Curable STDs - Infections

Chlamydia II

4. What are the symptoms?
Chlamydia is often called a “silent epidemic” because it is fairly widespread, especially among young people, and because most infected females and many infected males have no symptoms. If symptoms appear at all, they usually do so within the first three weeks after the infection. Here is a brief summary:
Females: Chlamydia usually first infects the urethra and the cervix. From there it may spread to the Fallopian tubes causing sterility, and all this without necessarily producing any symptoms. If symptoms appear, they may consist of a low fever, vaginal discharge, non-menstrual bleeding, back pain, abdominal pain or pain during intercourse.
Males: Symptoms are even less common than in females, but they may include swollen or painful testicles, a discharge from the penis or a burning sensation when urinating.
Both sexes: Men or women infected through oral intercourse may develop a sore throat; those infected through receptive anal intercourse may experience pain in the rectum, a pus-like discharge, or bleeding.

5. How is it diagnosed?
Chlamydia can be detected by taking a swab of the infected area (for example the cervix or the penis). Staining the sample will make the bacteria visible under the microscope. There is also an indirect test that detects the bacteria in a urine sample.

Chlamydia in the United States, 1984-2002: Rates per 100,000 population

Chlamydia in the United States, 2002: Age- and sex-specific rates

Source: CDC, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention
Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, STD Surveillance, National Profile 2002

 Females

 Males

As the statistics show, many more females are infected with chlamydia than males. This is especially true for very young females.