Do you need to understand more about chlamydia causes? It's important to understand how you can get chlamydia so you can protect yourself from this serious STD. About four million people are diagnosed with chlamydia every year, so there's a lot of this STD going around. Arm yourself with knowledge about this common sexually transmitted disease.
What Causes Chlamydia Infections?
Chlamydia is caused by a bacterial infection. The name of bacteria responsible for this serious STD is chlamydia trachomatis. It is easily transferred from person to person through a variety of methods of contact.
How Can You Get Chlamydia?
Chlamydia is considered a sexually transmitted disease because it is spread mostly through sexual contact, although it can be spread otherwise. Most people contract chlamydia through sexual intercourse and get the infection in the urethra of the man's penis or in the cervix up inside the woman's vagina. However, you can contract chlamydia in the back of your throat from oral sex or in your anus if you received anal sex. You can also get an infection in your eyes by touching the bacteria, then rubbing your eyes.
How Do You Know if You Have Chlamydia?
This is the tough part: 75 percent of women and 50 percent of men do not show symptoms when they get chlamydia. This is frightening since the disease may be ravaging your fallopian tubes or epididymis, causing infertility, and you may not know it until years after the date you contracted the infection. This is why you should go for regular STD screening tests whenever you engage with a new sexual partner or you learn your sexual partner is active with other partners.
How Is Chlamydia Diagnosed?
Chlamydia testing is simple. Your doctor will run a test off a urine sample or off a specimen sample taken from your cervix or discharge from the penis. The test is not a big deal; you will quickly get a definitive diagnosis and will be able to rest easy knowing you are chlamydia-free or are on antibiotics that will knock out the infection.
 | How long does chlamydia last? What kind of damage can be done if chlamydia goes undetected? While treatment of this STD can eradicate the infection within two weeks, untreated chlamydia can cause serious short- and long-term health issues. |
 | What does chlamydia look like? Many women, up to 75 percent, who contract chlamydia don't show symptoms and realize their condition until serious damage has been done to their reproductive systems. Learn how to spot the signs and seek treatment before that damage is done. |
 | Are you wondering what signs of chlamydia may look like for women? Up to 75 percent of women infected with chlamydia do not exhibit symptoms, which is why regular chlamydia testing is recommended for women who are sexually active. |
What are examples of chlamydia symptoms in men? Knowing the red flags that come up with this STD is important, both for you and for your sexual partners. Learn when you should talk to your doctor. |
Find articles about chlamydia, including how long does chlamydia last, what does chlamydia look like, chlamydia symptoms in men and signs of chlamydia. |
