more information, ww.cdc.gov.
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