Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia can damage a woman’s reproductive organs and is usually a “silent disease,” meaning that the symptoms are usually mild or absent, and that serious, permanent damage to your body, including infertility, can occur before a woman ever knows there is a problem.

The Centers for Disease Control reports Chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the United States. In 2010, 1,307,893 Chlamydial infections were reported to CDC. The CDC states that under-reporting is substantial because most people with Chlamydia are not aware of their infections and do not seek testing. An estimated 2.8 million infections occur annually in the U.S. Women are frequently re-infected if their sex partners are not treated.

Chlamydia Symptoms

The majority of infected people have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they usually appear within 1 to 3 weeks after exposure.

For Women:

• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Burning sensation when urinating
• Lower abdominal pain
• Low back pain
• Nausea
• Fever
• Pain during sex
• Bleeding between menstrual periods

For Men:

• Discharge from the penis
• Burning around the opening of the penis
• Itching around the opening of the penis
• Rectal pain
• Pain /swelling of the testicles (uncommon)

Men or women who have receptive anal sex may acquire Chlamydia infection in the rectum, which can cause rectal pain, discharge or bleeding.

How People Get Chlamydia

• Vaginal sex
• Anal sex
• Oral sex
• It can be transmitted from mother to baby during birth and can cause eye infections and pneumonia.

Chlamydia Testing and Treatment

Sac Valley Women’s Health in Sacramento offers free STD tests for Chlamydia. We collect a urine sample and send the sample for testing with an accredited laboratory. Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics.

Call us at (916) 451-2273 (CARE) or request an appointment online for a free STD test.

This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered professional medical advice. We do not perform abortion services.