In every state, the most commonly reported STD is chlamydia. This infection is a particular risk to teenagers and young adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported a steady increase in chlamydia cases among young people over the past several years.
Chlamydia is one of the most common STDs. It is spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex. It can infect both men and women. If left untreated, chlamydia can lead to more serious health issues. Chlamydia can cause permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system, which can make it difficult or even impossible to get pregnant. Chlamydia can also cause a potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy, or a pregnancy that occurs outside of the womb. Signs of chlamydia infection include a genital discharge and a burning sensation with urination. Commonly, people will have a chlamydia infection and show no signs or symptoms.
Since chlamydia is caused by bacteria, it is often cured by antibiotics. Infection of the genitals can be detected with a urine test. In the throat or anus a swab test is required to detect infection. The CDC recommends the practice of safe sex using latex condoms to help prevent the spread of STDs.
Once you have been treated for chlamydia, it is possible to become infected again. It is recommended that your partner also be tested and treated for the infection to reduce the risk of a second infection. You should not have sex again until you and your partner have completed treatment. If your doctor prescribes a single dose of medication, you should wait seven days, or one full week, after taking the medicine before having sex. If your doctor prescribes a medicine for you to take for seven days, you should wait until you have taken all of the doses before having sex. It is also recommended to practice safe sex by using latex condoms when engaging in sexual activity.
If you are concerned that you may have been exposed to chlamydia or any other STD, our doctors recommend waiting at least two weeks before taking a test. It can often take time for infections to become detectable on standard diagnostic testing.
It is important to know the current status of your sexual health. The best way to determine if you have a chlamydia or gonorrhea infection is to have STD testing performed. As stated earlier, often times people with chlamydia show no obvious signs or symptoms of the infection. For this reason, testing can sometimes be the only way to detect the infection.