Std-Chlamydia

Bonnie Williams
4.28.10
Essay-STD
Chlamydia is a contagious sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by bacteria. Chlamydia infection is one of the most frequent sexually transmitted infections (STI) in people worldwide — about 2.8 million cases of Chlamydia infection occur in US each year. It is the most common bacterial STI in humans. Chlamydia is known as the "Silent Epidemic". It is transferred by having sex or sexual contact with someone who is infected.   It may go unrecognized because there are not a lot of symptoms that can be notice. Both men and women can get it. This STD is curable with medication. Chlamydia usually doesn't cause symptoms. If it does, you might notice a burning feeling when you urinate, abdominal pain, and/or abnormal discharge from your vagina or penis. In both men and women, Chlamydia can infect the urinary tract. In women, infection of the reproductive system can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause infertility or serious problems with pregnancy. Babies born to infected mothers can get eye infections and pneumonia from Chlamydia.   Also, it may linger for weeks to as longs as years, before it is detected. In men, Chlamydia can infect the epididymis, the tube that carries sperm. This can cause pain, fever and rarely, infertility. Chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics. There are two ways to test for this disease; a blood test and a urine test. The symptoms are alleviated in about 7-10 days after medication is started. If you are sexually active, you can decrease your risk of getting it by using condoms.   It is recommended that people 25 and younger get a Chlamydia test every year. If the test comes back positive, it is encouraged     to get tested every three months due to the high percentage of people being re-exposed to Chlamydia. Abstinence is the best way to prevent all STD’s. [continues]

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