Chlamydia, The Greatest Threat To Reproductive Health
Chlamydia (pronounced kluh mid-DEE-uh)
is the most common sexually transmitted
disease in the U.S. and Canada. The
good news is that chlamydia is simple
to test for and easy to cure. The bad
news is that many high risk teenagers
and women in their 20's are being
neither tested nor treated.
Five million women in the United States
and half a million in Canada will
become infected with chlamydia every
year, yet 60 percent of them will have
no symptoms. Chlamydia can also
complicate pregnancy, and be
transmitted to the baby during birth.
Chlamydia can travel up into the womb
and tubes, causing scarring and
infertility. Chlamydia causes an
estimated 50 percent of pelvic
infections and 25 percent of tubal
pregnancies.
Who Is At Risk For Chlamydia?
- Highest risk if under 24, new sex
partner within 6 months, using no birth
control or using pill.
- Pill makes you more susceptible to
chlamydial infection.
How To Protect Yourself
- Condoms afford the best protection
against chlamydia as well as gonorrhea,
herpes, venereal warts and AIDS.
- Diaphragm and cervical cap provide more
protection than the pill.
- Chlamydia testing essential before IUD
fitting, abortion, D-and-C and at first
prenatal visit.
- Get tested once a year if sexually
active and again for every new sexual
partner.
Signs And Symptoms
- Increased or abnormal vaginal
discharge.
- Upper or lower abdominal pain.
- Pain on urination.
- Irregular vaginal bleeding.
Treatment
- Tetracycline or erythromycin, given for
7 to 10 days, for yourself and your
sexual partner.
- If chronic yeast problem, add
acidophilus and anti-yeast medication.
- Repeat chlamydia test four to six weeks
after treatment finished.