Chlamydia (pronounced: kluh-mid-ee-uh) is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) which is caused by bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. Though most of you might not have even heard this name but to tell you Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Chlamydia can damage a woman’s reproductive organs. Although the symptoms of Chlamydia are generally balmy or absent, serious complications that cause irreversible damage may occur “silently” such as infertility before a woman ever spots a problem. If a man is infected then Chlamydia can also cause emanation from the penis. Since there often aren’t any symptoms, while, lots of people can be infected with Chlamydia and may not know it.

The bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis which causes Chlamydia spread from person to person by means of sexual contact and also possibly through oral-genital contact. It mainly spreads through bodily fluids that contain the bacteria when anyone touches it. A Chlamydia eye infection is also possible if anyone touches the infected bodily fluid and then touches his or her eyes.

Chlamydia can also occur to a new born baby while taking birth if the mother is infected with Chlamydia. The infection can also cause pneumonia and conjunctivitis which can be life threatening to the bay if the baby is not treated. You are not infected with Chlamydia from a towel, doorknob, or toilet seat.

Chlamydia is the most regularly reported bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States. In the year 2006, 1,030,911 Chlamydia infections were reported to Center for Disease Control (CDC) from the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Since most of the people are unaware of their infections and don’t bother to go for a test, under-reporting is substantial. In most of the cases if the patients are treated for their symptoms testing is not done. According to U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey an estimated 2,291,000 non-institutionalized U.S. civilians from the ages of 14 to 39 are infected with Chlamydia. Women are regularly re-infected with Chlamydia if their sex partners are not treated.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) advocates annual Chlamydia testing of all sexually active women of age 25 or younger, older women with risk factors for Chlamydia infections (those who have a new sex partner or multiple sex partners), and all pregnant women. Suitable sexual risk estimation by a health care service provider should always be conducted and may point towards more recurrent screening for some women.

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