Chlamydia is a commonly occurring sexually transmitted disease (STD) which has much the same manifestations in terms of symptoms, as gonorrhea, which is another most common STD.
According to some estimates, as many as million individuals in the US alone are infected with Chlamydia, making this one of the most widespread and common of STDs.
If left untreated, Chlamydia can cause several complications and health problems in the long term as well as the short term. The chief Chlamydia causes are:
Sexual intercourse: Even those that practice ‘safe sex’ by using condoms are not certain not to get the disease from a sexual partner.
The use of condoms certainly reduces the risk of getting the disease but it is not guarantee against it. Chlamydia can spread by way of oral, vaginal or anal sex and so obviously a condom is not effective in every case.
The only way to completely avoid Chlamydia causes is of course abstinence from sexual intercourse. Failing this the next best thing is to be in a monogamous relationship with a healthy uninfected person who is also similarly monogamous. Chlamydia causes do not include things such as casual physical contact such as shaking hands etc.
From mother to baby: Since this is an infection of the genital area, Chlamydia can be passed on from a mother to her baby in the case of a vaginal delivery as the baby passes through the birth canal.
Chlamydia causes or can cause several complications for a new born, which may include life threatening conditions such as pneumonia or severe eye infection.
Chlamydia is known as the silent epidemic since as many as 70% of women infected with it show no signs or symptoms of having contracted it. Though this infection is largely asymptomatic, Chlamydia causes several other complications, which have to do with conjunctivitis of the eye, arthritis, urethritis (inflammation of the urethra).
In fact, conjunctivitis form of Chlamydia causes blindness. The infection can spread to the eyes by shared face towels, by the fingers and even due to coughing or sneezing.
Chlamydia causes and risk factors include:
- Sexually active individuals with multiple partners or new partners
- A history of sexually transmitted disease, particularly Chlamydia
- Inconsistent or irregular condom use
It is generally recommended that women who are sexually active and under the age of 25, who are at high risk of infection should be screened to detect Chlamydia particularly since it is typically asymptomatic.
i recently miscarried on saturday. doctors did their test and preps. monday i get a call from the doctors stating that i tested positive for chlamydia. i bring to my only sex partner’s attention. he gets tested later on that night. his results came back negative. i know 100% that i haven’t had any type of sexual relations with any one other than him and he claims the same in reverse. is that even possible?